Primary Division Notes

List of 6 items.

• Sept. 1

  Dear Primary Division Parents,
  
  

  Our weekly Primary Division Chapel begins on Friday, Sept. 5. Chapel is always held on the last day of our school week. Our Chapel service is rooted in the Episcopal tradition and is a wonderful age-appropriate exercise in calming the soul and entering a worshipful space of Mind, Body, and Spirit. While it is a service with an Anglican foundation, it is our intent that the service is respectful of students and families from all religious traditions. In Chapel, our students listen to stories from the Bible in order to help us think about ways to better love ourselves, better love one another, and better love God. Music, storytelling, and prayer are the primary components of our Chapel time.
  
  

  We will begin the year celebrating our Chapel services in Primary until repair and renovation work is completed in the Chapel of St. Edward the Confessor.
  
  

  Chapel is open to family members. Some students are able to handle the separation from their parents after the Chapel service better than others. Follow your student to see whether spending Chapel time together is a benefit or a stress.
  
  

  If you do attend, come to the Loeffler Primary Division Building by 10:20 a.m. We will have chairs set up in the main and Kindergarten hallways. Please find a seat and wait for the classes to be seated. Once settled, your student’s teacher will send them to you. If there is room once all classes are seated you may move your chairs forward. Keeping parents and students seated in the back allows a better view for all students and is less of a distraction during Chapel time. During Chapel, we model that it is a peaceful and quiet listening time.
  
  

  4-Day students do not attend Chapel.
  
  

  Take Care,
  

  
  Clint McEwen
  Primary Division Director
  mcewenc@casady.org
  
  

  Half-Day Families and Playground Availability
  We are fortunate to have a wonderful playground at Casady, and we love to use it! Our playground is available to families after school hours, but not during the school day. It is used by Primary and Lower Divisions, and the scheduling at times is tight. Thank you for your help!
  
  

  Parent Information Nights
  Our Parent Information Nights are coming up. Four- and Five-Day PreK will meet Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 6:00 p.m. Kindergarten will meet Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 6:00 p.m. in the Loeffler Primary Division Building. This is a great opportunity to come and hear about our curriculum. You will have a chance to hear each of your student’s teachers discuss the “how’s and why’s” of our Montessori-based education. This event is intended for parents, and childcare will not be available during these times.

• Aug. 24

  Dear Primary Division Parents,
  
  

  It has been so much fun to have our building full of students who are excited to begin their new school year! Seeing old friends and making new ones is part of what makes this time of year so special. Here are a few reminders and announcements for the week ahead:

  • Our Wednesday Schedule begins this week. We will have early care beginning at 7:30 a.m. Our regular drop-off begins at 8:45 a.m. Please try to have your student to School by 9:05 a.m.
  • Wednesday is Crazy Sock Day. Have fun showing some flair on your feet!

  
  

  Take Care,
  

  
  Clint McEwen
  Primary Division Director
  mcewenc@casady.org
  
  Lunch Reminder
  We are a “Nut Aware” school, which means we do not allow our students to bring or consume peanuts or tree nuts on campus. This includes products that “may have been manufactured in a facility with peanuts or tree nuts. Many cereal, granola, or protein bars fall into this category. Look for items labeled “school-friendly” as a safe alternative. A “school-friendly protein bars” search on Amazon will turn up lots of options. Thank you for your help in keeping all of our students safe.
  
  

  Student Support Services

  We’re excited to share that our Lower/Primary Division Counselor, Mrs. Emily Morris, welcomed a baby boy into her family over the summer! She is on maternity leave at the start of the school year and plans to return by the end of September. In her absence, we have support in place to ensure our students continue to receive the care and guidance they need. If you have any questions or need assistance during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Director of Student Support Services Samantha Kobs at (405) 749-3129.
  
  

  Speech, Language, and Hearing Screenings
  We are pleased to offer an opportunity for all Primary Division students to be screened for any speech, language, fluency, and hearing development. The speech, language, and hearing screenings will be provided by Sensational Kids, Inc. at no charge to you starting the month of September. Parents will be notified if their student’s screening suggests a further evaluation is needed. 

  
  If you do not wish to have this screening, please fill out this form.

  
  If there are questions about this service, please feel free to contact Director of Student Support Services Samantha Kobs.

• Aug. 17

  Dear Primary Division Parents,
  
  

  Our first day of school is right around the corner! We’ve been enjoying a quieter summer, preparing classrooms, organizing materials, and making sure everything is ready for your student to have a smooth and joyful start to the year.
  
  Orientation is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 20, and we can’t wait to welcome you and your student to Primary Division. Your orientation time should have been emailed to you on July 10. If you did not receive your “Welcome to…” email, please contact the Primary Division office.
  
  Orientation is for both you and your student, and we ask that students come in uniform. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone and beginning another wonderful school year together!

  
  

  Take Care,
  

  
  Clint McEwen
  Primary Division Director
  mcewenc@casady.org

• Aug. 3 - Back to School Orientation

  Dear Primary Division Parents,
  
  

  Welcome to the 2025–26 school year! I hope you found some joy, got some rest, and made special memories with your families. Here at School, we’ve taken this quieter season to reflect, prepare our environments, and plan for the year ahead. As our preparations shift into full gear tomorrow, we’re feeling a renewed sense of purpose and anticipation. If you have any questions as we approach the start of the year, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we are here to support you. On behalf of our dedicated faculty, we are excited to partner with you in your student’s journey and to begin another wonderful chapter together!
  
  

  If you haven’t already, please log into your MyCasady account to see if you have any notifications to complete forms before the start of school. Forms can be accessed by selecting the "PD Forms and Resources" icon on the Resource Board. If you have difficulty completing forms or have questions, call our Administrative Assistant Ms. Dillier at (405) 749-3148.
  
  

  While you are on MyCasady please review the Primary Division Parent and Student Handbook. After reviewing, please share this information with your student and other family members. This informative booklet covers procedures for most of our School activities. If you have any questions concerning a topic, please feel free to call the Primary Division office. Also, please review the School Uniform Information. We will continue Spirit Wear Fridays and have fun socks/leggings on Wednesdays.
  

   

  So many hours of thought and hard work have gone into getting us ready for this school year! Casady is a special place, and it is our community that truly makes for the Casady experience. 
   
  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. We want to ensure you and your student feel welcome and prepared for the start of school.

  
  

  Take Care,
  

  
  Clint McEwen
  Primary Division Director
  mcewenc@casady.org
  
  

  Automobile Identification
  Parents, students with cars, and faculty will receive a vehicle decal on Orientation Day. Cars displaying decals on the lower driver's-side portion of their windshield will be admitted through our Welcome Center at all times. Cars without decals will be asked to stop and check in with Security.
  
  

  Loeffler Primary Division Building Security
  Our exterior doors are locked during school and after school hours. All faculty have ID badges that include functionality to unlock access-controlled doors. All visitors must enter through the main doors and check-in with Ms. Dillier. 
  
  

  Orientation and First Day of School
  You should have received my email on July 10 stating your orientation and “meet the teacher” times on Aug. 20. If you did not receive this email, please contact the Primary Division Office. Our first regular day of classes is Aug. 21.
  
  

  At our orientation meeting, we will cover:
  

  • Carpool Procedures
  • Classroom Procedures from Homeroom Teachers
  • Casady Parents’ Organization (CPO) Information
  • Big picture overview of the school year
  • Time for Q&A

  During the school year, our doors open for Early Care at 7:30 a.m. Our school day begins at 8:10 a.m. (Wednesdays 9:10 a.m. - see details below), and students are released at 2:55 p.m.
  
  Please make every effort to have your student at School no later than 8:10 a.m. so that they can be prepared for their classes.
  
  More information about arrival and dismissal procedures will be provided at Orientation.
  
  

  I am excited to announce that all of our Primary Division faculty from last year will be returning in their previous roles. While losing faculty is a natural part of the life of a school, it is something to celebrate when we have all of our teachers return. Thank you for all that you do to support them.
  
  

  We will have a Parent Information Night to give you all a chance to hear from all of your teachers and get an understanding of the “How’s and Why’s” behind our Montessori-Based Instruction.
  

  • 4-Day and 5-Day Pre-K Parent Info Night
    • Tuesday, Sept. 9 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. 
  • Kindergarten Parent Info Night
    • Wednesday, Sept. 10 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

  Registration is still open for Casady's After School Care program. To register, please log into your MyCasady account and locate the Extended Program Registration tile on the Resource Board. If you have questions or would like additional information about Casady's Extended Programs, please visit the extended programs page on our website or contact Extended Programs Manager Joella Pearson.

  
  Wednesday Schedule
  As a reminder, there is a Wednesday schedule we will follow every Wednesday starting Aug. 27. We hope you can take advantage of the late start on Wednesday to spend some time with your students or simply let them sleep a bit longer. However, if you find that it is best to drop them off at their regular times, we will have early drop-off for your students.
  
  

  Regular Schedule	Wednesday Schedule
  Early Care: 7:30-7:45 a.m. Arrival: 7:45-8:05 a.m. Start of Morning Group Time: 8:10 a.m.	Early Arrival drop-off period: 7:30-8:00 a.m. Arrival: 8:45-9:05 a.m. Start of Morning Group Time: 9:10 a.m.

  
  Every Wednesday except the first day of school, the beginning of school day activities will shift back an hour. Wednesday arrival/carpool time begins at 8:45 a.m., with school starting at 9:05 a.m. Families are encouraged to take advantage of the extra hour of time in the mornings when they are able. If your student receives outside services, this would be a great time to schedule it.
  
  However, we know that some families may still need to drop off their students during their regular arrival time on Wednesdays. Students needing to arrive during this regular 7:30-8:00 a.m. window are welcome to do so. They will spend that time in monitored classrooms at no extra cost for families. 

   

  Speech, Language, and Hearing Screenings
  We are pleased to offer an opportunity for all Primary Division students to be screened for any speech, language, fluency, and hearing development. The speech, language, and hearing screenings will be provided by Sensational Kids, Inc. at no charge to you starting the month of September. Parents will be notified if their student’s screening suggests a further evaluation is needed. 
  
  

  If you DO NOT wish to have this screening, please fill out this form

  
  If there are questions about this service, please feel free to contact Director of Student Support Services Samantha Kobs.
  
  

  First Day of School Jitters
  As we prepare for the start of a new school year, it’s natural for some children to experience a few nerves, especially when it comes to separating from caregivers. Whether this is your student’s first time in a school setting or they’re transitioning into a new grade level, these feelings are completely normal. To help support your student’s emotional confidence and ease the transition, Student Support Services has put together a resource guide with simple, age-appropriate strategies for managing separation anxiety. From goodbye rituals to calming tools, these ideas are meant to equip both you and your student with helpful ways to approach the first few days of school. You can view or download the resource here. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Director of Student Support Services Samantha Kobs if you have any questions or if we can support your family in any way.

• July 15 - Mid Summer Update

  Dear Primary Division Parents,
  
  

  Happy Mid-Summer!
  
  You should have received an email this past week containing your student’s placement and orientation times. If you have any questions about this, or did not receive the email, please contact our Division Office at 405-749-3148 or dillierk@casady.org
  
  

  We hope you are having a wonderful summer and are as excited as we are about the start of a fantastic school year!
  
  

  Casady Primary Division School Bags
  Our school bags are provided to you each year at no cost. We ask that all students use these bags instead of other types of backpacks, etc.
  
  

  If you would like to have your student's name embroidered on their school bag for the cost of $15, please submit this form by Friday, July 18, to have it ready to be picked up at orientation. The embroidery is optional. All charges will be added to your student's book bill. Bags not embroidered will have the student's name written by their teacher. All Primary students will receive one school bag at the beginning of the year.
  
  

  Please fill out one form for each Primary Student.
  
  

  Bag information
  

  • The bag is considered part of the school uniform. Please keep them free of patches, decorations, key chains, etc. They are a distraction to students.
  • Bags are spot clean/hand-wash recommended. Machine wash can lead to shrinking and fading.
  • Replacement or extra bags can be purchased through Casady Cupboard.
    
    

  Lunch Boxes
  Students may choose their own lunch boxes. Here are a few things to know about school lunches. We will be able to answer more detailed questions at orientation.
  

  • We cannot refrigerate or heat items packed in lunch boxes.
  • We want our students to be able to manage their containers independently. It’s a good idea to purchase the containers this summer. Serve your student some meals in them and have your student practice opening and closing the containers and lunch box on their own. Some can be tricky and require strong hands! This is great for developing those fine motor skills. Of course, we will help, but as with all things in Primary, our goal is independence.
  • We ask each student to bring a placemat from home to keep their food on while we eat. The ideal size is smaller than 12”x18” to accommodate all students at the table. Cloth napkins work great for this purpose.
  • We are a “nut aware” campus. We ask that you do not send any nut products to School. Accidents do happen, so if you forget, we will contain any nut products and send them home. We may request that you label other allergens depending on your student’s peers’ needs. We will give you more information on this at orientation.
    
    

  Back to School Playdates - Casady Parents' Organization
  Aug. 16
  Primary Division Playground
  
  A casual, come-and-go event hosted by your CPO. Please join us to connect or reconnect with your peer families.
  

  • PreK: 9:00-10:00 a.m.
  • Kindergarten: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
    
    

  Take Care,
  

  
  Clint McEwen
  Primary Division Director
  mcewenc@casady.org

• June 13 - Early Summer Reminders

  Dear Primary Division Parents,
  

   

  Our incoming, or new to Primary, students will receive their class placements in July 10.
   
  There is a uniform exchange for gently used uniforms set up in the Primary Division lobby. Feel free to drop-off, swap, or pick-up uniforms during summer office hours. Thank you for your help with keeping the tables tidy and organized.

   

  Take Care,
  

  
  Clint McEwen
  Primary Division Director
  mcewenc@casady.org