If you were unable to attend a school information session and tour, please check out the links below to learn more about our International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme and the engaging learning experiences students will have as part of our school family. Due to our very busy school schedule, no additional information sessions and tours are available.

School Tour Video                  FWES Inquiry Journey

 

FWES Learning Community IB Video          Mrs. Pierce’s Principal of the Year Celebration Video

 

EDNC article about Farmington Woods IB/PYP         Forbes Article about FWES and IB Program

 

FWES Website     FWES School Facebook Page

 

FWES Family Student Handbook 2024-25- learn more about school procedures for students and families

 

 

 

I encourage all of our new families to also visit our school website and the “Our School”—“About our School” sections. Within that section there are many documents that will provide information to support you and your family as you join the FWES family, including our current handbook, school procedures, etc. Please note, it is likely that there will be adjustments and updates to some of the information on the website moving into the 2025-26 school year but much of the information may remain very similar. Updates for the 2025-2026 school year will all be completed no later than August 1, 2025.  

 

 

August 13, 2025

Mrs. Pierce's Video Message

Countdown to Kindergarten- 2 weeks to go!

 

Don’t forget to Follow our Official Facebook Page! 

 

Getting Ready for the Start of the Year!

Join FWES Families and new friends on Wednesday, August 20th from 4:30-6:30pm on the playground for a picnic. 

• Bring your dinner picnic/snacks and a blanket/chairs

• Several Food Trucks will be available, too: 

  • Beefy Buns

  • Poblanos

  • Kona Ice

 

Open House- Thursday, August 21st 4:00-6:00pm **Plan to attend to get things ready for your child’s transition to Staggered Entry and beyond.

 

Kindergarten students are NOT assigned to a teacher until the Staggered Entry days have been completed- so there will not be an assigned teacher for your student to visit. Kindergarten students and families will visit each kindergarten classroom and meet all kindergarten teachers. There will be an activity to complete in each of the classrooms and time to get your questions answered! 

 

Open House Kindergarten Stations- review to know what you will be doing in the kindergarten classrooms

 

In the school there will be many other starting the year activities to complete, too: 

• Register to get a Carpool Tag (or Pre-Register before Monday, August 18th at 10:00am to have it ready at Open House for pick up) if you will be picking up in the PM at ANY POINT in the year (Tag not needed for AM drop off)

• Ask questions about Bus Routes

• Put $ on a lunch account 

• Join the PTA and order New Spiritwear

 

Please monitor your time in each kinder classroom to make sure you have time for all activities before 6:00pm:) 

 

Check your Staggered Entry Date for the first week week- Kinders only come one day the first week of school:) 

• Parents are encouraged to walk in with kindergartners on their staggered entry date:) 

• Bring a backpack with: 

  • Lunch box/Lunch money ($3.25) and a snack are needed

  • Change of clothes

  • **DO NOT send school supplies from the list on the Staggered Entry Day (bring them on August 29th when students are assigned to a teacher)

• Make sure you have let the Kindergarten Team know (at Open House) how your child will be going home on their staggered entry day. 

  • Transportation Information

    • FWES Carpool Procedures (with video)

    • Walker Procedures (with video)

    • Bus Rider Procedures (with video)

 

Getting Ready for Kindergarten and School Rules and Procedures

One of the biggest transitions for our kindergarten students is adjusting to a classroom with many more students than preschool or at home. There is a need to wait your turn, walk in a line, follow directions from adults, sit in an assigned seat, listen, transition between activities (even if it does not get finished), follow a schedule and many more. While our teachers are skilled and making these things happen with a classroom full of kindergartners, you can begin to assist your child with this transition at home. 

 

The information below will help your family consider rules and behavior expectations and how you can create similar structures at home to make your family function at its best- like we will do at school to make sure learning functions for every student at its best. 

 

Teaching Behavior Expectations- English and Spanish

Rules Tips for Home

 

 

 

August 4, 2025

Countdown to Kindergarten-  3 weeks to go! 

Mrs. Pierce’s Video Message!

FWES Open House for Kindergarten is 4:00-6:00pm on Thursday, August 21st. 

Although there will be no Kindergarten Rosters posted on Wednesday, August 20th-  all Kindergarten families are invited to attend the FWES PTA Back to School Picnic on Thursday, August 20th from 4:30-6:30pm on the FWES Playground. 

Back to School 2025 flyer

 

Let’s Get Ready!

Section #5 Cognitive Development

Public School kindergarten is an academic based program with developmentally appropriate learning practices to support success of our young learners. There will be reading, writing, “spelling”, math, Science and Social Studies each day. As you review the Cognitive Development document and activities linked above- also take a look at the Learning Standards comparison document below to see the changes from a Pre K program standards to the expectations in Kindergarten. You'll see that academic development will be a priority throughout the day, based in engaging experiences designed to support learning. You are in for a treat to watch your child learn and grow this year as an IB Learner!  

PreK to Kindergarten Standards Comparison 

 

Don’t forget to Follow our Official Facebook Page! 

 

Week #5 at Home Activities: 

• Check out the FWES Website homepage pictures with your student. Ask questions and decide which things they look forward to doing when they come to school. 
• Celebrate what your child can “read” already with the Developmental Print Matching Game  Matching Cards
• Read a book aloud nightly

 

July 28, 2025

Countdown to Kindergarten- 4 weeks to go!

Mrs. Pierce’s Video Message

Establishing Routines- time to get started! 

All students, but especially kindergartners, thrive on routine and procedures. It provides them with comfort and stability throughout their day. The transition to Elementary School is a big one for a 5 year old and having routines ALREADY established at home for morning and bedtime routines will allow your child to be equipped to focus their energy on the school transition. Please review the documents linked below filled with information and ideas on how to establish morning and bedtime routines. You’ve got 4 weeks+ to develop and practice them before school starts so get ready!

Some general reminders:

• Leave early enough from home for the bus stop or carpool that a student is not rushed or late
• Pack backpacks the night before
• Decide on what to wear (or two options to choose from) the night before
• Make time for a calm breakfast and talk about the things that your child has shared that they like at school (playground, friends, centers, etc.). 
• A regular, enforced bedtime will help your child’s body adjust to the school routineAlways read a book before bed! Even the same book over and over will provide that structure to help your child go to sleep faster:)
• Use calming music or other calming activities to help your child transition into sleep time (research says no screens/TV for 30-60 minutes prior to going to bed will support falling asleep faster)

Backpack Connection Bedtime Routines    Espanol

Backpack Connection Morning Routines    Espanol

Let’s Get Ready!

Section #4 Language Development and Communication

Week #4 at Home Activities: 

• Read a book with your kindergartner and use the guide linked below before during and after reading to get them ready for reading in Kindergarten! 
  • Transition to Kindergarten Reading Bookmark
• All About Me- complete page 1 with your kindergartner
• Counting Practice 1-10! Select items in your home (silverware, socks, toys, goldfish crackers, baby carrots, etc.) and make various group sizes and have your child count them- make sure they touch each object as they count them. As a challenge, use index cards or cut paper to have numbers 1-10 on them- as they count the group, have them match the number to the group they just counted:) Have fun! 

 

July 21, 2025

Video Message from Mrs. Pierce

Countdown to Kindergarten- 5 weeks to go

Eating Lunch at School- Review the WCPSS information about School Meals including menus to begin to consider what you will want your child to do for lunch in kindergarten. Students do not have to only have School Meals or only bring a lunch box but thinking ahead of time about what is best for your child is important. 

Lunch Box and Cafeteria Notes:

• Students should be independent in using utensils and managing foods they have for lunch each day. 
• Students should be able to open most packaging independently- summer is a great time to practice opening lunch containers (tupperware, ziploc bags, reusable bags, etc.), chip bags, yogurts, etc. 
• Refrigeration or heating is not available for student lunches from home

WCPSS School Meal Menus* Note that as with many other things, supply issues can impact the published menus and there may be items that are not available on the scheduled day. 

WCPSS School Meal Pricing and Accounts

*All families are encouraged to put at least a week’s worth of lunches on your child’s account for emergencies and forgotten lunchboxes! 

Apply for Meal Assistance- Free and Reduced Price Meal Application- can take 10 days to 2 weeks to process. Apply early! 

Eating Snack at School: All classrooms will provide students with an opportunity to eat a healthy snack during the day. If families are interested in their student having a snack, it should be sent to school daily with the student. Snack will not be provided to students by the school. Please review the Healthy Active Students guidelines regarding healthy snacks to send to school. Only water is allowed in the classroom for drinking- please do not send juice or any other beverage with color. 

Your child’s snack should be something they can manage independently while other activities are happening in the classroom. Instruction will not stop for snack time, but the teacher may read a story while students who have a snack eat it; students may be allowed to take their snack to a center while they work in a small group on a learning activity or other “working snack” models. Snacks should not require adult support and should not take more than 5-10 minutes to consume. One healthy item is typically plenty to fill the tummy for learning. Snacks are not required, it is a family decision to provide them. 

Visitors at Lunch: Anytime beginning the week of September 23rd, families are invited to join your student for lunch in the cafeteria for special occasions (no treats or food to share with the class is allowed) or just for fun. It is important that you consider if your child is ready to see their family and lunch and that they understand the family members will be leaving and the student will be returning to the classroom. If your child struggles with separation anxiety, it may be best to wait a while longer before coming to lunch. Other details about visiting can be found in the FWES Family/Student Handbook 2025-26 (updated by August 1st). 

 

Let’s Get Ready!

Section #3 Health and Physical Development

Week #3 at Home Activities: 

• I Can Tasks for Home- make a book to read
• Visit the Public Library this week- Look for some Kindergarten Books to read at home
• Pizza Scissor Practice

 

July 14, 2025 (scroll down for previous weekly messages if you missed them)

Hi Farmington Woods Kindergarten Families! 

Video Message from Mrs. Pierce, principal

Countdown to Kindergarten Week- 6 weeks to go!

Registered Kindergarten Families will get weekly communication to help support your student and your family's transition to kindergarten for the 2025-26 school year.

If you are a new family or missed a message, visit the Kindergarten ,Parent page on our website to see previous messages and activities sent. 

Video Message from Mrs. Pierce, Principal

This week you should receive the Kindergarten Summer Mailer with the following information: 

• FWES Back to School Events 2025-26
• Kinder Staggered Entry Dates, Schedule and Supply List
• Yubbler- PTA ordering resource for school supplies
• School Calendar 25-26
• Marbles Kinder Kick Off event
• FWES PTA Information 
• Volunteer Registration Information 

Let’s Get Ready! - Office of Early Learning publication to support families

The guide has several sections to guide families, along with some sample activities for each section to do at home to help prepare your kindergartner’s skills for kindergarten.

Section #2- Emotional and Social Development

General School Information to review: 

• Carpool Process at Elementary Schools Video 
• Carpool Process- espanol

(FWES will share our own school specific carpool video for the start of the year closer to the first week of school:) 

Week #2 At Home Activities: 

• Countdown Chain
• Tucker Turtle Story
• Teacher Tips- Cutting Jar

 

July 7, 2025

 

Hi Farmington Woods Kindergarten Families! 

Video Message from Mrs. Pierce, principal

We are busy getting things ready for the start of the 2025-26 school year and are excited to have your student and family joining us at FWES. 

Each week until kindergarten begins, we will send you information that will assist you and your student in preparing for the transition to kindergarten. It will include information for parent review and activities to do with your child, too. 

As we get closer to the start of the year, the weekly email will also contain some kindergarten specific school information…. And you’ll begin getting our whole school information sharing, too! 

Your family should receive a mailing especially for kindergarten families with information about Staggered Entry dates, school supplies and other important starting school information, in the next week or two. 

If you do not receive the mailing- please reach out to Mrs. Marcia Tracy-Dale (mtracy-dale@wcpss.net) to make sure we have your accurate home address on file. 

Kindergarten July Mailer Packet 2025

Inside you will find: 

• FWES Back to School Events 2025-26
• Kinder Staggered Entry Dates, Schedule and Supply List
• Yubbler- PTA ordering resource for school supplies
• School Calendar 25-26
• Marbles Kinder Kick Off event
• FWES PTA Information 
• Volunteer Registration Information 

The Parent Communication section of our website has a special section just for parents of kindergartners to support the transition to school. Additional resources will be added weekly and sent out via the school messenger system email and text. 

2025-2026 Kindergarten Information

**Note that information on the FWES Website is being updated for 25-26 and all information beyond the kindergarten page may not yet be updated. Please continue to check back for updated information and documents. 

Before/After School Care

Before School Care is linked to the YMCA who provide before school care AT Farmington Woods for students from 7:00am- 8:45am. 

The YMCA also offers off site after school programming for students at Farmington Woods. 

Farmington Woods After School Care is run by FWES staff. Registration information will be added to the website and shared in the next few weeks. The school’s fee based program typically has room for about 100 students. 

Register as a Volunteer! 

To participate in any capacity during the school day, you must be registered and approved as a volunteer with WCPSS. 

Registration for the 25-26 school year opened on July 1, 2025. Use the link above to access information about the process, along with a link and a QR code to register. Early registration and approval will also allow you to assist with PTA needs before school starts and at the start of the year! 

See you soon! 

Countdown to Kindergarten Week- 7 weeks to go!  

Transition to Kindergarten Video

Let’s Get Ready! - Office of Early Learning publication to support families

The guide has several sections to guide families; along with some sample activities for each section to do at home to help prepare your kindergartner’s skills for kindergarten

Section #1- Approaches to Play and Learning

Week #1 at Home Activities:  

• Feeling Faces Matching Game
• Tracing Zig Zags
• Tracing Turns