Welcome to Kindergarten @ École Belgo Elementary 2019-20

Welcome/Bienvenue Introduction of staff Getting to know you

Our time together 3:00 Welcome 3:10 Parent Talk in Library – children in class 4:00 Au revoir

Kindergarten Teachers Les professeurs One English K teacher and Two French Immersion K teachers to be determined

Office Staff Le personnel du bureau Et moi Mrs. Powell School Secretary

Library/La bibliothèque Mrs. Gorjanc Teacher Librarian Mrs. Schaad Librarian Assistant

Learning Assistance Teacher Mme Rice

Also School Counselor Resource Teacher Speech and Language Pathologist Other teachers (prep)

Kindergarten / La maternelle is the bridge between home and school is where the foundation is built for future learning at school leads to success in future grades is where building independence in each child is an important first step

Kindergarten experiences foster the development of the “whole” child in a full day, “play-based” learning environment.

Physical Development

Intellectual Development

Aesthetic & Artistic Development

Social Responsibility

What’s important in Kindergarten? Social interactions Taking turns Using eye contact and polite words Speaking in complete sentences using a five year old voice Keeping hands and feet to self

Communication skills Observing others before speaking Sitting quietly Facing the speaker Raising hand and waiting turn to speak Using polite words

Developing independence Dressing independently (shoes, jackets, zippers, snaps, buttons). Packing, emptying and carrying own backpack. Being responsible for library books, show and share items, notices and notes.

Awareness Safety School rules and expectations Routines Differences, unique situations

Academics / Les matières académiques Recognizing and naming letters Letter sounds Recognizing that letters make up words and words make up sentences Rhyming Recognizing numbers Counting beyond 20 Patterning

Skills Using scissors Correctly holding a pencil, crayons, felts Organizing materials, tidying up Waiting turns Lining up Transitioning from one activity to another

Gradual Entry First: – September 3, 4, & 5 (T, W, T) Mini-conference – parent, child, teacher (one family at a time) Second - Half days – September 6, 9, & 10 (F, M, T) AM/PM Full day – Wednesday, Sept. 11

Class Set Up Two French Immersion classes One English class

What to bring? Healthy lunch 2 snacks Water bottle Backpack Inside shoes Change of clothes in a labelled Ziploc School fees ($40)

Getting Your Child Ready Give your child little duties at home to help develop self-confidence and responsibility Read to your child and talk about the story Teach your child his/her address and phone number Teach your child to put on, take off and hang up his/her clothing Teach your child how to tie shoelaces Turn off the TV and talk, talk, talk! Encourage development of a larger vocabulary through conversations with your child. Encourage your child to recognize and learn to print his/her own name

Getting Your Child Ready Help your child to learn to wait his/her turn Encourage your child to: Look at a person when that person is speaking Use good manners (please/thank you go a long way!) Tidy up after themselves Use words to explain how he/she is feeling Visit the Public Library regularly – it’s free!

Arrive at school a little bit early… AiE so your child has a chance to play outside with friends before class starts.

Read notices and emails that are sent home from school.

Help your child’s teacher to know about things that happen at home that might affect your child’s day (especially changes in your family situation)

Keep the office updated about changes to phone numbers, address, caregiver information.

… and Parents. You are your child’s first and most important teacher … and Parents! You are your child’s first and most important teacher! Parent involvement = Student success! All parents form the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) – evening meetings each month. This year it was the third Thursday of each month.

We look forward to learning with you and your child!