New Family Info
Welcome to the Indigo Program!
This New Family Information section has been designed specifically for families newly entering the Indigo Program. Below you will find answers for many of your burning questions, as well as useful information to help you prepare for the start of the new school year. Parent participation is an integral part of our program. To make the transition a smooth one for your student(s) and yourself, do keep yourself informed of school events and training sessions.
New Families...this is IMPORTANT! Upon completion of the school registration process as described on the Enrollment page, please download the 2011-12 Membership Packet. Read all information carefully. Print, fill out, and return the forms (pages 15 - 23) with all the requested documents by June 9th to the school office.
Contact Information
We will need your contact information to start sending you important information before the school year begins. Due to district closures over the summer, we are not always able to get your contact information prior to the beginning of the academic year. If you would like to receive updated information over the summer, please send us your e-mail address and the names of the adults and children in your family, as well as their grade level. Please send to indigoprogram@gmail.com [helpful if you use the Subject Line: New Family Contact Info].
If you have questions during the summer, you can send them to indigoprogram@gmail.com. Please be patient; it might take a few days to get a reply during the summer vacation.
Buddy Families
Indigo offers a buddy family program. A buddy family is a family that has been at Indigo for at least a year and can help you navigate Indigo as a new family. If you are interested in being assigned a buddy family please contact indigoprogram@gmail.com.
Other Important Dates
The district calendar lists all school holidays and other important dates for the
2011-12 school year. It can be found on the Oak Grove School District website.
Remember: Please bookmark and check on this page and the member site often … it is updated as information becomes available.
Indigo Families: Please read this latest set of helpful answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) - updated December 2010 (PDF) .
FAQs
1. When will I need to start working? Training begins the first week of school and continues the 3rd week of school (the second week of training is for returning families). Parents will begin working in the classroom the week of September 13, 2010.
2. When will I find out what my work day is? Ideally parents will know by the end of the 2nd week of school, sometimes this process can be difficult as the class coordinators try to make the schedule and it may be the 3rd week before it is finalized.
3. When do I find out what committee I am on? You should know by the end of September.
4. When do I find out the name of my child's teacher and what classroom they are in? You will receive this information at the New Parent Orientation.
5. What time does school start and end? School starts at 8:15AM for all grade levels. It ends at 2:15PM for grades K-3 and 2:30PM for grades 4-8. On Tuesdays, all students are done at 1:35PM.
6. What do I do if I need to change some of the information on my forms? If the form is your official school enrollment information you need to contact Cheryl in the office. The school office will be closed all of July and will reopen sometime in August. If it is information regarding your membership packet you should send any update to indigoprogram@gmail.com.
7. What school supplies does my child/teacher need? For the first day of school all your child needs to bring are a backpack and a lunch box or lunch money. Teachers will let you know what supplies they might need during the school year.
8. Where do I go on the first day of school? Families are invited to congregate on the blacktop next to the play structure. The Indigo bell is a series of 3 buzzes. Typically students in grades K-1 will line up with their teachers while students in grades 2-8 will walk to class by themselves. You will receive more information about this at the New Family Orientation.
9. How do I buy hot lunch? Information is sent home the first week of school or questions can be answered in the front office. If you need more information over the summer, contact the district office lunch program at 227-8300, ext. 237.
10. Can we buy several hot lunch tickets at a time in advance? The district has a program where you can prepay for lunches. This can be done at the front office.
11. Do we have a lost and found area? There is a lost and found facility located in the cafeteria in a cart next to the stage.
12. What if my child is late in the morning? Children arriving late must check in at the front office.
13. What if I want to pick up my child early for an appointment? You must go to the front office to check your child out. Do not go to your child’s classroom.
14. Where are the parent folders? The parent folders are a place that parents can leave information for other parents in regards to their committee jobs, enrichment centers, or classroom commitment. They are located in the file cabinets in the parent room.
15. Where is the PTA black box for payments? It is attached to the file cabinets in the parent room. It is on the side closest to the far wall when you enter the parent room.
16. When a relative is in town, can they work for me in the classroom? Volunteers in the classroom must be prescreened prior to working in the classroom to ensure our children’s safety. For this reason relatives cannot work in the classroom unless you (and they) have approval from the membership committee.
17. How do I contact the teacher if I need to? The teachers will give you their contact information at Back to School Night as well as the best way to contact them. You can also contact them through the school phone number 408-225-1881.
18. How many field trips will I need to drive on during the year and when will I find out the dates? Families are required to drive/chaperone on three (3) field trips per child/per year. A tentative field trip schedule for each class will be available at Back to School Night. Only pre-screened family members who have been approved to drive by the membership committee will be able to drive on field trips.