Incoming Parent FAQs
This page is written by parents, and is intended for incoming Kindergarten parents at Maplewood Elementary. Many of these questions and answers apply, however, for new incoming parents regardless of grade.
last edited April 2025
When in doubt, please contact the school office for information. (503) 916-6308 They are the official source for school communication.
Question: How old does my child need to be to enroll in Kindergarten?
Answer: If your student will be five years old as of September 1st 2025, they are eligible to join PPS’s incoming 2025026 kindergarten class.
Question: How do I enroll my child in Kindergarten at Maplewood?
Answer: Starting on February 28th, 2025, you can register your child on the PPS enrollment website.
Question: Is there a school supply list?
Answer: At the beginning of the school year, there has typically been a school supply fee of $60/child which can be paid via SchoolPay. This ensures all students have access to the same supplies despite any external circumstances.
Question: When do I find out my Kindergartener’s teacher?
Answer: Kindergarten assignments are typically communicated a few weeks before the school year begins. The assigned teacher arranges to meet with students individually in their homes with a focus on creating connections and building rapport with the incoming families. Teachers will reach out to families to schedule which day and time by mid-August. We invite Kinder families to complete a kindergarten inventory (reply by first week of August 2025) so we can have important information needed to place students into their classes.
Question: When does Kindergarten start?
Answer: Kindergarten “Ramp Up” is August 26-29th and the first day of school for kindergarteners is September 2nd. The ramp up typically involves having half the class attend day one, the other half attending day two, and the full class for a half day on the third day. This allows for the children to get familiar with the classroom, teacher, some peers, and a sense of routine.
Question: When do I find out my 1st – 5th grade student’s teacher?
Answer: Grades 1-5 will receive a letter in the mail in early July with notification of next year’s teacher assignment.
Question: What time does school start and end?
Answer: Students can be dropped off for in the morning at 7:50am, the late bell is 8:00am. School is dismissed at 2:30pm. Bus kids are escorted by Maplewood staff to their bus. Check out the dropoff / pickup page for more details.
Question: How do I find out about school bus routes?
Answer: Check out this PPS page (select Maplewood): bus routes
Question: What and when is New Parent Orientation?
Answer: New Parent Orientation is on the first day of kindergarten (the 4th day of school), but is open to all new Maplewood parents. It occurs in the morning, a little bit after dropoff, usually in the gym or cafeteria. New parent orientation is a chance to grab coffee, see some other parents and hear about some Maplewood basics. The Principal will explain some basic administrative details, like drop off and pick up, cafeteria lunch money, bus tags, and such. You will hear from the Maplewood PTA as well. It is a wonderful place to ask any questions you may have and to have a little breather after dropping your student.
Question: What if I drive my kids to school? Isn’t it crowded?
Answer: A considerable number of kids ride the bus or walk to school, so they are not a factor really in dropoff congestion. In terms of car traffic, there’s both drivers who dropoff, and drivers who park and walk in. Please see our Dropoff / Pickup page for details on where to park, how drop off works, and other safety procedures to keep everyone safe during these congested times.
Question: Do you have any tips and advice for parents or caregivers of new Kindergarteners?
Answer: Yes, yes we do:
We polled other experienced Maplewood parents for advice and tips they would give to incoming Kindergarten parents. Please keep in mind this is not an “official” school communication– just an informal passing of “Lessons Learned” from other parents! Here we go:
– Expect your child to be very tired for the first 3-4 weeks, even if they have done full-day childcare or five-day preschool before. It is normal. It’s a long day and a lot of adjustment for kindergartners.
– Around October, the novelty and excitement tends to wear off. It is very common for kids to start saying that they hate school or hate riding the bus or hate something about school, around this time. It will pass.
– You’ll be overwhelmed with school communication, especially in the first month. The most important to pay attention to is “backpack mail” — some forms or info are only distributed that way, i.e. in your kid’s backpack.
– Note, Kindergarten kids do get extra time for lunch in the first few months so they can adjust to the routine. They may come home saying they don’t have enough time to eat lunch. Usually they are spending a lot of time chatting. They will adjust in time.
– All the grades have morning snack times. Kindergarten teachers typically read to the kids during snack time. Sometimes this is a great chance for your kid to eat because they are not busy chatting! Consider higher protein snacks if you think your kid needs it (cheese stick, granola bar, etc). Don’t send a huge snack because lunch is not too long after snack. Kindergarten kids eat lunch pretty early in the day.
– Classroom logistics: Kids will have a place in the class room to put their lunch box, and a different place to put their snack when they come in each morning, as well as each kid will have a hook for their bag, coat, etc. There is also usually a designated basket in the classroom where parents can return filled out forms, leave notes for the teacher, etc. Check with your teacher for details.
– If you are wanting more information on something, reach out to your PTA officers, or attend an upcoming Community meeting (see calendar link at the top of the page). Find a parent who looks friendly at pick up to ask questions. Post a question on our Facebook group. Stop by the office at school. Take the initiative to reach out, and someone can point you in the right direction!
– Plan for aftercare if needed. Explore options for after school enrichment classes and after school childcare options.
– You can feel more connected and involved through many volunteer jobs at the school, but the “best” way (in some people’s opinion) is to volunteer for your kid’s teacher. Each teacher manages parent volunteers differently. As a working parent, this can be hard, but some working parents have had success with reserving a vacation day off to help with a field trip or class party. Do note that many teachers, especially in Kindergarten, will ask that you wait a month to volunteer, as they have their hands full getting to know their students.
– There are many other ways to volunteer! Library, carnival, website, foundation, the list goes on! If you have the inclination to be involved, we have experienced parent volunteers who can match you up with a rewarding position for you. Email: maplewoodvolcoord@gmail.com to reach out. A form with areas of interest for volunteering will come home with your kid, and helps to give you an idea of what’s available, as well as helps our volunteer coordinator to organize it all.