Newsletters




  •        June


  • Dear Parents,

  • Well, can you believe it?  The final month of school is here!  The children have accomplished so much during the school year.  We still have some exciting learning opportunities for the students throughout the month of June.  June is also a time of heat and intense sun.  Please send your child with sunscreen already applied and a hat.  Thank you. Please speak to your child about drinking water and staying hydrated while outside. They are reminded to take their water bottles outside, each time we go outdoors.

  • This month, we intend to continue observing our caterpillars as well as our plants that we planted. The children are excited to watch as the caterpillars transform into butterflies and also observe as our plants emerge from their seeds. Students are very curious about both the life cycles of butterflies and of plants. In literacy, we are focusing thinking of good questions to ask when we read and making inferences. In math, we will continue learning about numbers and will be looking at addition and subtraction.

  • Please remember that Tuesday, June 17th, we will be heading to Dieppe Park for our end of year picnic. Cross your fingers that the weather will co-operate with us!

  • Friday, June 27th is the last day of school! Where did the year go??

  • The month of June always goes quickly, so we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the support that you have given us and the children this year. We are very proud of all of the students and will miss them over the summer.  Best of luck to the SKs in grade 1 and to the JKs in senior kindergarten.  They will each have new challenges next year, but certainly will be successful in meeting them. 


  • Sincerely,

Gayle David and Christina Blakely



May   
Dear Parents/Guardians,

This month we will continue with spring activities. We will be looking at butterflies, life cycles, plants and caring for the environment. In literacy, we will begin looking at media (i.e., posters, packaging etc) and the influence it has on our children. In math, we will be focusing on area, money and probability.


Now that the weather is getting warmer, many of the older grades will be doing their gym classes outside on the backfield. Please remind your child to stay away from this area when they are released at 3:00. Thanks!

A friendly reminder:

Day 1 – Gym in the morning
Day 2 – Gym in the afternoon
Day 3 – Music in the morning
Day 4 – Library in the morning, Gym in the afternoon
Day 5 – Computers in the morning (every second Day 5)
              Gym in the afternoon

Please remember there will be no school Monday, May 19th as it will be Victoria Day.

If you have any concerns or questions or just want to say hi, please come and see us. J

Sincerely,

Gayle David and Christina Blakely





April    

April brings the spring weather and the last three months of school!  The next three months will fly by with all of the activities that are coming up! This month we will continue making observations on the changes of Spring. Students will have fun with their clipboards as they record the first signs of Spring. In literacy, we will continue learning how to do retells of stories (focusing on the characters and setting of the story). In our writing, we will begin to learn how to edit our work. In math, we will be spending time on graphs. We will learn how to read and interpret graph information and also create our own graphs!

Thank-you for remembering to keep an extra pair of shoes and socks in your child’s cubby. April is often wet outside and this helps keep our classroom and floor clean. Please remind your child to change into their indoor shoes once they arrive at school.  

We are so happy to see such healthy snacks and lunches being eaten in our classroom. Thank-you also for remembering to send snacks that do no spill.

Please continue returning communication and poem folders each Monday and library books before library day. As a reminder:

Day 1 – Gym in the morning
Day 2 – Gym in the afternoon
Day 3 – Music in the morning
Day 4 – Library in the morning, Gym in the afternoon
Day 5 – Computers in the morning (every second Day 5)
             Reading Buddies in the afternoon

Thank you once again for your support. We are so lucky to have such great parents!

Sincerely,

Gayle David and Christina Blakely

March 

Dear Parents/Guardians:


February proved to be a very busy month that has flown by quickly. March is going to shape up to be another very busy month. In literacy, we will be focusing on sequencing and retelling stories. In math, we will be learning about time, sorting objects by size, colour and shape. We will also be practicing counting forwards and backwards.

Soon we will begin talking about the early signs of Spring. 

There will be no school from Friday, March 7th- Sunday, March 16th. It will be March Break. J We will see everyone back at school on Monday, March 17th!

Please also remember to pack a change of clothes (including socks) for any accidents that sometimes happen. Also, remember to send only healthy, nut free snacks, that do not spill, with your child for snack time.

Our usual monthly reminder:

Day 1 – Gym in the morning
Day 2 – Gym in the afternoon
Day 3 – Music in the morning
Day 4 – Library in the morning (please return library books before today),        
             Gym in the afternoon            
Day 5 – Computers in the morning (every second Day 5)
              Gym in the afternoon
.

If you have any concerns or questions or just want to say hi, please come and see us. J

Sincerely,

Gayle David & Christina Blakely







 February

This month in literacy we will be learning about poems and non-fiction and fiction texts. We will also learn about how good readers use pictures, table of contents, titles and a glossary to get information. In math we will be learning about size, mass and terms used to explain location/movement (i.e. above, below, far, near etc).

For Valentine’s Day students will have the option to give out cards for Valentine’s Day.  If your child chooses to give cards to his or her friends, please ensure that there is one for each child in the class. We have 27 students.


In case you forgot:  J

Day 1 – Gym in the morning
Day 2 – Gym in the afternoon
Day 3 – Music in the morning
Day 4 – Library in the morning, Gym in the afternoon
Day 5 – Computers in the morning (every second Day 5)
              Gym in the afternoon

Most of the students have an extra change of clothing that they keep in their cubbies for unseen accidents. Please ensure that your child has an additional change of clothing (pants, shirt, socks and underwear) in their bag or cubby. Please continue to practice having your child dress him/herself independently for going outside.

Please continue returning communication and poem folders each Monday and library books before the next library day.


Thank you once again for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Gayle David and Christina Blakely




                        

January  



Dear Parents,

Happy New Year!  We hope everyone had a relaxing and fun break.

This month we will be continuing to explore the changes that we see in winter. We will also continue to take walks in our schoolyard and community to observe and investigate these changes. Please remember that we will often be outside (even if it is snowing) and students require coats, snow pants, boots, hats, and waterproof mittens. Thank-you for remembering to keep an extra pair of shoes and sock at school. This helps keep our classroom and floor clean. Please remind your child to change into their indoor shoes once they arrive at school.  

In literacy, we will be focusing on making predictions when reading. In math, we will be learning how to measure the length of various objects.

A major goal in Junior and Senior Kindergarten is to promote independence. We are looking at all students being able to take responsibility for things such as putting items in their correct places (snacks, lunches, coats and bags) and being able to dress themselves independently. You may have to provide extra practice time at home so that your child can display that he/she is able to accomplish this goal.

Thank-you for returning your child’s communication and poetry folders each Monday, and their library book before the next library day. Please remember to look in your child’s communication folder and empty it. We are so happy to see the continuation of such healthy snacks and lunches being eaten in our classroom. Thank-you also for remembering to send snacks that do no spill.


As usual:

Day 1 – Gym in the morning
Day 2 – Gym in the afternoon
Day 3 – Music in the morning
Day 4 – Library in the morning, Gym in the afternoon
Day 5 – Computers in the morning (every second Day 5)
              Gym in the afternoon and reading buddies in the afternoon



If you should have any concerns, questions or just want to say hi, please feel free to come see us or contact us.

Sincerely,

Gayle David & Christina Blakely


































    

            December           

In December, we will be beginning our inquiry of winter. We will take many walks in our community to observe the changes in our community. We will often be outside even if it is snowing and students require coats, snow pants, boots, hats, and mittens. As well, now that the weather is often wet, it is important that each student has indoor shoes (and extra socks) that can be left at school. This will help keep our classroom and floor clean. Please also make sure students have an extra change of clothes in their bags/cubbies as sometimes accidents happen. Please have your child practice getting dressed (on their own), for outdoor time (zipping and buttoning coats, putting on boots, hats and mitts). Independence skills are an important part of kindergarten. We understand, that at times it may be much easier to dress your child, but please take the time to practice at home putting on snow pants, jackets (including zipping their own zippers!), boots, hats etc.  

This month we will be continuing to practice visualizing when we are reading (forming pictures in our head). We will also be learning about reading and writing letters and thank-yous. This is a fun way to engage a young child in reading and writing. In math, we will be exploring shapes and solids. We will sort, identify, describe and compare many different shapes and solids.

On Dec 12th, Earl Beatty will be having their Holiday School Concert. The concert for the kindergartens will be from 6:00 p.m – 6:30pm. The rest of the school will perform from 7:00 pm-8:00pm. Also, there will be a Student Holiday Craft show in the library on the evening of the 12th from 5:20 - 8:15. Drop by and purchase some student created art. All proceeds will be donated to an adopted village in Haiti to help support their health and health education needs. 

There will be a Holiday Sing Along in the gym on Thursday, December 19th at 9:00 am. We hope to see you there. 

Please remember that there will be no school from December 20 – January 5th. School will begin again on Monday, January 6th, 2013. Please have Happy Holidays and remember to keep safe!!

   
Please remember to return your library book before library day and also to return communication and poetry folders each Monday!

Thank you once again for your support. If you have any questions or concerns, please continue to come and speak with us.

Sincerely,

Gayle David and Christina Blakely



                                    November          

Dear Parents /Guardians,


This month we will continue to practice articulating words slowly so that we can hear the sounds that are in words. This helps with students’ writing abilities if they can make the connection between the letter and sound. This month we will also continue working on making connections when we are reading and we will be working on the reading strategy of visualization. Good readers can form pictures in their head about what they are reading or about a book they are having read to them.


In math topics we will continue to explore numbers and counting. We will practice counting forwards and backwards. We will also compare numbers and which ones are bigger and smaller.


As a reminder:

Day 1 – Music in the morning
Day 2 – Library in the morning and gym in the afternoon
Day 3 –Gym in the afternoon
Day 4 – Music in the morning
Day 5 – Computers in the morning, gym and reading buddies in the
               afternoon

A major goal in Junior and Senior Kindergarten is to promote independence. We are looking at all students being able to take responsibility for things such as putting items in their correct places (snacks, lunches, coats and bags) and being able to dress themselves independently. You may have to provide extra practice time at home so that your child can display that he/she is able to accomplish this goal.

The weather is changing and all students should have indoor shoes to change into once they arrive at school. These should stay at school, above their hook in the hallway. As well, they need to dress for the weather. This will mean bringing coats, hats, mitts and scarves on a daily basis to kindergarten.

Please remember to keep an extra set of clothes in your child’s cubby in case of any unforeseen situations.

Thank-you for returning your child’s poetry folders each Monday and for also regularly returning your child’s borrowed book. We are so happy to see such healthy snacks and lunches being eaten in our classroom. Thank-you also for remembering to send snacks that do no spill. This helps to keep our classroom tidy.

Remember to return your child’s library book before library day (Day 2).

If you should have any concerns or questions, please continue to feel free to contact us or drop in to see us. We are usually in the classroom after 7:30 am.




Sincerely,

Gayle David and Christina Blakely





October 

Dear Parents,

We had a very successful first month of school. Our class has been spending much time on learning and practicing many new routines during the school day. Our students have enjoyed having 2 adults and sometimes 3 adults in the room with them (myself, Ms. Blakely and our teacher or ECE candidate). We would like to thank each one of you for your patience and support that you have given us during September!

This month we will be continuing our “Scientist walks” in our schoolyard. The children have really enjoyed exploring our surrounding using our senses. In Math, we will be exploring patterning. In Language, we will be learning how to make connections to our self and our world after reading a book. We will also be learning how to label pictures that we draw. Please continue to check our website to see the learning that is occurring in our classroom. http://www.kidslearningthroughplay.blogspot.com

Students have been having an easy time finding their morning and afternoon snacks that they place into the classroom bins each morning. We are so very proud of them! We want to thank you for remembering to label their snacks in 2 separate containers (“morning snack” and “afternoon snack”) with the student’s name. Please continue to ensure that these healthy snacks are entirely peanut and nut-free. We’d like to remind you to make sure the snacks are easy to open and eat (e.g., cut up fruit and vegetables, cheese and crackers etc). Anything your child can eat with their fingers is perfect. We are trying to reduce spills in the classroom that so often happen with yogurt and applesauce. J

Most of the students now have an extra change of clothing that they keep in their cubbies for unseen accidents. If you have not yet sent an additional change of clothing (pants, shirt, socks and underwear) with your child, please try to do so.  Please also send a pair of indoor shoes with your child. These shoes can be kept in their cubby and also can be used for gym days.

Please continue returning communication and poem folders each Monday and library books before library day. As a reminder:

Day 1 – Music in the morning
Day 2 – Library in the morning and gym in the afternoon
Day 3 –Gym in the afternoon
Day 4 – Music in the morning
Day 5 – Computers in the morning, gym and reading buddies in the afternoon

Thank you once again for your support. We would like to thank all those parents who have taken the time to drop in and say hello. Most days we are in our classroom by 7:30 am. If you have any questions or concerns, please continue to come and speak with us, write us a note or give us a call. Strong parent-teacher relationships support the success of our students.

Sincerely,

Gayle David and Christina Blakely

 

 

 

Welcome to Kindergarten at Earl Beatty Public School!

                


Tuesday, September 3th, 2013

Dear Students, Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to room 3/4.  Christina Blakely, our ECE (Early Childhood Educator) and myself (Gayle David) are looking forward to working with you and your child throughout the coming school year. This handbook is intended to provide you with information regarding classroom routines and procedures as well as other items related to our dynamic classroom.


The Full Day Kindergarten Program
Our Full Day Learning program is a child-centred, inquiry and activity based program that reflects the developmental needs of young children. Classroom activities and challenges are modified to meet the individual needs of each learner. This program is designed around the Ontario Kindergarten Program which is available online.     



ENTRY AND DISMISSAL TIMES
The school day begins at 8:42 and ends at 3:00
·       Students will line up outside of the doors (Exit 7) in the back play yard at 8:42 and will exit through the same doors at 3:00 if they are going home at the end of the day.
·       Your child will be led in and out of the school by me or another member of the school staff.
·       If your child is going to be picked up by anyone other than his/her regular adult, please notify me, or the school ahead of time and inform the person picking up your child that identification will be required.
·       If you arrive after 3:00 please pick your child up from the office.
·       Students who arrive after the bell must check in with the office for a Late Slip.


LUNCH TIME AND SNACKS
  • Lunch time is at 11:15 – 12:27
·    Students going home for lunch will exit at 11:15 through the same entry doors (Exit 7 –on back play yard).  Lunch entry bell is 12:27.
  • Kindergarten students have supervised lunch in the kindergarten classroom Room 3 every day.

·    The children are invited to bring two small, healthy snacks and a lunch each day.
o   The snacks should be something that is low maintenance and easy to open and eat (e.g., cut up fruit and vegetables, cheese and crackers etc). Anything your child will find easy to eat with their fingers is great.
o   The children should bring each snack in 2 separate containers. These should be labelled “morning snack” and “afternoon snack” as well as their name.
o   If your child is also bringing a lunch, please have his/her lunch in a third separate container labelled “lunch” and also labelled with his/her name.
o   Classroom bins will be available for your child to put his/her containers in each morning. This will ensure your child has easy access to their snacks throughout the day when they are hungry.
o    In the beginning, many children often mistakenly eat their lunch during snack time. It is extremely helpful to review with your child which foods you are sending to school for lunch and which ones are for snack times.
o    Due to possible allergies and any special dietary needs of some of our students, please do not send any products/treats that contain nuts. Please be VERY diligent about observing this rule as students who have severe nut allergies are exposed to health risk when peanut and/or nut products are consumed in their environment. Please help us keep our children safe.
o   We will encourage all children to go eat their snacks but if they are not hungry and choose not to, they will not be forced. We cannot heat your child’s lunch and we do not have a refrigerator in our classroom.



APPROPRIATE CLOTHING
Kindergarten classrooms are busy, active places. The children are provided with paint and water smocks to wear, however; clothing may still become soiled or damp. Comfortable play clothes are preferred to fancy outfits, as the children will be involved in numerous creative activities including the use of paint, glue, sand, water, etc.

     Students should wear clothes that they can manage on their own. Please have   
     your child practice taking off and putting on his/her coat and shoes.

    Change of clothes – please send an additional change of clothes (i.e. pants,
      shirt, socks, and underwear) that your child can keep in his/her cubby in case of
      an accident.  It is easiest if the change of clothes is in a Ziploc (or similar) bag
      clearly labelled with your child’s name on the outside.

 Indoor shoes – please send a pair of labelled running shoes for your child to  
 keep at school that can be used in class as well as for gym.



GYM

Each Day 2, 3 and 5, the children will be involved in a physical education program. The gym class will be lead by Ms. Sawh. The children will be involved in an active program that will explore balance, coordination and sports. On gym days, please ensure that your child comes to school wearing appropriate clothes (comfortable and easy to move around in) and running shoes.




SCHOOL BAGS & LABELS 
·       Your child should bring a backpack to school each day. The bag should be big enough for his/her belongings. Many backpacks are too small to accommodate art projects, pictures, or large books.
·       Please be sure to print your child’s name on his/her bag. 
·       Please make sure that your child is able to open and close his/her backpack independently.

·       Please make a practice of checking your child’s bag every day for communications from school, or work that has come home.



Please label all your child’s belongings!
It is amazing how many items that are left in the class and don’t get claimed. Sometimes things get mixed up and get in the wrong backpack and will be returned to the owner if labelled.


Washroom There is a washroom in our classroom for the children to use. The children need to be able to clean themselves independently when they use the washroom and wash their hands afterwards.


Library
The children will visit the library every Day 2. Students will be taking these books home. Please ensure Library books are returned before the following Day 2. This will allow the students to take home a new library book for the next week.




Borrow-a-Book Program and Poetry Folders
·       Students will bring home a Borrow-a-Book at least once a week (this will begin at a later date). They will take a book home to share with a family member. These books will not always be leveled books.  The children may be ready to read many of the books on their own, but at times, some of the  books will definitely be meant to be read to the student. When students return their book they will receive another book to take home to read.
·       In addition students will take home a Poetry Folder each Friday of poems/songs we worked on during the week. This is another great opportunity for students and parents/guardians to read together. Please be diligent in returning these folders each Monday so that your child will have a folder to take home the following week.


 Birthdays
Birthdays are a significant part of a young child’s life and we want to capitalize on this interest and enthusiasm. We will celebrate your child’s birthday by providing them with a special birthday necklace to wear for the day and singing them Happy Birthday. Often parents ask if they can bring something to celebrate their child’s big day. When we are asked this question, we tell parents that they can bring a non-food related items for the children such as erasers, b-day pencils etc., (which is not mandatory).

Due to severe allergies, we kindly ask that no food is brought into the classroom for birthdays.


 Illness
Please keep your child home if he/she is sick to avoid exposing other children and staff to unnecessary health risks.
·       Please call the school and inform the office that your child will be away (416.393.9070).



Reports/Conferences

Senior Kindergarten students will receive a formal, written Progress Report in mid November. At this time, the Senior Kindergarten parents/guardians will have a Parent/Teacher Conference to discuss assessment, progress, programming, and next steps. The Junior Kindergarten children will receive a written report in February and at this time there will be an opportunity for Junior Kindergarten parents/guardians to have a conference. The Junior and Senior Kindergarten children will both receive written report cards in June.



This year your child will have an opportunity to participate in the Scholastic Book program. It allows you to purchase reasonably priced books for your family. At the same time, the program provides additional reading materials for our classroom. The catalogue/order forms will come home once a month (or so) and you will have approximately 1 week to return the completed form as well as a cheque made out to SCHOLASTIC CANADA (no cash).
This program is entirely optional and you may or may not choose to participate.


Classroom Volunteers

The connection between home and school is an important part of a child’s education. We will welcome volunteers into the classroom to help work with children and support the classroom program in the first term once the students have had the opportunity to adjust to their new setting and the related routines and expectations. In addition, we will be taking several trips throughout the year and we will be inviting parents to join us on these adventures.

Our city embraces many cultures along with diverse traditions and customs and you are welcomed to join us in the classroom to discuss and educate the children about your heritage.  Furthermore, during religious holidays, please feel free to contact us and schedule a time for you to come to our class and share your customs and traditions.

More information regarding volunteering will be sent home at a later date.



Contact Information

We hope this handbook has been helpful and has answered any questions you had about our classroom routines and kindergarten program. If you have questions/concerns please let us know and do not hesitate to write us a note or call – please note: we may not be able to return calls during the school day, but if you leave a message with the office we’ll be more than happy to return your call as soon as possible.  We are also in our classroom most days from 7:30 until the morning bell and some days after school.

      Sincerely,
Gayle David & Christina Blakely
416.393.9070







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