WELCOME! Kindergarten Open House - March 9, 2021 - Gold Bar School

WELCOME!
Kindergarten Open House - March 9, 2021

Kindergarten

●   Offer half-day kindergarten programming

●   Children who are five years of age on or before December 31, 2021 may register in

    Kindergarten for the 2021-2022 school year.

●   All forms need to be filled out online. You can find the link on our website: goldbar.epsb.ca

●   A parent or guardian needs to upload legal proof of the child’s name, citizenship, birth date

    the first time that the child registers in kindergarten, and proof of residency.

GOLD BAr school is committed to: Academic Excellence
●   Delivery of the Alberta Program of Studies (K – Gr. 6)

●   Emphasis on Literacy and Numeracy

●   Comfortable balance between personal development and high

    academic expectations

●   Integration of newest resources and technologies

●   Early Years Evaluation (November)

●   Two terms with progress reports (March and June)

●   Goal Setting Conferences and Celebrations of Student Learning and Growth

Gold Bar School’s vision and MissioN
                      Vision:

    Building foundational attitudes, skills and
          knowledge with our community

                     Mission

       Gold Bar School is a community that
   provides a rich learning environment where
      students are active citizens who are
   encouraged and supported as they engage in
        their journey as lifelong learners.

At Gold Bar School we believe:
●   Each of our learners is unique and has diverse strengths, interests and needs which are
    valued and nurtured, and in so doing, each child will be prepared for increasingly complex life
    and work environments in the 21st century
●   Strong communities are built through clear and open communication with parents, students
    and staff and thereby foster safe and secure learning environments for every child to
    realize their potential
●   In empowering our students by celebrating their successes, and by using restorative
    practices which seek to repair relationships that have been damaged, so that every voice is
    heard, valued and acknowledged
●   Every child has the right and the responsibility to belong to our many communities and each
    child has gifts that contribute to and enhance these communities, both within and beyond
    the walls of the school
●    Success is different for every child and includes processes as well as the product, beyond
    academics, including social relationships, community building and citizenship
●   Students will be engaged in leadership roles as they navigate their lifelong learning journey

Hours of Instruction for Kindergarten
          Outside supervision at 8:15 am

             AM First Bell: 8:30 am

           AM School Starts: 8:35 am

              Recess 10:15 - 10:30 am

              AM Dismissal 11:37 am

Kindergarten is about PLAY!
It’s through play that children have the opportunity to:

●   use imagination, pretend, imitate, be creative
●   show curiosity, experiment, explore, discover
●   plan, practice, take risks;
●   develop thinking skills, ask questions “I wonder … What if…”
●   problem solve
●   communicate, express thoughts and ideas
●   socialize, resolve conflicts
●   cooperate, share, and take turns

Types of Play
●   Make-believe Play - Construction, Restaurant,
    School, Store, birthday parties, tea parties, dress up
    centre
●   Arts Play - painting, guided drawing, colouring, cut &
    paste, music, performances
●   Language Play - writing centre, listening centre,
    reading nook
●   Symbolic Play - loose parts, STEM, sensory table,
    light table
●   Construction Play - blocks, trains, marbles, building
    with tools, marble works, invention centres with craft
    materials
●   Large-motor Play - gym class, recess, outdoor games,
    playground, river valley/community walks, outdoor
    loose parts

Types of play cont’d...
●   Risk-Taking Play - outdoors, loose parts, field,
    playground
●   Mastery Play - interests, visual helpers, activity
    tubs/morning bins,
●   Rules-based Play - Routines, board games, role
    play, quiet corner
●   Sensory Play - outdoor play, fidget toys, sensory
    bins/tables, comfort toys, water/sand table
●   Small Motor Play - exploration, discovery, small
    objects, busy baskets, cutting, tweezers, hole
    punchers, etc.
●   Rough and Tumble Play - Active play areas, pool
    noodles, balloons, recess play, outdoor play

Kindergarten
       ●   Providing concrete, hands-on, experiences to

           help children build a solid foundation for later

           abstract learning

       ●   Assisting children in understanding and valuing

           themselves as capable and successful learners

       ●   Encouraging healthy relationship building

       ●   Enjoying and learning from special guests,

           in-class presentations and field trips

       ●   Accessing learning supports as required

       ●   Early Years Evaluation in October, results will

           be shared with parents in November

Alberta Education Kindergarten Program
What areas do children address in Kindergarten?

 ●   Early Literacy

 ●   Early Numeracy

 ●   Citizenship and Identity

 ●   Environment and Community Awareness

 ●   Personal and Social Responsibility

 ●   Physical Skills and Well-being

 ●   Creative Expression

Kindergarten Daily Routine
         Arrival:

          ●   Breakfast program, STEM Bins

         Morning Meeting:

          ●   Calendar, attendance, messages, planning and
              discussion of day’s events, story or activities
              related to the lesson for the day, STAR student

         Learning Time:

          ●   Thematic based - Individual or whole group
              lessons/activities

Centres:

 ●   Daily rotations - ABC, Writing,
     Math, Read to Self, STEM,
     Sensory Table, Art, Blocks,
     Dramatic Play, Science
 ●   Snack time and Recess

Library, Gym or Music

 ●   Library 1x/week
 ●   Gym 2-4x/week

Hometime Routine

 ●   Story & Pack up

What to bring on
            the first day...

● Indoor shoes (NO shoe laces please!!)
●   A backpack big enough to hold a big library
    book
●   A small snack - not a whole meal please!
●   School supplies - not labelled (a list will be
    sent to you with requirements)

Kindergarten Fees
Kindergarten Fees provide for activities and
             supplies such as:
                   Art Supplies

                 School Supplies

 Special Projects throughout the year (Mother’s
             Day, Father’s Day etc.)

  Holiday celebrations and activities (Halloween,
           Easter, 100 Day Celebration)

        Year End Projects/Memory Books

   Some in-school presentations and field trips

Staggered Entry
 A letter will be mailed home in August regarding first days of school and staggered
                                      entrance.

               First day of school is Thursday, September 2nd, 2021

            Staggered entrance occurs Sept. 2, 3, 7, 8, 9

* All Kindergarten students will attend on Friday, September 10th.

Parent/Guardian Commitment and Involvement
    ●   Relationships are integral to supporting students’ academic learning, fostering students’

                             citizenship skills and ensuring student responsibility

                       ●   Please become involved in your child’s school experience

               ●     Share your expertise with a group of students or help lead a project

           ●       Attend various school events- Fit In, Christmas concert, Assemblies, etc.

●   Join our School Council or the Fundraising Society (your advice and input makes a difference!)

Safety First
●   No stopping area directly in front of the
    school.
●   Please follow the instructions provided by
    AMA Patrols.
●   Kinder students enter through west doors
●   Outdoor supervision at 8:15 am.
●   Parent/guardian and late entrance through
    front doors, then to the office for a
    welcome slip.

Stay Connected
         ●   Summer letter outlining staggered entry date
●    Ongoing and important updates on our website and SchoolZone
         ●   School Office opens Friday, August 27, 2021.

    Thank you to each of you for attending
    tonight’s Kindergarten Open House and
     embarking on this exciting and special
                journey with us!