I would have to agree with zk, and wonder if you are being a bit reactionary flu. My daughter also started kindergarten this week, probably at the same school as your daughter. While I have encountered a few difficult situations overall I have been impressed by the behavior of the children I have witnessed. It is much better than what I see at the adjoining park during evenings and weekends. As far as the sucking up, what I see is parents with the second or third child with the same teacher so of course they will be friendly! Just relax, things will work out.
And by the way, just about everyone I know with a kindergartener at that school reads and writes at first grade level and is bilingual so really our kids are just average