Going to school for the first time
Children start school in the Netherlands when they are 4 years old. A new period in the life of your child and for you as a parent is about to start. Here you will find some information about starting school on primary school De Koekoek.
School hours
Monday – Tuesday – Thursday 08.30-12.00 – Lunch break – 13.00-15.00. Wednesday 08.30-12.30. Friday all children from groups 1-2 have the day off. All children from groups 1-2 can be picked up the ‘Achterplein’ (playground at the back of the school).
Start of the day
The doors of the school open every day at 8:20. The schoolday starts at 08:30, so all children are expected inside then. There are two entrances for all the children. If your child is in group 1/2A or 1/2C they can use the main entrance. The children from group 1/2D and 1/2B enter through the backdoor.
Coats and bags are placed in the locker. Parents say goodbye to their child there. Once a week, you can briefly join the group to help your child start the day.
We work with a drop-off approach where children start working independently right away. It’s helpful to talk on the way to school about what your child wants to start with. At 08:30, the bell rings and we ask you to leave the classroom.
Food and drinks
Around 10:00 a.m., there is a fruit break at school. During this time, the children eat fruit or raw vegetables. For lunch, the children bring a lunchbox with bread, vegetables, and/or crackers. We ask you not to send cookies, candy, or other snacks. For drinks, we prefer water in a cup or bottle, and no lemonade or carbonated drinks.
Do you want your child to stay at school during the lunch break? Then register your child via the TSO link
The cost is €3.10 per time. You can report cancellations or changes via: tso.dekoekoek@spoutrecht.nl.
Contact with the teacher of your child
During the school year, there are various times when we discuss your child’s development with you (see the annual calendar). If you want to talk to the teacher in the meantime, you can make an appointment for that. For short messages, like a change in picking up your child, you can use the Parro app. This app is not meant for discussing your child’s development.
We also use Parro for important announcements, scheduling conversations and activities, and for biweekly updates from the class. As soon as your child turns four, you will receive an email invitation to join the Parro group.
Sickness and/or absence
In case of illness, a (general) doctor or hospital visit, or being late, we ask you to report your child’s absence via the Parro app. Report your child as sick per day and repeat this if the absence lasts longer. Is your child better again? Then please let us know through the same app. If a child is absent without being reported as sick, we will contact you. To request exceptional leave, we ask you to fill out the designated form. You can find this form here.
Peaceful
At Kindcentrum De Koekoek, we use the Vreedzaam method, which focuses on the social-emotional development of children. An important part of this is greeting each other; that’s why we shake hands in the morning when we arrive.
In groups 1-2, we also use a special cuddly toy that goes home with a student over the weekend. The accompanying bag contains clothes and a little notebook, where you can write down with your child what the toy has experienced. Your child can also make a drawing or add a photo. This way, weconnect the world of school and home.
Physical education (PE)
The gym class takes place on Wednesday in the playroom. We ask you to make sure your child has practical gym clothes and gym shoes, labeled with their name. We assume that the children can dress and undress themselves and put on their gym shoes independently. Suitable clothing is, for example, a pair of shorts and a T-shirt.
The gym clothes and shoes are kept in a separate, labeled bag that stays at school. Right before each holiday, this bag goes home to be washed; after the holiday, your child brings it back to school.
Birthdays
On a birthday, we like to put each child in the spotlight. Your child can give out treats in class; we appreciate a small, healthy treat. The birthday child goes with two classmates to the classes on the ground floor with a birthday card and stickers. Some children have a diet or cannot eat certain products. If this applies, could you please inform the teacher? We do not celebrate the birthdays of four-year-olds at school.
Toys
On the last school day before every holiday, we organize a toy morning. Students are then allowed to bring toys to school. On other days, this is not allowed, because there is enough toy equipment at school. In the Parro calendar, we indicate which type of toys can be brought, such as games or outdoor toys.
Lice
After every holiday, some parents check their children for head lice. Do you notice head lice or nits in between? Then get in touch with the teacher.
Potty trained
We assume that children starting school can go to the toilet by themselves and take care of themselves. If there is an accident, it’s helpful if your child has a spare set of clothes and a plastic bag in their bag. If you have extra clothes at home, like pants, underwear, socks, or tights, we would be happy to receive them.
Voluntary Parental Contribution
To be able to organize various school activities for which there is no regular funding, we ask you to pay a voluntary parental contribution. This contribution has been set by the participation council at €70per student. This contribution is used, among other things, to fund the Sinterklaas and Christmas parties, school camps, Het Vogelnest, excursions, trips, and the sports day. For children who join between January and April, the amount is €40. If your child joins after April 1, you can decide yourself how much you want to contribute.
Payment
Parents of children who enroll before April 1 will receive a payment request via Parro. The collection and management of the parental contribution are handled by the Parental Contribution working group. Click here for more information