Back-to-School Reminders!

Jessi Mays
5 days ago
6 min read

Communication

We communicate with families in a variety of ways. Always feel free to ask questions!

Tadpoles: This app is extremely important at MAYS! This is the way teachers communicate with parents throughout the day, along with notes, reminders, pictures, medication updates, documenting small injuries, daily reports, event information, and more. Tadpoles is our primary communication system.

Procare: We use Procare to process tuition, organize medical information, and keep up with all the important information about your family. You will need this app to pay tuition, purchase uniforms, and send over paperwork updates.

GiveButter: The Mays School PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) uses Givebutter for all of their event tickets, fundraising, auction items, and more! While you may not need the app for a few months, it’s a handy way to donate to teacher appreciation, pay PTO dues, or simply grab a coffee on your way to work.

Important Emails: You are always welcome to email us with any questions or updates.

General emails: info@mays.school

Paperwork questions: admissions@mays.school

Curriculum coordinators: amanda@mays.school and cindy@mays.school

Billing/tuition questions: kenneth@mays.school

Classroom teachers: firstname@mays.school (for example ixel@mays.school is our Willow Room lead teacher).

How to use Tadpoles

How to use Procare

Attendance

Nursery School & Preschool (0-3 years by September 1, 2026): No requirements regarding attendance, but please notify us before 9:00 AM if your child is going to be absent. You can mark your child absent on Tadpoles, which will be sent to the front office and your child’s teacher. You are welcome to drop off before 9:30 AM and pick up any time. Classes officially start at 8:30 AM—check your child’s schedule for details. Dropping off during lunch, nap time, or prime learning times causes a disruption to the classroom. It is important that your arrival and departure each day are as consistent as possible to create a routine for your child.

Pre-K4, Kindergarten, & Elementary (4-12 years by September 1, 2026): Students are expected to attend school every day that it is in session. Parents or guardians must notify the school before 8:30 AM on the day of an absence. Arrival time is between 8:00 AM and 8:30AM; a child could be marked tardy after 8:30 AM. Absences may be excused for reasons such as illness, medical appointments, family emergencies, or religious observances. Unexcused absences are those that do not fall under the excused categories or when no prior notification is given. Unexcused absences cannot exceed 20 days or 10% of the school year.

Dress-Code/Uniforms

Dress-code for all ages (more details can be found in the handbook, but these are the common questions)

Shoes: Sneakers or soft-soled shoes with enclosed toes are required each day for outdoor play. Crocs, open-toed sandals, flip-flops, loose-fitting shoes, high heels, dress-up shoes, and backless shoes are not allowed.

No jewelry. If your child’s ears are pierced, then only small studs are allowed with locking backs. Removable earrings are not allowed.

Undergarments should not be visible. Shorts must be worn under dresses and skirts. Clothing should cover all undergarments. Socks should be properly fitted and have grips to prevent falls. Clothes should be easy for students to self-dress and allow for freedom of movement!

Uniform

Pre-K 4, Kindergarten, and Elementary students must wear a MAYS-branded top in any color. Students must remain in MAYS-branded tops during the school day. Tops cannot be covered, but jackets on the playground are acceptable. MAYS-branded sweaters are available for classroom and field trip use.

Students on field trips must wear a navy-blue MAYS top and navy blue or khaki shorts, pants, or skirts. The MAYS logo must always be visible while on or off campus.

Uniforms can be purchased in the front office any school day.

Lunch

School Lunch: You are welcome to sign-up for school lunch by completing the back-to-school survey or simply emailing info@mays.school. Simply Fresh Kitchen is our lunch catering company. For $150 per month, your child will receive a hot lunch delivered fresh. Simply Fresh Kitchen can accommodate most dietary restrictions or preferences. Their meals are 75% organic, cooked fresh, and age appropriate for children 1 to 12 years of age.

Home Lunch: Families are welcome to bring their child’s lunch from home. Please label your child’s lunch box and lunch containers with their first name and last initial. We are happy to warm your child’s food from home (2 minutes or less). If you would like us to warm your child’s lunch, make sure it is in a microwave-safe container and place a clearly written note on the container that you want us to warm—we cannot transfer food from one container to another.

You can change your lunch plan by emailing us before the 20^th of each month.
Breakfast is included in Before-Care and snacks are included for everyone.
Monthly menus can be found on our website.

Classroom Shoes

To help keep our classrooms clean, comfortable, and developmentally supportive, we follow a classroom/outdoor shoe system each day.

What should my child wear to school?

The shoes your child arrives with each day will be their OUTDOOR shoes. Your child will also keep a pair of CLASSROOM shoes at school.

What happens at arrival? If arriving in the classroom, please help your child remove their outdoor shoes. They may change into their classroom shoes, wear grippy socks, or go barefoot. If arriving on the playground, please ensure your child is wearing outdoor shoes or rain boots.

What happens at pick-up? If picking up in the classroom, please remind your child to leave their classroom shoes at school for the next day. If picking up on the playground, your child will already be wearing their outdoor shoes or rain boots.

Why do we go shoe-free indoors? Going shoe-free in the classroom is a simple but meaningful part of our philosophy regarding how children learn and grow. When children are barefoot, the small muscles in their feet and ankles strengthen naturally. This supports balance, coordination, and the development of healthy arches.

Being barefoot helps children feel more connected to their space, encouraging calm, intentional movement throughout the day.

Removing outdoor shoes also helps keep our classroom carpets clean from playground dirt and sand.

Labeling!

It is very important that your child’s first name and last initial is clearly labeled on all of their belongings including their shoes, clothing, blankets, water cups, milk cups, snacks, backpack, and everything else brought from home.

We love it when families use Name Bubbles to label their belongings because they stay on through the dishwasher and laundry! Click this link to shop and Name Bubbles will donate 20% of your purchase back to our school!

Library/Flex Spaces

How to check out books from the library

Our school library is open to families from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM each day.

Each family receives a school-issued library card during their first week of school.

To check out books:

Find a book from the library
Bring it to the front office
An admin will scan and check it out for you

Books are due two weeks after checking out. To return books, simply place them in the return basket in the front office. If you need a replacement library card, please email info@mays.school.

Please know that our other flex spaces and classrooms are not available to hang out in. We know they are fun, but let’s keep the excitement for during the school day when trained teachers can help the children use the equipment safely and property. This includes the Bluebonnet Gym, Art Studios, Music Room, and Science Room. Thank you for your help with this!

Morning Drop Off Zone

We offer a drop-off zone each morning between 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM for Pre-K4 through 5^th grade students. Cars can start lining up as early as 7:50 AM, but not sooner. Parents must pull up to the designated drop off area and school personal and volunteers will open the car door and help your kiddo out. Families with little ones are not yet eligible to use the drop off zone; please park and walk your little ones to class.

Single-file traffic: Cars must remain in a single-file, curb-side lane. Passing other vehicles in the drop-off zone is prohibited.

Quick goodbyes: Parents should say goodbyes and ensure backpacks are easily accessible before reaching the front of the line.

Exit on the passenger’s side: For safety reasons, students must exit the car on the passenger’s side and cannot walk around the front or back of your car.

Families with children of all ages are always welcome walk their child to class each day! We have an open-door policy for parents.