Welcoming Families

It is that time of year again, back to school. If you are like me, you experience this time of year with equal parts excitement and anxiety. We spend a lot of time thinking about welcoming our children and their families to our programs,  and how we welcome our staff is equally important. It can be a delicate balance between welcoming veterans and new staff. I feel it is important to welcome everyone with a sense of new possibilities for the upcoming year. At our program, we are fortunate to have a teacher week before the opening of school. This week is packed with professional development, meetings, and classroom set-up time. I believe providing time for sharing experiences, thinking, and reflecting together helps teams and the entire staff bond. Providing meals, snacks, and a few surprises helps to make teachers feel valued. 

This is how I like to structure the week: 

Day 1: Welcome Back Brunch and Ice Breaker: The goal of this is only social. I try to create a fun environment where everyone has a chance to meet and get to know each other. I also have little gifts or treats set out for each teacher. I have found that this helps to alleviate some anxiety for those who are new to the program and creates a shared fun experience to begin the year. 

The remainder of the day is for a new staff orientation or for teaching teams to meet and look at classroom needs. 

Day 2: Breakfast and Professional Development Session for 2-3 hours with an outside presenter on site. 

The afternoon is for classroom set-up and prep work. 

Day 3: Light Breakfast and staff meeting. In this meeting, we review all safety protocols, handbook policies, and general policies and procedures. The Clergy and Temple Support Staff also joined us during the meeting to introduce themselves and talk about their roles. In the past I began the week with this meeting but have found that the middle of the week works best for teachers processing information and asking questions. 

The meeting is followed by Remini Training (the communications app we use). 

We end meeting time socially, having lunch together. 

Afternoon is set aside for classroom set-up and prep work. 

Day 4:  Light Breakfast and Professional Development for 1-2 hours with an outside  presenter on site. This is followed by documentation and portfolio training. 

We end  the morning with lunch together. 

Again, the afternoon is set aside for classroom set-up and prep work. 

Day 5: Light Breakfast and CPR and first aid training 

Lunch with schedule review for the first week of school, reflection, and questions. 

We end by 1:00 for the weekend to give all time to rest up for the busy weeks ahead. 

Heidi Baker, Director of Education 

Temple Beth Avodah 

Newton, MA 

This time of year is filled with sleepless nights and endless lists for any educator. The tone we set at the beginning will impact the year ahead. In early childhood programs, this begins with how we welcome families into our program. As warm and welcoming as we all are, welcoming needs to be done in an intentional way in your program. Deliberate planning and implementation will help to create an atmosphere that welcomes families and helps parents to feel a sense of trust and confidence when leaving their children in your program.

The following plan is how we welcome families into our program:

• Our enrollment begins about a year in advance. As families enroll, they are placed on our email list and invited to all our family programs. This includes our monthly Friday night Shabbat Celebrations, Challah Bake, Ice Cream Social, Parent fundraisers, etc.
• The spring before enrollment families are invited to an event during the school day. We have had dance parties, Teddy Bear Picnics, Music and Movement etc. This gives children and parents the opportunity to meet each other, spend time in the classroom, and meet the teachers.
• In June, each new family is matched with a current family. This one-to-one match allows everyone entering our program to already know another parent and child in the class. They arrange play dates over the summer.
• Our parent council organizes 2 popsicle play dates and 2 parents’ nights out in the summer. The dates are sent out in June and reminders are sent in advance of each meet up.
• Families are invited to a welcome night over Zoom with teachers and staff.
• Families sign up for an individual orientation for students and parents the week before school starts. Teachers review morning routines and answer questions and children have time to explore their classrooms.
• We host parent coffees each morning during the first week of school. Parents have time to socialize as well as feel supported through this transition. Parents are also given real-time updates on their children.
• Teachers post photos and updates on Remini as well as call or send photos to parents who are concerned about their child’s adjustment to school.
• Each parent is called within the first 2 weeks of school by their child’s teacher as a check-in. It gives parents an opportunity to ask questions and have a snapshot of how their child is adapting.
• The Director and Executive Assistant are upstairs to greet each family every day as well as to check in with families.
• Our parent council personally reaches out to each family before our first council meeting of the year and first Shabbat program.

Each year we reflect, add to, or adapt our plan. It is important to check in with teachers and follow up with any parental concerns. It is a labor-intensive process, but it is one that creates a sense of community where each family feels connected, valued, and welcomed.

Heidi Baker

Education Director

Temple Beth Avodah

Newton, MA