Welcome Back to School!
General Readiness Checklist
Update Brightwheel
Update your child’s Brightwheel profile to make sure we have up-to-date information. Remember that you can message all staff or admin only through Brightwheel message! This is the most efficient way to connect with your child’s classroom teachers as well as drivers. We have a designated parent coordinator in charge of checking messages promptly as well. Most importantly you need to add:
Parents/Guardian name and phone numbers
Emergency contact name and phone numbers
Allergies and medical conditions
Student profile photo, so our drivers and new teachers can identify your child
Student birthdays so we can celebrate with our kids in the classroom and help all the teachers and classmates to get to know your kids better!
Authorize Pick-Up and Inform Child
Give your child’s day school the authorization to release them to Immersive Beijing for pick up each day. Our van has school logo on it and are easy to identify. If some schools have relatively fewer students to pick up, our teachers may use their own vehicles. Our program carries additional liability coverage for staff using personal vehicles for student transportation, and all drivers are required to maintain valid insurance and meet our safety requirements.
Our drivers are trusted team members, each has done their background check, and each seat is equipped with a car seat. We will update you promptly every day on Brightwheel (via a “check in” notification) once your child is safely on the van.
For everyone’s safety and schedule timeliness, we kindly ask parents to abide by the following:
Not to directly visit school to “assist” pick-up/or be immediately visible to your child during pick-up time — if your child sees you, they may become attached and delay the schedule for the rest of the group.
Stay phone-connected during pick-up hours in case we need to reach you.
Notify us via Brightwheel messaging an hour in advance of pick up time if your child will be absent from pick up and after school, to prevent our drivers and staff from unnecessary urgent concern, from delaying all other student schedules, and to avoid a fee for non-notification.
Label Everything
Water bottles, lunch boxes, jackets, backpacks — it saves so much time and avoids lost items! Please also try to collect all the belongings when you pick up your child. Train your child to be responsible for their own things!
Notify Us of Planned Absence
If your child will regularly miss the after school program, arrive late, or leave early, please inform us in advance. Additionally, if you plan to be away for part of the week due to travel, kindly keep us updated.
Practice Chinese at Home
Saying "hello" (你好) or "thank you" (谢谢) in Chinese at home can significantly boost your child’s confidence and help them quickly get back into a positive mood for learning. Even if you're not fluent in the language, simply showing genuine interest and making the effort to use these simple phrases is a powerful way to encourage and support your child’s language development.
Set a Positive Tone
As you talk about starting school again (or starting with us as a new after school member), speak positively! You have a powerful impact on your child’s perceptions and attitudes. A positive attitude can influence your child’s enthusiasm and willingness to embrace the learning environment. Encouraging excitement and confidence helps set the stage for a successful and enjoyable experience. Learning a new language and being in a new environment can be challenging for kids, but we witnessed students transform and be resilient. We deeply appreciate your trust in our team and the unlimited potential of your own child to adapt and grow!
Fill out a piano lesson interest form
We are excited to offer convenient, individualized piano lessons in our on-campus piano and music room! Piano lessons will be scheduled outside of each student’s Chinese language and enrichment class time, allowing students to participate without missing any part of their regular program. We offer a free trial lesson that gives students the opportunity to meet the piano teacher, explore the instrument, and see whether the program is a good fit.
If you are interested in this program, we ask that you fill out this interest form, so we will find the best time slot for the class.
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Consistent Routines Help Young Learners Thrive. Drop-off and pick-up at consistent times can help your child feel safe and confident. If you are dropping your child off, using a familiar goodbye routine helps ease separation and encourages independence.
Comfort Items Are Welcome. If your child needs it, a small comfort item (like a favorite plush toy) can be a big help in the early weeks.
Snack Time Matters. We provide one afternoon snack daily. However, if your child tends to get hungry (especially if they don’t finish their school lunch) please pack an extra snack. This is very common for young kids!
Nap Needs? Let Us Know! While we don’t have built-in nap time, if your child still needs rest in the afternoon, we’re happy to find a peaceful spot where they can relax. Just let us know in advance!
Spare Set of Clothes. Leaving a spare set of clean clothes in their cubby may be useful, just in case!
Patience During the Transition. We expect the transition period to be different for every child. On the first couple days of school, we expect young TKers and some Kinders to be adjusting and potentially uncomfortable in a new environment. Your child will have a designated cubby for their belongings, a Chinese homeroom, and consistent Teacher and TAs to provide consistency in their daily experience. Please be patient with them and us, as they will be going through so many new experiences in such a short time!
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Before school starts, help your child develop independence in using the bathroom, including with standard toilet height with stools and washing hands.
While we do expect students to be bathroom trained when they start our program, we understand some young children may sometimes need assistance. Please let us know if your child needs bathroom help.
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Our teacher’s will continue to snap photos of students in action during after school and load photos to Brightwheel, shared only to your child’s class. Photos are loaded when teacher’s have a moment of time - may be during the afternoon or in the evening. You can also continue to expect newsletters for each class, to keep you informed about their learnings and to help you support them at home in continued practice.
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We encourage you to pack your child’s extra snacks or lunch (especially on Minimum Days) in containers that they know how to open and close themselves. This provides them with independence and confidence as they eat with their peers.
If we see them having challenges, do not worry though, we are happy to help them if needed!
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For incoming TK/K students, we follow a schedule that provides students with a balance of learning and play. We know the importance of outdoor free play at the youngest ages, so we ensure there is ample opportunity for the students to get fresh air, sun, and movement!
Arrival
Recess
Chinese Session (Includes Movement and Singing)
Recess and Snack
Enrichment Session
Closing Circle Time
Outdoor Play and Dismissal
For students with van pick-up before 1 pm, the recommended parent pick up time is 5:15-5:45 PM, which is a bit earlier than older classes as the full school day can feel very long for some young students.
