Forms: Please complete all required health, emergency and information forms. Forms are available here.

Photos: We need a photo of your child alone (head and shoulders only) and a photo of your immediate family. Please put your child’s name in the subject line and email both photos to Ellen Bortz, Gan Ami Special Projects Coordinator.

School Calendar: This is a google calendar which can be viewed, downloaded, and/or printed. You will also see a button for the “Open/Close Schedule,” which is a simple listing of all dates we are closed between opening day of August 27 and closing day of June 4.

Back-To-School Night: Please plan to join all Gan Ami parents (without children) on Wednesday evening, August 21 at 7:00 pm to meet your child’s teachers, see their classrooms, gather important information for the school year, and sign up for special events.

Meet and Greets: Please reserve Thursday morning, August 22 to bring your child to school to meet classmates and teachers. You will receive specific times in an August email.

Playground Date: The Gan Ami Parent Committee will host a school-wide adult-child playdate at Woodley Gardens Park, 10 am – 12 noon, Monday, August 26. Spend some time the day before school starts to reconnect with old friends and meet new friends!  

Tote Bag: Every child uses a Gan Ami Tote Bag to carry belongings between home and school during the school year. Do not send a separate backpack (that is a summer only practice). New-to-school children will get their Tote Bag at the Meet and Greet on August 22. Returning children have a tote bag, but a new one may be purchased for $10 in our office.

Lunch Boxes and Water Bottles: Your child will bring their own lunch box. We refrigerate lunches each day. All students are encouraged to bring water bottles which will remain in the classroom and available for frequent use.

Shoes: Sneakers are strongly encouraged. They are safest and most conducive for running and jumping and they provide stability and comfort while engaged in all aspects of play and learning.

Messy Clothes: Children’s work can be messy, as they learn by becoming immersed in each activity, whether that be painting or mulch play! Children should wear clothes that allow freedom of movement and may get dirty. Don’t send anything that will cause heartache if damaged.

Extra Clothes: Pack a complete change of clothes, with every item labeled, in a large Ziploc bag to stay in school. Don’t forget underwear and socks and include a change of shoes if possible. Bring this change of clothes to your child’s Meet and Greet. Be sure to switch out clothes as children grow and seasons change.

Diapers and Wipes: For children who are not yet potty-trained, please provide enough diapers and wipes to last at least a few months.

Extra Clothes and Diapers for Aftercare: Children staying at Gan Ami in our Kibbutz (aftercare) need an additional extra set of clothes and diapers to keep in the Kibbutz classroom.

Label Everything: Label everything! Please help us keep your child’s belongings in your possession and minimize the lost and found collection. It also makes the day flow more smoothly when we can readily give everyone their correct coat, hat, gloves, etc.

Tissues: Each family is asked to bring 1-2 boxes of tissues for use in their child’s classroom.

Drop-off/Pick-up: For morning drop-off, we run a carpool line to the front entrance of school. New-to-school families will hear additional information about this process. For afternoon pick-up, adults enter the school and meet the child at their classroom door and sign them out for the day.

Facebook: Please like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram. We share lots of fun and helpful school information. You will also receive an invitation for a private Facebook group for your child’s class.

Parent Handbook: By registering for school, you agreed to abide by all the practices and policies of Temple Beth Ami and Gan Ami. Please review the Parent Handbook here.  

Please watch for further emails in August, including class rosters and welcome letters from teachers.