Welcome to our grade 1 Parents

1. Welcome to our grade 1 Parents

2. School Communication • www.stephenleacock.org • Please go to website and sign up so you will receive ongoing communication from school • Power point will be posted on blog

3. Key Information… • If your child presently attends Roland Michener – no need to register • If your child attends any other school within OCDSB or outside of our board, must register ASAP

4. Welcome… Stephen Leacock’s grade 1 program provides children with organized educational activities appropriate for young learners, taking into account their physical, intellectual, social and emotional needs.

5. Our Teachers… We will have 5 EFI grade 1 classes for September 2012-2013. Presently, we have no combined grades in grade 1; however this could change Our teachers collaborate to provide an enriching, engaging program for all learners.

6. Our Teachers… • Our teachers are professionals with years of experience in the primary division • Our teachers differentiate to provide the appropriate amount of support/challenge needed for each student

7. Early French Immersion (EFI) The Early French Immersion (EFI) program provides students with the opportunity to become functionally bilingual through an early entry with maximum exposure to French. A student who successfully completes the EFI program, and later enrolls in a secondary level program which meets the requirements to obtain the OCDSB Extended French or French Immersion Certificate, is expected to be able to communicate with ease and feel comfortable in either language community (English or French) and also accept employment, training or further education in either language.

8. EFI - French/English Instructional Time In the EFI program, students are provided with: • grade 1 - 100% French • grades 2 and 3 - 80% French /20% English • grades 4 to 6 - 60% French /40% English • grades 7 and 8 - 50% French /50% English Note: Mathematics instruction in English begins in grade 4.* * The OCDSB Elementary Time Allocation Model outlines the language of instruction and number of minutes of instruction per week in each subject area.

9. Learning in 2012-2013 • Instructional practice to support creative and critical thinking process • Inquiry learning – multiple ways to achieve learning goal – multiple ways to solve problems – creative – imagination • See post on school blog about critical thinking

10. Literacy Literacy is defined as the ability to use language and images in rich and varied forms to read, write, listen, view, represent, and think critically about ideas. It involves the capacity to access, manage, and evaluate information; to think imaginatively and analytically; and to communicate thoughts and ideas effectively. Literacy includes critical thinking and reasoning to solve problems and make decisions related to issues of fairness, equity, and social justice. Literacy connects individuals and communities and is an essential tool for personal growth and active participation in a cohesive, democratic society.-Reach Every Student: Energizing Ontario • Education (2008), p. 6

11. Literacy • More than comprehension and decoding • Can the student analyse and interpret the ‘text’ • What do you think the author’s message might be? • What might be similar/different between these two texts? • Students need to use judgement/assessment to develop their thinking/creativity/imagination

12. Math • Math is taught differently now • One question can achieve multiple ways to find answers – it is not about repetition/memory – it is about conceptual understanding of the relationships between numbers • Math is inquiry – many ways/strategies to solve a problem • Marian Small • http://www.onetwoinfinity.ca/

13. Math questions… • Let’s look at 7 With your partners, use the chart paper and show 7 as many ways as you can. Let’s look at what each way demonstrates about the number 7 *************************************** • The answer is… square. What was the question?

14. Transportation… School bus transportation is available to Grade 1 students who live more than 1.6 km or more. This might change! Information regarding transportation is available at your school or from the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) by phone at 613-224-8800 or by e-mail at admin@ottawaschoolbus.ca.

15. Arrival and Dismissal • First day, class lists will be posted outside near the Grade 1 doors. • Teachers will be outside, standing in front of chair with class number and teacher name. • Students get a name tag from the teacher and line up behind the chair. • For dismissal, students will be walked to the bus all week.

16. Attendance and Late Arrivals • Please phone the school to advise of an absence. • If your child is late, they must go directly to the office to get a late slip before going to the class. • Please notify the teacher if your child will not be taking the bus on a particular day and who will be picking them up. • If your child needs to be taken out of school before the end of the day you have to sign them out at the office. • Notes need to be sent if there is any change in daily routine or attendance.

17. Communication • Agenda • School blog • Wikispaces • Email • Phone

18. What to send on the first day • voluntary school supplies listed on blog. • pencils (yellow HB-not coloured), erasers (white) • ruler (20 cm) • glue sticks (not coloured) • scissors (Fiskars are good brand) • markers (large, Crayola) and colouring pencils • pencil cases, large school bag, water bottle for class • indoor shoes (velcro if your child can’t tie laces) • optional: sharpener, Ziploc bag • change of clothes in Ziploc bag • Everything needs to be labeled

19. First week-what to expect • The students WILL be tired! • They have to adapt to being at school all day. • There may be tears. • Establishing routines and expectations. • Making new friends. • Getting to know the school and the personnel

20. Learning French-what to expect • Some confusion and frustration at the beginning • French with English support at first • Emphasis on oral communication for first term • Repeated use of basic structures. (e.g., je m’appelle) • Use of pattern books, chart stories, songs, games • Visual cues, posters, vocabulary/picture cards • By end of first term they will have enough vocabulary to have a simple conversation, describe themselves, sing songs, read basic texts and recognize most sounds and new vocabulary

21. Homework expectations • Words of the week • Reinforcement of class work, e.g., days of the week, months, numbers, colours, student names, syllables, etc. • At home reading • Printing • Vocabulary (e.g., Halloween words) • Stories • Oral presentations (e.g., Moi) • Problem solving- internet sites

22. What can you do to prepare your child for Gr. 1 and SL • Come play in the yard • Expose them to French as much as possible- CD’s , French shows, French games on the internet, French songs and books. • Letter and number recognition, syllables • Print letters and numbers • Work on listening skills; e.g., eye contact, follow simple instructions • Review SK material-days, months, colours, shapes • Check your child’s pencil grasp

23. Reporting • Progress report (Nov.) • Interviews (one in the fall) • Report cards (Feb., June)

24. Routines • Clothes on hooks • Shoes together against the wall • School bag emptied and zipped • Lunchbox in class • Writing homework in agenda • Walking down halls, lining up • Practice routines at home

25. Parent Volunteers • to help with reading program • field trips • special activities • tie skates

26. We would be privileged to welcome your child to Stephen Leacock. At the OCDSB, we’re “Educating for Success – Inspiring Learning and Building Citizenship”.