← Family CompassFirst day guide

Getting ready for day one

What to pack, how to layer, where to go, and how to make the first morning calm.

What it looks like packed

A packed Wind Rose backpack

An illustrated flat-lay of a packed Wind Rose backpack: rain jacket, rain pants, boots, a warm hat and mittens, a roll-top dry bag of extra clothes, a bento lunch, two snack pouches, a straw water bottle, and one small keyring comfort item.Rain jacketRain pantsRain bootsWarm hatGlovesDry bag of extra clothesBackpack with a chest strapGrain, protein, fruit or vegTwo snacks, few wrappersOne small comfort itemStraw bottle

Rain jacket, rain pants, boots, a warm hat and gloves, a dry bag of extra clothes, a bento lunch, a straw water bottle, two snacks, and one small comfort item.

Everything we recommend by name is on our gear page.

What to pack
Every day

Rain gear

Waterproof, not water-resistant. Spraying it with Tech Wash adds water resistance.

Read moreShow less
  • Skip overall-style rain gear with shoulder straps. Taking the jacket off for a bathroom break in the woods is tricky.
  • A full shell suit, or a jacket with separate rain pants, is easier out there.
  • Two-piece rain gear if your child is learning to use the toilet.
  • Croc rain boots are light and hold up well.
Fall through spring

Cold weather

Water-resistant gloves, a warm hat, and a layer that insulates.

Read moreShow less
  • A warm hat, especially if the rain gear has no hood or your child won't wear one.
  • An extra insulated puffer, for cold days or if the rain suit isn't insulated.
  • A neck gaiter instead of a scarf. Why →

How to layer →

Every day

Extra clothes

A full change of clothes, packed in a dry bag.

The same bag carries the wet clothes home after an accident.

Every day

Snacks and water

Two snacks, with as few wrappers as possible. What we carry in, we carry out.

A water bottle with a straw spills less.

Read moreShow less
  • Bottles with rubber bottoms are hard to fit in a backpack.
  • Snacks and lunch differ by program. What to send →
Independence

The backpack

Your child should be able to get everything in and out without help.

A chest strap spreads the weight.

Read moreShow less
  • Keep it light enough for your child to carry alone. About 10–15% of body weight, so 4–6 lbs for a 40 lb child.
  • Children carry their packs a long way outdoors.
  • Skip rubberized snack bags and lunchbox edges. They make packing on their own harder.
Optional

One comfort item

A small transition item is welcome, like a keychain or something that fits in one hand.

Read moreShow less

Stuffed animals and larger items get lost, add weight, and pull attention away from class. The item stays in the backpack or cubby during the day.

Lunch

Packing a lunch that travels

A bento-style box with several small compartments is easier for a child to carry than one heavy lunch box.

In the box
  • A dairy, a protein, a grain, and 2 fruits or veggies
  • As few wrappers as possible
  • No microwave or refrigerator here: heat food before it goes into a thermos, or send food that isn't temperature-sensitive
  • No ice pack needed
  • Don't put the lunch container inside a thermal sleeve

What each program needs →   Containers we like →

Drop-off and pickup

Where to go, and when

Drop-off is 8:30–8:45. Pickup is 3:30. Sign in and out by scanning the Brightwheel QR code with your phone.

ShireDrop-off at school, 3514 W Government Way. Pickup at the park corner, 36th Ave W and Discovery Park Blvd, south side.
RivendellDrop-off at the Discovery Park Playground, south of the visitor center. Pickup at school, 3514 W Government Way.

Doing one program instead of both? The handoff is at 12:00. One-program days →

Running late, or sending someone new? What to do →

Tips for a good first day
Role-play the dayPractice the morning routine, the goodbye at drop-off, the day, and pickup. Rehearsing lowers the worry.
Pick the outfit the night beforeA rushed morning is a harder morning.
Keep choices fewFewer decisions and changes make the morning predictable.
Sing the songSing "Grown-ups Come Back" together when goodbyes feel hard.
Make a picture scheduleA visual schedule at home that mirrors the school day.
Play schoolSet up a pretend school with crafts, puzzles, or group games.
Visit usCome find the drop-off spot, the coat hooks, where lunch happens, and the bathrooms.
Read about itStorybooks about starting preschool.
Practice doing it aloneIn the weeks before, practice shoes, handwashing, and packing a backpack.
Staying in touch

Where you'll hear from us

BrightwheelWhat your child is learning, naps, and bathroom visits. You can turn on daily learning summaries in the app settings.
Every two weeksA fuller summary of your child's learning.
SlackCommunity updates and longer messages. Running late? Message your child's teacher on Slack, or message us in Brightwheel.
InstagramLearning moments and activities, with children's faces hidden. Follow @windrosemontessori.

Slack guidelines →   Who to message →

On day one

Bring a family photo

Bring a family photo for our family wall.

Tuck a second one, laminated, in your child's backpack along with an extra snack. It's part of our emergency kit. Earthquake-ready backpack →