Holland Landing Public School

Kindergarten Information Session

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Welcome

We want to acknowledge that we are learning on the traditional territories of the Wendat, Haudenosaunee and the Anishinaabe peoples. We have a shared responsibility to this land. Together, we want to protect our shared resources and use them in a good way for the future generations of all communities.

Land Acknowledgment

Welcome!

A Message from Louise Sirisko, Director of Education

Welcome to Our Kindergarten Information Session!

You are your child’s first teacher and are the most powerful influence on their learning, development, health, and well-being.

We can't wait to partner with youas your child begins kindergarten at Holland Landing Public School

Kindergarten in YRDSB

Click on the image/link to play to the video (7 mins)

Introducing Educator TeamsEducators work together to consider each child’s unique identities, experiences & strengths to support their learning and development.

Kindergarten classrooms have an educator team consisting of:

● an designated early childhood educator (DECE),

● a classroom teacher, and ● a prep-coverage teacher

Introducing Educator Teams

Click the video below to meet our current FDK Team:

Kindergarten is for All Children

Children entering Kindergarten are competent, curious and full of potential. They come with diverse backgrounds, lived experiences and special education needs, and are at different stages of development.

Kindergarten is for All Children

Here at Holland Landing Public School we understand that children come from all different backgrounds with a variety of learning experiences and needs. As part of our comprehensive Early Years Team we are fortunate enough to have the following Staff to support our classroom Educators:

Physical and Occupational Therapist - (Our current PT/OT is retiring and we will introduce the person replacing them in the fall)Susan Onorati - Speech and Language PathologistMichelle Maguire - Special Education Resource Teacher

Inclusive & Equitable Learning in Kindergarten

Play-based learning in kindergarten honours and reflects children’s lived experiences, interests, social identities and

home languages.

Learning Through Purposeful Play

Make FriendsShare Ideas

ExploreCreate

DrawWrite

ReadMoveBuild

Problem SolveImagine

Discover

Educators intentionally plan and create purposeful, play-based learning experiences. Children have opportunities to:

Play-Based Learning Indoors

Children have opportunities throughout the day to choose from a variety of play-based learning experiences that integrate

many areas of learning from our Kindergarten Program.

Play-Based Learning Outdoors

Learning in the outdoors is an integral part of each day in Kindergarten.

The Four Frames of Kindergarten

The Kindergarten Program, 2016, p. 14

In the Kindergarten play-based learning program, children explore, play and inquire, both indoors and outdoors, four frames for learning.

These four frames for learning are:

● Demonstrating Literacy & Mathematics Behaviours

● Belonging & Contributing● Problem Solving & Innovating● Self-Regulation & Well-Being

Demonstrating Literacy & Mathematics Behaviours

As children play, they develop...• literacy and mathematics

behaviours connected to real-life, relevant and authentic contexts

• A love of learning

Demonstrating Literacy & Mathematics Behaviours

• communicate through gestures, words, symbols, and images

• respond to stories• begin to think critically• begin to read and write

in authentic contexts.

As children play, educators focus on the children’s “literacy behaviours”:

Demonstrating Literacy & Mathematics Behaviours

As children play, educators focus on the children’s...“Mathematics behaviours” - the various ways in which children learn more about mathematical relationships, concepts, skills, and processes in real-life contexts.

Belonging and Contributing

As children play, they develop...• A sense of connectedness to others• An ability to form relationships and make

contributions as part of: a group, a community, and the natural world

Problem Solving & Innovating

As children play, they develop...• An understanding of the

world around them, by testing theories, asking questions, solving problems and thinking creatively

• Confidence to explore innovative ideas that naturally arise in their day

Self-Regulation & Well-Being

As children play, they develop...• An ability to understand their

own thoughts and feelings • An ability to understand and

manage emotions and impulses• An awareness of their physical

and mental health and wellness

How Your Child’s Learning is Assessed

• The Four Frames reflect the integrated way in which children learn through exploration, play & inquiry.

• Educators assess your child’s learning and development in each frame using documentation in a variety of ways, such as, photographs, video clips, and conversations.

• This ongoing collection of your child’s learning and assessment will be shared with you over the course of the year.

Formal Communication of Learning

Year 1 Year 2

Kindergarten Communication of Learning: Initial Observations reports will be sent home

You will be invited to an In-Class Observation Visit

Kindergarten Communication of Learning: Initial Observations reports will be sent home

You will be invited to participate in a Meeting with your child’s educator(s)

Initial Observations (Nov/Dec)

Formal Communication of Learning

• Written comments shared in February (Term 1) and June (Term 2)

• Learning will be summarized using the four frames for learning

• Key learning, growth in learning will be described within each frame

• Next steps to support your child’s learning at school and home will be included

Term 1 & Term 2

Community PartnersWe would like to introduce our community partners:(click on the images for links)

Holland Landing Child Care (Before & After Care for HLPS)

EarlyON Child and Family Centre- Early literacy programs

Community PartnersWe would like to introduce our community partners:(click on the images for links)

School Settlement Services York Region

Early Intervention Services

Community PartnersWe would like to introduce our community partners:(click on the images for links)

Our School Routines● School starts at 9:00 a.m. Entrance Bell at 8:55 a.m.

● Adult supervision starts at 8:45 a.m. in Kindergarten yard and students stay outside until 9:00 a.m.

● Children have 3 large instructional periods each day with a 30 minute recess and a 60 minute lunch break. Both include time to eat and outdoor play.

● Dismissal at 3:30 p.m. (arrive a few minutes early to pick up your child)

Bussing

Student Transportation Services of York Region(http://net.schoolbuscity.com/)

Families ca access this website to:• Check if you are eligible for the school bus• Find your bus stop

Before and After Care ProgramHolland Landing Children’s Academy

Address: 16 Holland River Blvd. Holland Landing, ON

Tel: 905 836 8916Email: hlca@ypce.comWebsite: www.yorkprofessional.comHours of Operation7:00 am – 9:00 am / 3:30 pm – 6:00 pm

Registration Information:Please visit our website to access our Registration Package

A Day in Kindergarten • Several large blocks of learning through play and

inquiry, with a mix of whole group, small group and one-on-one guided instruction as well as regular outdoor learning times.

• 2 nutritional breaks (snack and lunch)

• 2 outdoor recess times - weather can change throughout the day, so please make sure children are dressed appropriately.

Lunch & Snack

In Kindergarten, many children make choices about going to the snack table when they are hungry ...

(p.155 The Kindergarten Program)

Lunch & Snack● Food allergies: We are a Nut-Free school● Nutrition: Need a snack and lunch● Easy to open independently● Child is able to eat independently● Food that does not require heating● Little bite sized foods tend to get eaten more – try to

get the most nutritional bang for your buck● The beginning is new and exciting, children may not eat

much to start, but will eat more once they have settled into routines.

Helpful Tips● Practice eating “school lunch” at home. Pack their food

and let them take out their lunch bag, open it, eat the food themselves, then pack it up and put it back in their backpack. Celebrate their “big kid” independence!

● Over the summer, become familiar with the school: visit the Kindergarten yard, walk around the school.

● Establish bedtime routines and morning routines● Practise independence: Putting on jacket and shoes,

going to the washroom, washing hands. Asking for help when they need it.

Dressing for Success● Washable clothing● Dress for activity/weather (sometimes this can change

throughout the day)● Change of clothing (to keep at school)● Please Label everything! ● Indoor and outdoor shoes● Non-lace up shoes preferred (for independence)● We change our shoes and zip up/down our jackets 6

times a day!

The First Day of Kindergarten● Practice your goodbye routine ahead of time● Be on time-it is easier for children to enter when the

other children are there● Be positive and reassuring● Do not let them see you cry (Yes, we

mean the parents! )● Your child may cry and that is OK, we will take care

of him/her. It is important to bring him/her back again the next day and follow the same routine. It will help them adjust more quickly with consistency.

First Day Schedule • Year 2 students attend for the whole day on the first

day of school (Thursday, September 9th).• Year 1 students attend from 9:00 to 10:40 a.m.• All Year 1 and Year 2 students attend and follow a

regular schedule on their second school day (full day).

• School transportation is not provided the first day for Year 1 students and will begin on Friday.

• Parents can say goodbye outside and students will come into the classroom with their educators.

Looking Forward to September

We are all looking forward to September and realize that you might be wondering what this will look like for your child starting Kindergarten.

While we may not know exactly what September will look like yet, the YRDSB continues to work very closely with York Region Public Health to ensure we are taking all appropriate measures to protect the health and safety of our students, staff and families

Please continue to check www.yrdsb.ca for the most up-to-date information.

Discover Kindergarten!

Click on the links below to learn more:

Learning Through Play At Home

Virtual Introduction to Kindergarten

For More Information About Kindergarten

YRDSB Kindergarten Website:

www.yrdsb.ca/kindergarten

Let’ Stay Connected!

Here are some ways that we can stay connected...• Check out our school website• Keep updated of what is happening at our school

through our school newsletter• Join us at our next School Council meeting

Holland Landing Public School

Thank You!

Still have questions?Please click on the link below to ask any questions you still have and we will send out an e-mail in the coming weeks with answers to all questions.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1iHOLXrMkb5z33mP2whkXsqfZ2WjrsXQPwfnToMeNzdg/edit?usp=sharing