Reviewed October 16, 2026 · W Montessori Academy

Preparing for the First Week of Preschool

The first week is easier to plan when your family knows the schedule, has the right information from the school, and keeps the first few routines manageable. Preparation cannot remove every uncertain moment, but it can make the practical parts more predictable.

This guide brings together home preparation ideas and the published schedules at W Montessori Academy. Confirm your child’s classroom arrangements with the team before the first day.

One to Two Weeks Before Starting

Confirm the arrangements

Check your child’s start date, assigned days, classroom, and AM or full-day placement. Ask whom to contact with a question and how the school will communicate during the transition. Any gradual-start arrangement should be agreed with the school rather than assumed.

Review the school day together

Use simple language: “We will arrive, meet your teacher, and you will have time to work and play. I will come back at pickup.” Match the description to the actual classroom schedule. Avoid promising an activity or a particular friend will be there.

Practice a few useful tasks

Let your child try carrying their bag, hanging a coat, putting on shoes, or asking for help. Offer enough support for the task to remain manageable. These are opportunities to practice, not skills your child must master before attending.

Arrival and Pickup at W Montessori

The school’s 2027–2028 application lists:

• Arrival: 8:15–8:30 AM.
• AM program: 8:30–11:30 AM, with pickup from 11:15–11:30 AM.
• Full-day program: 8:30 AM–3:30 PM, with pickup from 3:15–3:30 PM.

Check your confirmed enrollment schedule before the first day. The application requests an authorized pickup list; ask the school how to record changes when another person will collect your child.

The Core Program page has detailed schedules for both age groups. Pre-Primary includes a nap/rest period; Primary includes rest or quiet work. Discuss your child’s current sleep routine and what, if anything, should come from home.

What to Ask Before Packing

Request the school’s current classroom supply list. Use this short checklist to confirm what applies:

• Spare clothing and how items should be labeled.
• Any toileting or diaper supplies requested for your child’s classroom.
• Rest items, if requested.
• Appropriate clothing for outdoor activity and the weather.
• Meal or snack arrangements and whether anything should be brought from home.
• Medication procedures, if relevant, discussed directly with the school.

Do not pack extra toys, food, or medication on the assumption they are permitted. Confirm the classroom’s process first.

Complete the Paperwork

The 2027–2028 application packet lists an August 1, 2027 document deadline. It requests birth certificate and health documentation for new students, with additional eye and dental forms listed for kindergarten. Review the admissions information and ask the school to confirm anything outstanding for your child.

Share allergies, dietary restrictions, emergency contacts, and pickup information through the school’s application process. The meal team and classroom staff need clear information before the child starts.

The Evening Before

1. Set out practical clothing and the belongings the school requested.
2. Confirm who is taking the child and who is collecting them.
3. Allow enough time for an unhurried arrival.
4. Explain the morning briefly, then return to your familiar evening routine.

A Predictable Goodbye

Agree with the teacher on where and how the handoff happens. Use a brief, honest goodbye and tell your child when you will return in terms they understand. Follow the arrangement you have discussed with the school; if it is not working, talk with the teacher about what to change.

Children respond differently. Some join activities quickly; others need more time and support. Avoid measuring success by whether there are tears on one morning. Ask what happens after goodbye and how your child participates during the rest of the day.

At Pickup and During the First Week

Leave space for rest and connection after school. A simple question such as “What did you use today?” may be easier than asking for a full report. Share changes you notice at home and ask the teacher about patterns in the classroom.

If distress continues, routines become difficult, or you are concerned about your child’s needs, arrange a conversation. Discuss observations, available support, and a plan to review progress. There is no universal deadline by which every child should have settled.