Here we are doing math- sorting, patterning and counting.

September newsletter

St. George KINDERGARTEN ABC’S

 A is for Attendance:  Regular attendance without tardiness is key to a child’s successful school experience.  Students arrive in the schoolyard between 8:55 am to 9:10 a.m.  Teachers are on duty at that time to greet your child and ensure his or her safe arrival.  If your child is to be absent from school, please call the office at (613) 728-8291 by 9 am to let us know.

B is for Backpack:  To help your child carry a lunchbag, the notetote, art masterpieces, schoolwork and crafts, as well as messages and newsletters, you are asked to send your child to school with a ROOMY backpack that he/she can close by him/herself.

C is for Clothing:  Please send your child to school in clothes appropriate for learning.  Do not send your child to school so “dressed up” that you might be concerned about him/her getting “dirty”.  Becoming involved in kindergarten activities often means that the students will get a little messy. Each child is asked to bring to school, during the first week, a plastic bag containing an “emergency kit” of clothing:  1 pair of pants and underwear, 1 pairs of socks, and 1 long-sleeved t-shirt or sweater.

D is for Dismissal:  Dismissal is at 3:40 pm.  An authorized adult must PROMPTLY pick up all students who do not take the bus or attend the Keyworth Daycare.  An authorized adult is a parent, a guardian or someone who is indicated on the child’s emergency contact form filled out in September.  If it is not the usual adult coming to pick up the child, or if the child is not taking the school bus on a particular day, we need written notification of this.  This is the only way for us to ensure your child’s safety!

E is for Encouragement:  Sincere encouragement goes a long way to increasing a child’s self-esteem.  We will dole it out generously to all students.  Your encouragement is also critical for your child to feel good about his or her efforts at school.

F is for Footwear:  Please have your child wear shoes that are appropriate for running and active movement.  Dress shoes and sandals, for example, are not good for school activities because they are slippery and dangerous in the gym.  Children need a pair of Velcro or slip-on running shoes (NO LACES, PLEASE) to be left at school.

G is for Gym: As good physical activity habits begin early, children will be involved in indoor and/or outdoor physical activity each day.  Learning through movement and games is a pleasant and natural way for young children to learn.

H is for Hands-on learning:  One of the best ways to help children learn is to make learning fun.  Important concepts can be discovered by doing meaningful hands-on activities.  Our kindergarten program is a play-based, active, hands-on program.  The activities set up in the learning centers have been carefully selected and planned in order to develop skills and meet the needs of all the students in the class as well as meeting program objectives set out by the Ministry of Education.

I is for Illness:  The question of when to keep your child home from school is often a difficult one, especially when decisions must be made first thing in the morning.  It is important, however, to keep your child home if he or she is ill.  This helps to make them more comfortable and prevents others from becoming ill.  Children function more effectively in the classroom when they are healthy.  If a child becomes ill while at school, you (or an alternate contact) will be contacted by the office to pick up your child.

J is for Journey:  Education is a lifelong journey that requires a commitment from all involved:  the child, the parents and the school.  Please take the time to celebrate your child’s successes and work on his/her next steps.  Please take the time to read to your child every day.   YOU are your child’s first and most loved teacher!

K is for Kindergarten Program:  The Kindergarten Program is a two-year program that is set out by the Ministry of Education of Ontario.  This official government publication is available on the Internet at: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca .

L is for Lost and Found:  The school’s Lost and Found bin is situated by the office.  We encourage parents to check this area for any missing item.  In order to prevent items from going astray, it is suggested that you label all clothing worn to school.  This will help in returning lost items to its rightful owner.

M is for Mail: Communication is key between parents and teachers.  Please check your child’s notetote daily.  If you have any concerns or important information about your child, please inform us with a phone call or a note in your child’s communication notebook.  When writing in the notebook, please leave it open on that page so we will know there is a new message. 

N is for Newsletter:  School newsletters will be posted on the St. George website: http://sge.ocsb.ca. Don’t forget to sign up for flash-alerts.

O is for Outside:  Students will be taken outside for physical education and/or play (recess) everyday (Mother Nature cooperating).  Please keep this in mind when helping your child to select appropriate indoor and outdoor clothing for the day. 

P is for Parent Participation:  Throughout the school year there will be a variety of special classroom activities and celebrations. Your support of school activities makes your child feel important and sends the message that you value school.

Q is for Quality Quiet Time:  Take the time to discuss each day with your child.  Learning opportunities abound:  the letters on the cereal box, the street signs on your walk, the different sizes of jars in the grocery store, the jobs different people do every day.  Books are a great activity for quiet times with your child.  Enjoy at least one book every day.

R is for Report Cards:  Junior and Senior Kindergarten students receive 2 report cards during the school year:  the first in February and the second in June.  These reports will reflect the progress your child has made toward meeting various kindergarten program expectations.  There will be parent-teacher interviews during the month of November.  If you have concerns or questions that you wish to bring up with me at other times during the year, please feel free to call the school (613)728-8291 in order to make an appointment.

S is for Snacks:  Children will be eating lunch and snack at school.  Because school is a place for learning, children are encouraged to bring a “brain food” to school as a snack: fruit, cheese, yogurt, muffin, vegetables, for example.  This year, PEANUT and NUT -FREE snacks are required in order to meet the safety needs of all our students and teachers.  Please read the ingredients carefully in the snacks you send to school.  Thank you!

T is for Toys:  We ask that your child does not bring “home toys” to school unless requested by me for a specific activity.  Loss and breakage can lead to tears and disappointment. 

U is for Understanding School Rules and Routines:  A big part of Kindergarten involves learning how to behave at school.  Children function best when affectionate care, firm guidelines and a flexible structure are provided. Positive reinforcement is generously given and time-outs are used as a consequence if needed. 

V is for Visitors:  St. George School has a policy that ALL guests and volunteers are required to sign in at the office and wear a guest badge.  We welcome and encourage family involvement and the presence of a guest badge will help identify visitors to all staff and students.  While this may seem inconvenient to frequent visitors, please help us in our responsibility to create a safe learning environment for all of our students. 

W is for Wow!:  The ability of our students to be amazed by the world around them is one of the very special gifts they bring to our school community as well as to your family.  Thanking God for His wonders is an integral part of the Kindergarten day. Please continue to encourage this sense of wonderment in your child as you spend time together each and every day, praying and observing the world around us.

X is for X-stra Special:  Every member of our class is extra special!  And so is the wonderful artwork they create!  A corner of your fridge, a blank wall easily becomes an “art gallery” for the young artist’s masterpieces.  Your children are proud of what they create.  Let’s celebrate their achievements!

Y is for You!:  Parental support of school activities makes your child feel important and sends the message that you value school.  We will, at times, need parent volunteers to help out in the classroom, during field trips, doing prep work at school or at home.  If you are available to give us a hand, please let us know!  Your participation in the School Council is another way you can help.  This group of parent volunteers contribute significantly to school life.  We are always looking for new people. 

Z is for Zzzzzz’s:  Setting and keeping a regular bedtime is a wonderful gift you can give to your child.  Bedtime routines that include a story are strongly encouraged to develop many literacy skills.  Proper rest helps children to be alert and ready to learn every day!