Welcome To.. Full Day Kindergarten at Carrville Mills Public School

1. Welcome To..Full Day Kindergartenat Carrville Mills Public School

2. What Is FDK All About? • FDK is an engaging, play-based educational program where your child will be involved in many different kinds of activities designed to help them explore, discover and grow • There is a strong link between play and learning, especially in the areas of problem solving, language and numeracy skills, social, physical and emotional skills

3. Every day your child will take part in spontaneous, child-directed play, and also in structured, adult guided, play-based learning, under the guidance of both the classroom teacher and the early childhood educator. These activities will help your child to think creatively, explore and investigate, solve problems and share their learning with others Teachers and early childhood educators in full- day kindergarten classes are guided by a new curriculum document which is designed to help your child develop the social, emotional, academic and physical skills that provide a good foundation for success in school and throughout life. Play is a natural activity for all children. It develops all areas of the child (physical, emotional, social and cognitive) and helps children develop self-regulation, which is their ability to make good decisions in a busy learning environment. Your child will learn through play which capitalizes on children’s natural curiosity and he/she will engage in classroom inquiries.

4. What Does INQUIRY mean? Inquiry based-learning means that the discussions, investigations and learning occuring in the Kindergarten classroom are derived from student interests and knowledge. Research suggests that students are more likely to develop as engaged, self-directed learners in inquiry-based classrooms. In inquiries, children begin to ask questions that lead to exploration and investigation, communication of ideas, and questions while they are experimenting and investigating. It is these questions, ideas, investigations, and this meaningful integration that can lead to inquiry-based units of discovery and learning. These opportunities provide for natural, genuine, and integrated learning. These experiences are authentic and are more likely to engage the children in deep thinking.

5. What Are The Benefits Of Play? • Children are able to explore, inquire and problem solve during both child-initiated and structured play • Children develop appropriate skills and language needed to interact with others and solve problems • Children develop a sense of responsibility and independence • Children learn to become contributing, cooperative members of a team • Children enjoy the learning taking place, resulting in greater confidence and self esteem • Children socialize with each other and learn to make choices • Children pretend, imagine, inquire and discover • Children have fun and love coming to school every day as they get to PLAY!

6. From Your Child’s View… “When you asked me what I did at school today, and I say “I just played,” please don’t misunderstand me. For you see, I’m learning as I play. I’m learning to enjoy and to be successful in work. I’m preparing for tomorrow. Today, I am a child and my work is play.” -Anita Wadely

7. Curriculum Connections to FDK The Learning Areas: Program Expectations: • Personal & Social Development • Language:Oral, Reading, Writing, Media • Mathematics:Numbers, Measurement, Geometry, Patterning, Data Management • Science & Technology • Health & Physical Activity • The Arts Visual Arts, Music, Drama & Dance

8. Snack & Lunch • At Carrville, we practice ‘Boomerang Lunches.’ This means that all materials students bring to school in their lunch bag must be taken back home. This not only creates less garbage at school, however also gives you a chance to see what your child is eating. • We are a nut-free school. Please ensure children are not bringing any snacks that contain nuts. • Each day, your child will have the opportunity to eat snack when he/she is hungry. This choice allows children to self-regulate as well as provides an opportunity for them to eat at their own pace. • Lunch is at 12:25, and students have 20-25 minutes to eat their lunch, followed by a 40 minute recess of outdoor play.

9. Washrooms • Students are able to use washrooms as needed, however must be independent with washroom routines. • Please practise washroom routines (e.g., proper wiping, hand washing, dressing, bathroom etiquette etc) with your child as this practice will only make his/her transition to school easier.

10. What To Bring To School… • Large Backpack • Velcro Running Shoes • 2 healthy snacks and lunch • Change of Clothes (e.g., pants, shirt, underwear, socks) • Reusable water bottle

11. Preparing My Child… • Talk about school with your child • Visit the school grounds to familiarize your child with CMPS • Practise dressing (“I can zip up my coat, put on my shoes etc) and toileting (“I can go to the bathroom, flush the toilet and wash my hands all by myself”) • Practise eating routines (“I can sit and eat my snack/lunch all by myself”) • Practisecolouring, cutting, pasting, writing- although not an expectation… Independence builds confidence and allows children to feel successful and in control of their learning!

12. Things To Practice At Home… • Fine motor skills (e.g., cutting, pasting, drawing) • Printing my name • Identifying and forming the letters of the alphabet (e.g., using letter templates) • Practisingthe sound each letter makes • Counting to 10 • Printing numbers from 1 to 10 • Practisingmy colours • Practisingmy shapes • Reading! Read to your child every night!

13. Communication in Kindergarten • Communication Folders/Bags Students will receive a communication folder where teachers will communicate important pieces of information to you at home. Please use this folder as a means to communicate with us at school! It is important to check this folder each night for special updates from Kindergarten! • Library Bags • Students will receive a library bag and book each week. Please make sure to return both the book and bag each day your child has “Library.” This will be communicated to you on our monthly calendars! • Phone/email • Classroom Websites • Instagram • Twitter Please remember, we are here to work with you as partners in this exciting journey in your child’s life. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!

14. A Message From… MsHowes

15. THANK YOU FOR COMING! • We look forward to seeing you all in September! • The Kindergarten Team at CMPS 