PM Kindergarten

If you're a working parent, how do you handle PM kindergarten?

 

The schools accommodate working parents by putting all the daycare kids in the morning classes. If you put daycare as your midday pickup/dropoff plan, they should put you in the morning. Not sure what to do if you didn't get it and they don't have more space... but there are a lot of private full day options around that may not be that more expensive than KG aftercare.

 

We pay for full-day kindergarten and their afterschool. Only option available other than quitting work. I have heard the schools will accommodate the kids in enrichment programs after AM kinder that may or may not include afterschool. We're on a PM K street and kid #3 is registered for private K.

 

I would contact the school tomorrow and see if you can get your child changed to the am class. It might not happen the first day but they might be able to accommodate you by day 2 or 3 if other children don't show up the first day. It will save you a lot of hassle of trying to figure out morning daycare. If that doesn't work....maybe your daycare can do mornings and get them to school for the PM session.

 

When our son was put in PM kindergarten (Mill Run), I called the school and explained the situation and they immediately put him in the AM class of the same teacher. They're very accommodating with that sort of thing.

 

I guess this is obvious, but if there is the possibility that your child might be placed in a PM class and you NEED them in AM, why wait until the schedule is out to contact the school? I would think that it really puts the school in a scrambling position. There are several kids on our "pm street" who went to AM K because of family work schedules. It just seems unfair to the school and the kids to wait until the week before school to figure it all out. Not that I don't procrastinate with every single other thing in my life though. 'Cause I do. whoops. Good luck with the scheduling!!!!!

 

Thanks for all of you who've gave me good advice to contact the school.

As for the last poster, it seems the school determines the AM/PM mostly by bus routes, which is set by the county. You don't get to express a preference. Because I am currently home for the summer (but intend to return to work in the fall) and have stated my home address as the return route, they determined that my child is eligible to be a PM kindergartener. I explained to the school administrator about my intent to return to work as soon as I can, but the only way they can change my child is if I have daycare lined up to pick her up. That's hard to do, until I actually have a job offer in hand (I'm actively seeking one now). But, thanks for making it seem as if I am just being a pain and an inconvenience. It would be nice if I didn't have to explain my whole life and situation for a simple question!!

 

I didn't mean to analyze your post- although I did. I am sorry.

 

That's OK. I shouldn't be so sensitive, but I hate being blamed for something that's not my fault. Anyway, thanks for the apology!!

 

When we registered my daughter, the packet provided allowed for those that work and had aftercare lined up to state that on the forms. Basically if you identified the daycare facility and that they would pick up for after school care, they make every attempt to get you in to the AM classes. At least at Hillside I have not heard of anyone that was ever denied AM if they had filled out the forms.

 

Just list a childcare provider such as a friend, neighbor, relative as your child's pickup. Indicate on the form that they will be cared for at your house by a childcare provider other than yourself. That way you have the kindergarten issue covered when you go back to work.