Kindergarten Program
Teachers: Mrs. M. Henshaw & Ms. S. Carswell
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Welcome to St. Joseph the Worker School Kindergarten program. I am looking forward to a busy year filled with many interesting and challenging activities for everyone. I am sure that you and your child are looking forward to this school year, and wondering what this school year will entail. I hope that the following information will help answer your questions and provide you with the information regarding our kindergarten objectives, schedules, and routines. Please do not hesitate to ask for any clarification in any area.
Objectives of Kindergarten
Kindergarten is a wonderful place where young children are provided with a stimulating environment that allows them to interact with peers and adults in a program, which encourages physical, social, mental, and emotional growth appropriate to their age and stage of development. Through play, the children learn about the world around them; and where joy is a feature of early learning experiences, the child is likely to be motivated to continue to learn. The kindergarten year is an important stage in a child’s life as it introduces the child to new challenges and experiences.
Staggered Entrances
I appreciate your cooperation and patience during these initial days. I realize that attending on alternate half days can be an inconvenience for some parents. However, this system has proven to be very beneficial for many reasons:
Communication with Parents
If you have any questions or concerns specific about your child at any time of the year, please bring it to my attention immediately. It is important that these concerns be addressed, as they will give your child a sense of continuity and communication between home and school. I may not always be available to answer your telephone call during school hours, so please leave a message with Mrs. Rogerson in the school office and I will contact you as soon as possible.
Call Back Program
If you know your child will be away from school for any length of time, please call the school and let us know. When a child is absent and the school has not been notified, Mrs. Rogerson will call home or the workplace to verify your child’s absence. This is to ensure that your child is safe.
Signing In
If your child arrives late after the attendance has been sent down to the office it is your responsibility to sign your child in at the office. This is for the purpose of fire drills and for Mrs. Rogerson to see which families she needs to call.
Changing of Information
It is very important that the information on your child be up to date and accurate. If you have a new phone number address, etc.., please notify both the office and teacher promptly.
Clothing
All articles of clothing should be CLEARLY labelled with your child’s name. A name tag ensures a prompt return of articles left outside or anywhere in the school. Please provide your child with one pair of underwear, socks, and a change of pants in a labelled Ziploc Bag just in case of an accident.
School Bag
Please remind your child to bring a school bag to school every day as important newsletters, artwork, etc., may get crumpled or lost on the way home.
Show and Tell
We will be having show and tell on Fridays. Your child will have an opportunity to bring in something that is special to them and tell the class about it. I will be dividing the class into two groups. Each group will be participating every second Friday. I will remind the children which group will be doing show and tell on Thursday.
Book Clubs
The Elf and See-Saw Clubs are a good opportunity to purchase books at very reasonable prices. You will receive the order forms once a month. If you wish to order, please fill in the appropriate order form and return it with cheque payable to Scholastic Canada by the date indicated on the form. Please do not feel obliged to purchase books at any time.
Lunch
Students eat lunch at school. The fee for this privilege is included in the cost of tuition. Please prepare lunches that are easy for your child to eat. Lunch starts at 11:50 and ends at 12:10. An extra five minutes are given for those who require the extra time. If you are bringing your child’s lunch, please be at school prior to the beginning of lunch time. This will minimize stress and anxiety on your child. White and chocolate milk will be available each day for a cost of 1.00. Sheets of milk tickets are available at a cost of $10.00 for ten.
Hot Lunch
Each month hot lunches are coordinated by the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) and by the Student Council. They will be marked on the monthly calendar. Order forms will be sent home the week prior to the hot lunch date. Please send money in a LABELLED ENVELOPE OR ZIPLOC BAG. On hot lunch days, students are not required to wear a uniform. It is a N.U.T DAY (No Uniform Today).
SNORY (snack and story)
We know that children learn through their senses, and so we try to provide them with many things to see, feel, smell, hear and taste. Students will have the opportunity to have snack twice a day. The first snack will be in the morning (after recess) and the second snack will be in the afternoon (after recess). Please ensure that your child brings snacks that are nutritious. Good examples of a healthy snack are carrots, muffins, celery, cheese and crackers, yogurt, fruit cup, a peeled orange or half an apple. Please avoid bringing chips, candy, chocolate bars. The children are always free to take drinks at the water fountain.
Birthdays
We enjoy celebrating birthdays at school as it is a special time for your child. Sometimes parents bring in cupcakes for the children; fruit, vegetables, and popcorn also make great treats. Children who celebrate their birthdays during the weekend or holidays may also celebrate with the class during the school year.
If you wish to have party invitations distributed to your child’s classmates, please have your child give them to me directly. I will then ensure that the invitations are discreetly placed in the correct school bags. At this age, feelings can be easily hurt and this method minimizes the “But, teacher, I didn’t get an invitation to _______’s party” from occurring. Thank-you for your cooperation.
Toys
Please keep all toys at home. We have an assortment of stimulating manipulative, blocks, Lego, etc. for the children to play with at school. Leaving all toys at home greatly eliminates problems of misplaced or broken toys as well as conflicts.
Volunteering
St. Joseph the Worker provides many opportunities for parents, grandparents, and family members to participate in school activities. We have an enthusiastic PAC that plays an active role in enhancing the school. Volunteers are welcome to come and help out in the Kindergarten room. All volunteers are required to have a criminal record check prior to volunteering.
Drop Off/Pick-up
The school bell rings at 8:45. The Kindergarten children will stay outside till the 8:45 bell. Dismissal is at 3:25. I will take those who are attending the before and after school program downstairs. All parents/guardians/grandparents/ are required to come into the school and pick up their child.
Teachers: Mrs. M. Henshaw & Ms. S. Carswell
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Welcome to St. Joseph the Worker School Kindergarten program. I am looking forward to a busy year filled with many interesting and challenging activities for everyone. I am sure that you and your child are looking forward to this school year, and wondering what this school year will entail. I hope that the following information will help answer your questions and provide you with the information regarding our kindergarten objectives, schedules, and routines. Please do not hesitate to ask for any clarification in any area.
Objectives of Kindergarten
Kindergarten is a wonderful place where young children are provided with a stimulating environment that allows them to interact with peers and adults in a program, which encourages physical, social, mental, and emotional growth appropriate to their age and stage of development. Through play, the children learn about the world around them; and where joy is a feature of early learning experiences, the child is likely to be motivated to continue to learn. The kindergarten year is an important stage in a child’s life as it introduces the child to new challenges and experiences.
Staggered Entrances
I appreciate your cooperation and patience during these initial days. I realize that attending on alternate half days can be an inconvenience for some parents. However, this system has proven to be very beneficial for many reasons:
- The children feel more comfortable if they begin this experience in small groups.
- It gives the teacher the opportunity to become better acquainted with each child in the beginning the school year.
- It gives each child an opportunity to adjust to the new environment more quickly and to make friends
- It enables the children and the teacher to establish the classroom routines.
Communication with Parents
If you have any questions or concerns specific about your child at any time of the year, please bring it to my attention immediately. It is important that these concerns be addressed, as they will give your child a sense of continuity and communication between home and school. I may not always be available to answer your telephone call during school hours, so please leave a message with Mrs. Rogerson in the school office and I will contact you as soon as possible.
Call Back Program
If you know your child will be away from school for any length of time, please call the school and let us know. When a child is absent and the school has not been notified, Mrs. Rogerson will call home or the workplace to verify your child’s absence. This is to ensure that your child is safe.
Signing In
If your child arrives late after the attendance has been sent down to the office it is your responsibility to sign your child in at the office. This is for the purpose of fire drills and for Mrs. Rogerson to see which families she needs to call.
Changing of Information
It is very important that the information on your child be up to date and accurate. If you have a new phone number address, etc.., please notify both the office and teacher promptly.
Clothing
All articles of clothing should be CLEARLY labelled with your child’s name. A name tag ensures a prompt return of articles left outside or anywhere in the school. Please provide your child with one pair of underwear, socks, and a change of pants in a labelled Ziploc Bag just in case of an accident.
School Bag
Please remind your child to bring a school bag to school every day as important newsletters, artwork, etc., may get crumpled or lost on the way home.
Show and Tell
We will be having show and tell on Fridays. Your child will have an opportunity to bring in something that is special to them and tell the class about it. I will be dividing the class into two groups. Each group will be participating every second Friday. I will remind the children which group will be doing show and tell on Thursday.
Book Clubs
The Elf and See-Saw Clubs are a good opportunity to purchase books at very reasonable prices. You will receive the order forms once a month. If you wish to order, please fill in the appropriate order form and return it with cheque payable to Scholastic Canada by the date indicated on the form. Please do not feel obliged to purchase books at any time.
Lunch
Students eat lunch at school. The fee for this privilege is included in the cost of tuition. Please prepare lunches that are easy for your child to eat. Lunch starts at 11:50 and ends at 12:10. An extra five minutes are given for those who require the extra time. If you are bringing your child’s lunch, please be at school prior to the beginning of lunch time. This will minimize stress and anxiety on your child. White and chocolate milk will be available each day for a cost of 1.00. Sheets of milk tickets are available at a cost of $10.00 for ten.
Hot Lunch
Each month hot lunches are coordinated by the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) and by the Student Council. They will be marked on the monthly calendar. Order forms will be sent home the week prior to the hot lunch date. Please send money in a LABELLED ENVELOPE OR ZIPLOC BAG. On hot lunch days, students are not required to wear a uniform. It is a N.U.T DAY (No Uniform Today).
SNORY (snack and story)
We know that children learn through their senses, and so we try to provide them with many things to see, feel, smell, hear and taste. Students will have the opportunity to have snack twice a day. The first snack will be in the morning (after recess) and the second snack will be in the afternoon (after recess). Please ensure that your child brings snacks that are nutritious. Good examples of a healthy snack are carrots, muffins, celery, cheese and crackers, yogurt, fruit cup, a peeled orange or half an apple. Please avoid bringing chips, candy, chocolate bars. The children are always free to take drinks at the water fountain.
Birthdays
We enjoy celebrating birthdays at school as it is a special time for your child. Sometimes parents bring in cupcakes for the children; fruit, vegetables, and popcorn also make great treats. Children who celebrate their birthdays during the weekend or holidays may also celebrate with the class during the school year.
If you wish to have party invitations distributed to your child’s classmates, please have your child give them to me directly. I will then ensure that the invitations are discreetly placed in the correct school bags. At this age, feelings can be easily hurt and this method minimizes the “But, teacher, I didn’t get an invitation to _______’s party” from occurring. Thank-you for your cooperation.
Toys
Please keep all toys at home. We have an assortment of stimulating manipulative, blocks, Lego, etc. for the children to play with at school. Leaving all toys at home greatly eliminates problems of misplaced or broken toys as well as conflicts.
Volunteering
St. Joseph the Worker provides many opportunities for parents, grandparents, and family members to participate in school activities. We have an enthusiastic PAC that plays an active role in enhancing the school. Volunteers are welcome to come and help out in the Kindergarten room. All volunteers are required to have a criminal record check prior to volunteering.
Drop Off/Pick-up
The school bell rings at 8:45. The Kindergarten children will stay outside till the 8:45 bell. Dismissal is at 3:25. I will take those who are attending the before and after school program downstairs. All parents/guardians/grandparents/ are required to come into the school and pick up their child.