Welcome to Kindergarten!

1. Welcome to Kindergarten! Rick Hansen Public School 2013-2014

2. The Kindergarten Team • Teacher and DECE ~ work together in the classroom both assessing, planning, teaching and working with all students. • The SERT (special education resource teacher), Librarian and Principal as well as all other teachers work with the kindergarten team and students to ensure a successful and positive learning community. • The whole school – All staff members work together to create a seamless day

3. Getting Ready for School For school your child needs… • To eat and use the washroom independently • Wear shoes (no laces and no Crocs please!) and clothing they can take on and off independently • Labeled pair of Velcro indoor running shoes and outdoor shoes. • Backpack: large enough to hold a folder (8.5x11), a lunch bag and a library book. Please avoid Roller Backpacks • A labeled spare change of clothes (accidents happen)

4. Entry & Dismissal Entry - Goodbyes are hard! • Say goodbye at the gate when you drop your child off. Dismissal - Safety first! Please be patient. • Students are only released to parents and/or approved caregivers • Written permission is required if you are having someone new or different picking up your child. • Fall/Spring months – outside dismissal • Winter months – inside dismissal

5. A Day at R.H.P.S. 8:55-9:10 Teachers on duty 9:05 Students enter classrooms 9:10 Instructional Day begins 9:10-9:30 Daily Physical Activity (outdoors - weather permitting) 11:10-11:40 Morning Recess 1:00-2:00 Lunch & Recess 3:40 Dismissal

6. Snacks and Lunches • Students MUST be able to feed themselves • Children will have 1 snack and 1 lunch in the day. Suggestion: label snack and lunch with numbers for your children to know what to have 1. (snack) and 2. (lunch) • Please do not send any foods containing nuts or labeled with “may contain traces of nuts” • Healthy snacks please in easy to open containers • Encourage your child to help make lunch and snack choices with you • Hot Lunches/ Lunches being dropped off- Please Bring lunches by 1:00pm so we are able to get them.

7. Play nourishes every aspect of children’s development – it forms the foundation of intellectual, social, physical, and emotional skills necessary for success in school and in life. Play “paves the way for learning”. ~ Canadian Council on Learning.

8. Play-based & Inquiry-based learning • Choices of learning activities that reflect individual developmental stages and interests. • Capitalizes on your child’s natural curiosity and sense of wonder. Engagement = success! Through play your child will develop/learn : * social and language skills * to express themselves creatively * their sense of self and identity * self-confidence

9. Curriculum • To access the Full Day Kindergarten curriculum document: www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/kindergarten.html OR Search “Full Day Ontario Kindergarten Curriculum” FDK is a two year continuum - JK’s and SK’s learning together.

10. Personal & Social Development • Self-awareness & Reliance • Self-reliance & responsibility • Try new things • Develop empathy for others • Demonstrate respect and consideration for differences • Adapt to new situations • Social Relationships • Interact cooperatively with others • Making and keeping new friends • Community workers and places • Problem solving

11. Literacy • Literacy includes: reading, writing & oral language • Read alouds, morning messages, shared readings of poems, etc. • Literacy Centers are based on the strengths, needs and interests of the students. • Focus on: letter/sound recognition, sight word recognition, writing skills, fine motor development, developing listening and oral skills etc. • Digital literacy including the Smartboard and Ipads.

12. Math • Number Sense: identifying, representing and writing numbers • Patterning: In everyday life (ex. Patterns on clothes) • Measurement: More/less, longer/shorter, heavier/lighter etc. • Geometry: Shapes • Data Management: Collecting data and graphing

13. How can we help at home? • Getting your child prepared for Kindergarten will give them the confidence they need to succeed as they transition into school. • Use our Mailbag system for quick communication. • Making drop off “quick and painless!” • Practise identifying and writing name.

14. YOU are your child’s first and best teacher!

15. Make time for discovery and play! • Use talk (speaking and listening) as you play and discover together

16. Recognize and celebrate your child’s successes.

17. Talk and read to your child every day (especially in your first language)

18. September • Familiarizing your child with school: • Reading stories about school • Taking walks by the school • Talking to your child about school • Use the Welcome to Kindergarten bag (you will get today!) • September - JK’s First Day of School Transition - First Day of School - Tuesday, September 2, 2014 - JK’s will come only for the afternoon * 2:00 pm drop off and 3:40 pm dismissal

19. Thank you!!! Thank you for taking the time to begin the partnership between your family and our family at Rick Hansen Public School. This PowerPoint with be on our school website if you wish to see the information again. If you ever have any questions, concerns or comments please come and speak to us 