FIELD TRIPS, TOYS, CLOTHING, & OTHER SUPPLIES

Field Trips

Field trips are a fun and educational part of the Open Door program. Notices about field trips will always be posted at least 48 hours in advance of the trip. Parents are required to sign a permission form so that their child will be able to go on the field trip. Please talk to your child's teacher about field trip schedules and where to look for the permission form. Parents are welcome to attend.

Each school has a 15-passenger van which is used for most field trips. Occasionally several classes want to take a trip on the same day and we ask for parent volunteers to drive their cars for the field trip. All children will be strapped into a seat belt during field trips whether they are in the school van or a private car.

Because the field trips are generally very exciting for the children, they are a wonderful topic of discussion for you and your child. Children often have trouble discussing what has happened during a routine day, so field trips offer the opportunity to really engage your child in an interesting conversation.

Toys

The schools have many developmentally appropriate toys for the children's use during the school day. Some children enjoy bringing toys from home. Children are encouraged to bring toys or other objects from home on "Show and Tell" day. While we do not encourage toys on other days, we realize they are one way in which children ease their transition from home to school. The teachers try to help the children develop a sense of responsibility about their belongings, but home toys are the child's responsibility at school and they may be lost or damaged. Parents should not allow items to come to school that are irreplaceable.

We are always glad for the children to share book records, tapes, or items from nature (bird nests, rocks, fossils, etc.). We do not allow war toys or toys whose main theme is violence.

Clothing and other supplies

Children should be dressed in play clothes which are appropriate for the season and the weather conditions. Please keep in mind that your child may be involved in very messy activities at school. The teachers try to take precautions to protect children's clothing, but our first concern is that the children enjoy their activity, not that they keep their clothing clean. Special clothing which the parents want to remain in good condition is not really appropriate to wear to school.

All children should have at least one extra change of clothes which is appropriate for the season at school at all times. It is important that the parent bring enough extra clothes to last the entire day - for some children one change will last a whole season, for others this may mean 4-5 changes each day. Please evaluate your child's needs realistically and furnish him/her with enough clothing. All clothing should be labeled with the child's name to help avoid loss and confusion.

The Open Door accepts both disposable and cloth diapers. Parents who use cloth diapers need to bring plastic bags for the soiled diapers. Parents provide crib sheets and blankets for the children in the infant room. It is the parents' responsibility to make up the child's crib each Monday and launder the bedding at the end of the week. Older children are welcome to bring blankets, small pillow or stuffed toys to sleep with during naps.