This page contains answers to some common questions of students and parents. Should you have a question or concern, a response may just be a CLICK away! Should you have a question that is not addressed here, please do not hesitate to contact us.
What time does school start at each day?
Morning Kindergarten begins promptly at 9:00 a.m. and Afternoon Kindergarten begins promptly at 12:45 p.m. An entry bell will ring or a whistle will be blown promptly at these times, and your child must safely and immediately line up in a single file line (along with his/her classmates) ready for entry. Please say your good-byes a few minutes prior to the entry bell/whistle and give your child his/her belongings to carry inside. It is your child's responsibility to properly carry his/her own belongings. We urge and insist that you do not do this task for your child. Allowing him/her to care for his/her own belongings instills a sense of responsibility. When the bell/whistle sounds, we (or our assistants) will meet and greet the children at our entry door (which is labelled and located to the side of the the main Kindergarten doors, facing the primary playground/flag pole) and invite the class inside. This is not the time to speak to your child nor to us. Please remember: QUICK GOOD-BYES, DRY EYES! Keep you good- byes and any conversations/comments/instructions brief, specific, and to the point prior to the line-up. We understand that initially (especially, during the first few weeks of school) this time may cause you and your child considerable distress and anxiety; however, rest assured, it will ease and become stress-free and a regular part of your daily routine. The Kindergarten playground yard is supervised between 8:45 and 9:00 a.m. and 12:30 and 12:45 p.m., respectively by either a kindergarten teacher or an assistant. Prior to these times, the yard remains unsupervised. Should you bring your child to school prior to these supervised times, you must remain on the yard with your child. All Kindergarten children are not permitted on the West Yard playground during school hours. They are to be on the Kindergarten playground ONLY! Being on time for school is extremely important, crucial, and essential. Please ensure that your child is outside on the Kindergarten playground yard at least 5 minutes prior to the entry times, respectively. Our instruction begins promptly at 9:00 a.m. and 12:45 p.m., and we respectfully ask you to be empathetic to us, our instructional program, and our students.Back to Top
What happens if my child arrives late to school?
Should your child arrive late to school, you must first go directly to the office (using the school's main doors) and sign your child in with the office staff. Your child will be given a "late slip". Then, you will quietly accompany your child to his/her cubby where he/she will quietly unpack his/her belongings, put on his/her indoor shoes, and walk to our classroom. He/She will quietly enter our classroom and deliver the late slip, along with any other mail for us, to our mailbox. Finally, he/she will join the class without interrupting. You may not enter the classroom and must exit the school using the main doors.Back to Top
I need to speak with you, may I do so at the door?
No, this is a completely unacceptable time to speak with us. Should you have a concern/issue that you need to discuss with us, you may contact us via an e-mail (we check our e-mail daily) or a phone call to the school (where you will leave us a message with the office staff; we check our office mailboxes for messages throughout the day)or a note (that your child will deliver to our "Pelican Parent Post" mailbox for us). Again, we check this mailbox frequently. Upon receiving your message, we will contact you through your preferred means of corespondence at our earliest and promptest convenience. Whichever means of correspondence you choose, please indicate your name, the means for which you wish us to contact you, a contact number/e-mail address, a time frame of your availability, and a brief but specific reason for your contact. Should you need to arrange a face-to-face conference with us, we will discuss a mutually appropriate time and date for both you and ourselves. Usually, we are available for conferences between 8:30 to 8:45 a.m. and 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.Back to Top
I have mail to give you, what should I do?
We have a mailbox entitled, Pelican Parent Post, for any and all communication from parents to be placed. All mail for us should be placed there including letters, notes, forms, and money envelopes. Any mail that you send to school for us needs to be given to your child to be put in this mailbox. Thus, prior to entering the school, remind your child that he/she has mail to deliver to us (at home, give the mail to your child to put inside his/her backpack in a special place; allowing him/her to put it in his/her backpack will serve as a reminder of where the mail is when he/she is unpacking at school). Any mail being delivered to us MUST be in a sealed and LABELLED envelope. The label MUST include the following information: *your child's first and last name *our classroom number (#107) *brief description of the envelope's contentsBack to Top
May I come inside with my child when the entry bell/whistle sounds?
No, you may not. We firmly adhere to this and will not allow for any exceptions. We understand and empathize with the anxiousness that you and your child may (especially, at the beginning of the school year) experience; however, establishing this requirement (entering school each and every day independently) consistently and immediately from the outset will instill within your child a sense of responsibility, confidence, and maturity. Furthermore, entering school independently is an expectation of the Kindergarten curriculum and of our instruction. Should your child be unable to enter the school independently on a given day, we will insist that you bring him/her home and return the next day to try again.Back to Top
I need to pick my child up early from school , what must I do?
For those few occasions when you need to have your child leave school early, you MUST first visit the office (via the school's main doors) and sign your child out with the office staff. The office staff will call us in our classroom, and we (or our assistants) will accompany your child to meet you in the office. PLEASE DO NOT COME TO OUR CLASSROOM.Back to Top
My child will be away on a certain date(s), what do I need to do?
During those times (few, we hope) when you know ahead of time that your child will be away from school, you MUST send us a note. The note must contain the follwing information: *your child's name *the date(s) of absence *the reason for his/her absence *your signature Should you not send a note to school, the office staff will contact you each day of your child's absence inquiring as to his/her whereabouts. This phone call is a requirement of our Safe Schools' policy.Back to Top
What time does school dismiss?
Morning Kindergarten dismisses at 11:30 a.m. and Afternoon Kindergarten dismisses at 3:15 p.m. We will do our best to dismiss your child to you promptly at this time; however, there may be times (due to extentuating circumstances such as classroom activities, slow preparations by your child at his/her cubby, inappropriate behaviour, etc.) when your child may be a few minutes late. Please remember that we dismiss your child, not the bell. Prior to dismissal, your child must independently prepare himself/herself for dismissal (packing belongings, removing indoor shoes, dressing in his/her outdoor clothing, etc.). Once he/she has finished preparing at his/her cubby, he/she will then sit on a hallway bench (along with the other kindergarten classes) and await a teacher or an assistant to dismiss him/her. Please arrive at school for pick-up promptly (a few minutes ahead of time is best) and present yourself in front of our classroom's entry door (side door facing the flag pole). *SHOULD SOMEONE OTHER THAN YOURSELF BE PICKING UP YOUR CHILD ON A CERTAIN DAY, WE MUST BE MADE AWARE OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S NAME ALONG WITH A PHOTO OF THE PERSON PRIOR TO HIS/HER ARRIVAL. WE WILL NOT DISMISS YOUR CHILD TO ANYONE OTHER THAN WHOM YOU HAVE INFORMED US OF IN WRITING IN YOUR KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION PACKAGE.Back to Top
Can my child bring toys to school?
No, toys are not allowed to be brought to school. Toys are distractions and can easily be misplaced/lost or damaged.Back to Top
Can my child bring a snack other than fruit/vegeatable/dairy to school?
No, he/she may not. Your child must bring to school daily a SMALL, NUT-FREE, SEED-FREE, AND SEED OIL-FREE classroom snack along with a bottle of water (WATER ONLY). Furthermore, the fruit cannot be of tropical origin. Thus, no pineapple, mango, papaya, guava, etc. Please note that should your child come to school with a snack that is not of fruit and/or vegetable and/or dairy origin or is a fruit that is from the tropics, he/she will not be required to leave the unopened and questionnable/unsafe snack in his/her backpack to return it home. Acceptable snack options include the following items: any non-tropical fruit, cut-up vegetables, yogurt drinks, yogurt tubes, yogurt cups, cheese strings, cut-up cheese pieces/cubes, cottage cheese. *BANANAS ARE PERMITTED EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE FROM THE TROPICS.Back to Top
Can my child bring something other than water to drink?
No, he/she may not. Water is the only acceptable beverage. Your child may choose to bring a plastic and secure small water bottle from home or he/she may wish to use our classroom water fountain.Back to Top
Will I have the opportunity to volunteer at school?
YES! YES! YES! AND YES, AGAIN! Throughout the school year, there will be many opportunities for you to volunteer/lend your expertises/actively participate in our classrooms, and we, along with the children welcome your assistance in making our Kindergarten experience a successful one. You will have the opportunity to sign up for as many activities as you wish during our, Curriculum Night. Opportunities will include: *party planning and implementing *field trip volunteering *prepping art materials for classroom art activities and projects *assisting in the classroom with large art projects *discussing artists and demonstrating their techniques as part of our Brushstrokes' art programBack to Top
May I bring younger siblings when I come to volunteer?
No, you may not. Remember why you are coming. Younger siblings are unintentionable distractions to you, us, and the children.Back to Top
What do I need to do when I come to volunteer?
You must first visit the office (entering through the school's main doors) and sign yourself in as a "visitor". You will be given a Visitor name tag which you must wear visibly. Then, you may come to our classroom. Please be on time and do not come to the classroom before your scheduled time.Back to Top
May I send in an edible or non-edible treat for my child's birthday?
No, you may not. Regarding any edible treats, such as cake or cupcakes, many children suffer from food allergies/intolerances, and therefore, to ensure the safety of all our students, we kindly ask that you respect this rule. Regarding non-edible treats, such as loot bags, we kindly ask that you refrain from sending these in as well. There are simply too many children that you would need to provide for and unintentionally, children can be forgotten or overlooked. We consider birthdays to be very important and special events in all of our students' lives; and thus, as a means of recognizing and celebrating them, we will honour each child's special day with a serenade of, Happy Birthday, and he/she will select a wrapped gift (gender-neutral book) from our Birthday Box. Regarding birthday invitations, if your child has birthday party invitations to distribute, we respectfully ask that you do so after school hours or place them in our Pelican Post mailbox and we will discreetly distribute them on your behalf. It is not appropriate nor will we allow invitations to be passed out during school time. We need to protect the feelings of the children who do not receive an invitation.Back to Top
Will my child receive instruction from any other teachers?
Yes, your child will have gym with Mr. Chauhan if he/she is in the morning class and with Mr. Feigenbaum if he/she is in the afternoon class. Both morning and afternoon classes will have library with Mrs. Hess. Beginning in January, the Senior Kindergarten children will receive swim instruction from Ms Johnson and a yet-to-be- determined second instructor. Both morning and afternoon classes will receive computer instruction from Mr. Higgins.Back to Top
My child is ill, what should I do?
KEEP HIM/HER AT HOME! Furthermore, do not send him/her to school until he/she is feeling better. Ill children serve as distractions to us/our health, our instruction, the other children/their health, and the other children's learning. Moreover, sick children are understandably moody and unproductive. They cannot learn at their best. Should your child need to stay at home due to an illness (or any other reason for that matter), please contact the office immediately and inform the staff; otherwise, the office will contact you to inquire of his/her whereabouts.Back to Top
What happens if it raining outside before school begins?
During the supervised yard duty times, the teacher/assistant on duty will open the entry doors and allow your child to come in and quietly sit down on one of the hallway benches.Back to Top
Is homework mandatory in Kindergarten?
No, homework is not a requirement in Kindergarten. However, we do provide enrichment activities for those wishing some extra work. Please keep in mind that we only provide work that has meaning and purpose. We do not believe in nor will we provide any work that we consider filler/busy work and as the name implies, unmeaningful. Any work that we send home serves to strengthen and reinforce essential skills currently being taught or previously taught at school. Your child needs to master these skills upon exiting Kindergarten. Whether you choose to participate in my homework program or not is entirely at your discretion. However, you and your child MUST read daily for 10 minutes, and upon reading for 10 minutes, engage in a brief and specific follow-up discussion about what has just been read (topics include: favourite character, story elements-who the characters were/where the story took place/what happened in the story- problem and solution, did you like the story-why/why not, etc.).Back to Top
My child doesn't talk to me about school, what should I do?
Each and every day find a few minutes to sit down (without any distractions) and engage in a meaningful conversation with your child about his/her day at school. During the discussion, actively listen with both your eyes AND your ears and do not interrupt your child when he/she is speaking. You must facilitate this daily conversation and provide your child with specific and direct questions-by this we mean keep each question brief and very specific-a question that will have only one answer. We discourage open-ended questioning as there are no boundaries for your child's responses. Some examples of closed questions include: What centers did you visit today?(allow for your child's response) and What center did you like best? *if your child is still experiencing difficulty responding prompt him/her Examples of an open-ended questions and ones that should be avoided include: How was your day? and What did you do?Back to Top
What are the names of other important staff members in the school (namely, in the office)?
The following list is a list of names of individuals in our school's office: Ms Karen Ridley-principal Ms Cherril George-vice principal Mrs. Mary White-head secretary (mid-length blonde hair) Mrs. Mary Clark-secretary (long gray hair) Ms Mary Ginari-secretary (mornings only; brown hair) Also of importance, our custodial staff: Val-head custodian Doug-custodian (gray hair and glasses) John #1-custodian (salt and pepper hair) John #2-custodian (bald and glasses) Kwan-custodian (Asian) A few other important individuals: Ms Marlene Korhonen-Primary Resource teacher Ann-Speech and Hearing specialistBack to Top
Will there be an end-of-the-year formal graduation ceremony?
Yes, there will be a formal graduation ceremony, complete with caps and diplomas. We are hope to have the ceremony take place after school, in the early evening toward the end of June. Immediately following the ceremony, we hope to have a celebratory get-together at which cake and beverages will be served.Back to Top
What types of centers will my child have the opportunity to visit daily?
Our classroom centers are comprised of both "academic" and "play" centers. Examples of "academically-based" centers include the following: listening center, writing center, reading center, language arts and math file folder center, sensory center (which includes science/discovery table, sand, water, music, and playdough), and art center. Examples of "play" centers include the following: building blocks' center, "blue bins" center (which include a variety of different manipulatives such as connecting straws, duplo, gears, unifix cubes, etc.), puppet center/theater, dress-up center, and lego center/table.Back to Top
Absolutely not! Kindergarten-aged children will choose familiar books that have been read to them many times, and yes, they will "read" these books independently with much of the dialogue memorized exactly or close to hwat is in print. This is normal and part of the learning process when it comes to reding independently, confidently, and for enjoyment. Allow your child to choose the book and "read"it aloud to you. Do not interrupt your child during the read aloud and celebrate his/her "amazing" reading after he/she is finished. On some days, when your child sits down to read a familiar book with you (and one with limited print on each page), you read it aloud first and then, allow your child to read it aloud to you while he/she tracks the print (finger accurately placed under each word as it is read). If your child finishes a page ahead of his/her tracking finger. Gently bring the child back to the beginning of that page and, with you hand guiding his/her finger under each word, have him/her read the words aloud again.Back to Top
What types of books should I be reading with my child?
Kindergarten-aged children should be reading a wide variety of fictional and non-fictional texts; with a heavy emphasis on alphabet books and rhyming books; namly, Dr. Seuss. These books assist the child with his/her phonemic awareness, phonetic development, and letter recognition.Back to Top
What makes for a "good" reader?
A "good" or "expert" reader must successfully and accurately do two things: he/she must read words correctly AND, of equal importance, he/she must discuss story elements in-depth and with detail. Story elements include the following: setting-when and where the story took place, who the characters were, what the plot of the story was (what were the problems and how were they solved), what his/her favourite part of the story was and why, how the story relates to his/her personal life, etc.Back to Top
What are the components of your balanced literacy program?
In our Kindergarten classroom, we spend 60 minutes daily engaging our students in teacher-led whole group instruction and small group independent follow-up activities. Our balanced literacy instructional block consists of 4 components: Shared Reading (teacher-led; whole group), Guided Reading (teacher-led; small group), Self Selected Reading (independent; individual), and Writing (both teacher-led-"Shared Writing and mini-lesson"; whole group and "Independent Writing"; independent and individual at tables). Each of the blocks lasts for approximately 15 minutes. Our balanced literacy instruction takes place daily immediately upon entry (for the first hour of school).Back to Top
Giving your child many opportunities daily to explore and use his/her fine motor skills is the best way to successfully develop and foster "mastery" of his/her fine motor skills. Fine motor activities do not rest solely on printing and colouring. Yes, these two skills are extremely important and essential and should be done daily; but, do not forget to include other fine motor skill activities as well. These could include the following: cutting paper, handling the silverware and setting the table, catching various play objects, playing/manipulating Play Doh and clay, playing various musical instruments, doing and undoing buttons and zippers, playing board games, etc. When working on a correct pencil/crayon grip, we encourage you to use regular pencils and break them in half (like the mini-sized pencils that you would find at Mini Putt golf places). In so far as crayons; again, use regular-sized crayons (the thin ones). If; however, you choose to use the thicker-sized crayons, monitor your child's grip and if you notice that he/she is not using a correct grip (or is holding the crayon too high at the top); again, break the crayon in half. When your child holds a pair of scissors, always encourage him/her to keep his/her thumb pointing up toward the ceiling/sky. Alternatively, place a little sticker on his/her thumbnail and remind him/her to make certain that he/she sees the sticker all of the time.Back to Top
When my child prints, I cannot recognize any correct letter formation. What should I do?
Quite simply.....nothing. Celebrate and praise your child's initiative to write and his/her accomplishments/masterpieces. This stage of the writing process is knowing as "pretend" writing and is the first stage of the writing process (lines and dots and "scrathc marks"). Ask your child to read to you what he/she has written. Your child may also "drite". By this, we mean that he/she will print some letters/words and draw pictures as well when he/she writes. Again, this is "normal" and expected. We always recommend the following strategy to parents: after your child has completed 3 to 5 journal entries, ask him/her to choose 1 of the pieces and then, you (the adult) will edit (meaning correct) his/her writing. You write perfectly-no mistakes-what he/she has attempted to write. Then, you give your child a clean piece of paper for him/her to copy perfectly what you have corrected. He/She cannot make any mistakes! Once he/she finishes the writing, he/she will illustrate carefully and colourfully an accompanying picture. REMEMBER: perfect printing means-the appropriate use of punctuation, correct letter formation and use of upper and lowercase letters, finger-spacing between words, neatness, and thoughts making senseBack to Top
How can I work on my child's math skills daily?
EASY......math can and is done all of the time throughout the day. Discuss the calendar daily, discuss the weather and make predictions about the next day's weather, give your child a handful of objects and ask him/her to predict how many and then, actually count the objects, read a thermometer daily, have your child set the table, cook/bake with your child, visit various community stores/grocery stores and ask your child to count out money/read price tags/count out numbers of food items that you are in need of, etc., identify/discuss/count coins, tell time, discuss positions of various objects at home and outside (beside, on top, under, left, right). Daily math opportunities are endless!Back to Top
How is my child's reading ability assessed at school?
At various times throughout the year, we, as their teachers, conduct assessments to determine your child's progress both in math and literacy. The assessments include verbal discussion/explanations and hands-on demonstrations to tell and show what he/she knows. Specifically, we use the TDSB's formal reading assessment tool; known as, the DRA to detrmine your child's reading level (coming out of Senior Kindergarten, a child should be reading at level 6 to 8). The DRA involves having the child read aloud indpendently an unfamiliar text; without any teacher intervention. We then, calculate the reading level using number of errors made. The DRA also involves engaging the child in a post-reading discussion about the text and about his/her personal connection to anything in the story. We also conduct a high-frequency word list assessment where we present the child with a list of words (Kindergarten level) and ask him/her to read aloud each word. The words are presented to the child one at a time (all other words are covered up except for the one that is being read). In so far as math assessments, we present the child with various hands-on activites and ask him/her to listen and complete simple instructions given to him/her by us.Back to Top
Where, on the playground, is my child allowed to play?
During school hours (including the "before school minutes"-8:30 to 9:00 a.m./12:15 to 12:45 p.m.), all Kindergarten children must remain on the Kindergarten Yard only. Even though a parent/care giver may be present watching, no Kindergarten children are permitted anywhere else other than our Kindergarten Yard. Thus, please do not allow your child to go onto the Primary Yard/play structure during school hours. After school, we leave the decision of "yards" at the discretion of the parent/care giver.Back to Top