Parkside Centennial

Elementary
Kindergarten Handbook
2017-2018






Welcome to Parkside Centennial Elementary!


We are looking forward to working with your child in the coming year. Many exciting themes,
activities and special events have been planned to make this Kindergarten year a most enjoyable and
rewarding experience for your child. The first year of school is so important for instilling a love of
learning and setting a foundation for the future. We believe that by working together we can form a
partnership that will benefit your child in their first year of elementary school.

Kindergarten is designed to provide opportunities that encourage your childs social, academic,
physical and aesthetic development. Children enter school at different levels of ability and will
progress at different rates. Therefore, it is important to provide opportunities and experiences to
build upon the specific interests, needs and strengths of all children in the class.

We hope this handbook will be helpful to you. Please keep it as a reference throughout the year.
Notices, newsletters, monthly calendars and class websites will keep you informed of Kindergarten
activities throughout the year. Should you have any questions about the program or should your child
have a problem regarding school, please contact us at the school by phone or email so we can be of
assistance to you.

Sincerely,
The Kindergarten Team
Mrs. K. Blair, Mrs. L. Colledge, Miss K. Duddy, Mrs. M. Dugdale and Mrs. T. Randen
 Gradual Entry: What to expect in the first two weeks of Kindergarten

The first two weeks of school are directed towards ensuring that each child experiences the positive
orientation that is essential for school success. In order to achieve this objective, students will attend
school part time for the first two weeks. Every two or three days the time in school will increase until
they are attending full days on September 18th.
During the first week of school, students will be placed in four temporary classes. The temporary
classes will be team taught by four teachers who will spend their time getting to know the children
and helping them to learn about the basic routines of Kindergarten. This allows us to be more
informed about each child so they can be placed in a permanent class that will best fit their social,
emotional and academic needs.

How will I know where my childs temporary class will be meeting?
On Wednesday, September 6th. All students are to meet in the courtyard, around the corner from the
primary playground, for the group time they have signed up for. Temporary class lists will be posted
on the exterior doors to the kindergarten rooms in this courtyard shortly before their class time
begins. A teacher from each room will also be present to assist families and help the children to line
up at the correct entrance.

During the second week of school, students will continue to attend part time but will be meeting in
their permanent classes. This week will focus on getting to know their new classmates and learning
the rules and routines of their classroom. Intake interviews will also be held in this second week of
school.

When and how will I know what permanent class my child has been placed into?
Permanent class placements will be decided on Friday after the conclusion of the school day and you
will receive notification of your childs permanent classroom and teacher via email during the evening
of Friday September 8th.


Intake Meeting / Classroom Visit
To ensure that each child experiences a successful entry into the Kindergarten program, individual
visits are conducted during the second of school. These visits provide an opportunity for the teacher
and child to become acquainted in the childs new environment and to get to know one another.
During this visit, parents will be asked to fill out an information form while the child visits with the
teacher. These visits are helpful in establishing a positive relationship between the teacher and child,
as well as enabling the teacher to gain an understanding of the childs interests, social, emotional, and
academic needs, physical development and individual personality. Classroom visits will be
approximately 20 minutes long.


 Important Information for all Kindergarten Families

Student Drop-Off/ Pick-Up Areas
The children will line up outside the exterior door of their assigned classroom. At pick up time, please
come to this same door to collect your child. We will dismiss the children one at a time, giving each
child an opportunity to identify the adult who it picking them up. This is to ensure that your child does
not leave the school grounds without adult supervision.

Regular Attendance
Regular attendance and punctuality are a vital part of Kindergarten. In this beginning year, it is an
appropriate time to cultivate habits of being on time and attending regularly both of which help
develop confidence, a positive self-image and habits which are important throughout all the years of
school. If, for some reason, your child is late for school, please stop at the office with your child to
report that your child is at school and then walk your child to the classroom. At Parkside, we have a
policy of accounting for the whereabouts of every student, every school day. If your child is absent
from school it is essential that you phone the school that morning (or let their teachers know in
advance) and inform us of the absence. All lates and absences will appear on your child's report card.
The school day concludes at 2:30 p.m. Please arrive promptly to pick up your child. If you are more
than five minutes late your child will be waiting for you in the office.

Change of Address/ Phone Number/Emergency Contacts
Please inform the school secretary and your childs teachers if you have any changes in this
information.

Snacks/ Lunch
Research has proven that a healthy diet will help your child do better in school. Children need to
bring their own lunch each day as well as a small and nutritious snack. We only allow children to
eat either fresh fruit or veggies for their recess snack and that they save any other snacks for after the
main lunch meal. Consider snacks that cover all food groups, that have minimal artificial flavouring
and colour and that are low in refined sugar. Please send a clean water bottle to drink throughout
the day. We appreciate when families make an effort to reduce waste by sending food in reusable
containers. Please help your child to practice opening these containers on their own so they are able
to do this independently during snack and lunch breaks.
*If your child has any food allergies, please let us know ASAP!

Supplies
You should have already received your supply lists prior to the first day of school (please see us if you
require another copy). Last spring many of you purchased supplies through the school. These will
arrive to your childs classroom and will be labeled and ready for your child. If you have chosen to
purchase on your own, please follow the supply list carefully to ensure that all students have the
necessary supplies for the year. If you have chosen to purchase your own supplies please send them
with your child on Monday, September 11th. You will not need to label individual supplies but we ask
that you bring them in a bag labeled with your childs name.


Shoes
Each child is required to have an extra pair of running shoes with non-marking soles that grip well. It
helps to keep our classroom clean and is a necessity for gym and our daily physical activity. These
shoes will be kept at school and will be used inside our classrooms each and every day. NO SHOE
LACES for inside or outside shoes please! Velcro or slip on shoes would be greatly appreciated (no flip
flops, crocs or slippers). Your child will change their shoes a minimum of six times within the school
day. Be sure to label you childs footwear and send them to school on Monday, September 11th.

Backpacks
Your child needs a backpack so that they can bring home newsletters, library books, crafts and all
sorts of stuff! Please ensure that your childs bag is large enough to carry these school materials
along with a reusable lunch bag and water bottle.

Clothing
Remember that we use a lot of paint, glue, water and other messy materials and are physically
active every day. Please dress your child wisely! We go outside rain or shine both at recess and during
class activities daily. Waterproof clothing is necessary, each and every day. Please send a change of
clothes, including socks and underwear in a labeled Ziploc bag. It is also a good idea to label each
individual clothing item as well as lunch bags, backpacks and shoes. The school has a lost and found
where you can look for any missing items.

Independence
Fostering your childs independence is essential for kindergarten success, from day one. Therefore,
we request that your child enters the classroom on their own. Please have a conversation with your
child to prepare them to be ready to say goodbye to you at the door. There are twenty children and
one adult in each room. You can help your child by continuing to practice the following routines at
home: Opening and closing lunch kits and containers, putting on and zipping coats, putting on shoes
and packing and unpacking their backpacks. Your child needs to be independent in the bathroom. Be
sure to send them to school in clothing that they can manage themselves. They also need to be
competent at closing the stall doors, wiping, flushing the toilet and washing their hands.

Money
When it is necessary to send money to school for field trips, hot lunch, book orders etc., please send
exact change in a sealed envelope or sealed baggie labeled with your childs name.


Toys/Technology
The activities and materials in the classroom and on the playground have been carefully chosen for
your childs learning and development. Please leave all personal toys at home, including fidget toys.
Teachers do not take any responsibility for toys that are brought to school and then lost or damaged.