Welcome to Vincent Massey Kindergarten Vincent Massey School

Welcome to Vincent Massey Kindergarten

Vincent Massey School • Current focus on Differentiation in learning and Literacy support • Positive staff culture focused on students and meeting their individual learning needs • Vincent Massey Elementary School has a student population of approximately 240 students in Grades 1 to 6. We also offer an Early Learning (ELP) and Kindergarten program. • Vincent Massey is located in the Northwest area of the city. Designated attendance area served is Riverside, NW Crescent Heights, and the Northlands neighborhood. • Our learning community motto is “Learn to Care, Care to Learn”. We are dedicated to preparing students for happy and successful lives as ethical citizens and engaged thinkers. • Other School Highlights: YMCA Before/After School Care, Just Right Room, Strings Club, Chess Club, Recess Intramurals, Student Recess Leaders and Leadership Group, Safety Patrollers, Sci Fi/Comic Book Club, Home Alone and Baby-Sitter’s courses for upper elementary students, Grade 6 Outdoor Education Trip, various student recognition and reward programs, alternating Christmas Concert and Christmas family nights, Basketball Club

VM Staffing 2020 -2021 �Principal: Andrew Mc. Fetridge Vice Principal: Lindsay Steiner �ELP (a. m. program) Joanne Schmaltz �Kindergarten (a. m. program) Stephanie Funk �Kindergarten (a. m. program) Stacey Mc. Bain �Grade 1 Karleigh Harvey-Zenk �Grade 1/2 Melanie Johnston �Grade 2 Deanna Immel �Grade 3 Lacey Fischer �Grade 3/4 Megan Anderson �Grade 4/5 Karla Mc. Clain �Grade 5/6 Tracy Elderkin �Grade 6 Jamie Mc. Intosh

What Kindergarten Might Look Like Scenario Description Impact on Play & Learn in MHPSD Scenario 1 For schools to be open (mornings) as much as possible under normal conditions with hygiene and social distance protocols Play & Learn will be offered in the afternoon Scenario 2 For schools to be generally/partially open but with some health restrictions in place, like physical distancing and personal protective equipment (PPE), for instance. Impact is unknown at this time as details around this scenario have not been released. This model may require a back up plan for parents who might require additional childcare if we are not in school full time. Scenario 3 That teacher-directed at-home learning continues Play & Learn will not be offered As we receive more clarification regarding the regulations we will pass that on to you. (There has been some confusion that Play and Learn “suspended” meant “canceled”. That is not the case – we just wanted parents to understand that we may have to suspend the program temporarily if the health regulations are such that we can not return to school full time in the fall. We should have more answers around August 1 st

Play and Learn Program �Our Play and Learn Program allows our Kindergarten children to attend school the same hours as the rest of the school as it operates in the afternoon �Care and learning is provided by our Early Childhood Educator (ECE). �Our teacher and ECE work together to ensure Play and Learn supports the learning the children do during Kindergarten hours. �Cost is $275/month.

Bussing o When arriving to school children will enter the school, drop their backpacks off at the classroom and head out to the playground where they will be supervised (starting at 8: 05 a. m. ) until school begins o Currently, Kindergarten is scheduled to end at 11: 20. Please make arrangements to have your child picked up at 11: 20. o If Play & Learn returns this year, children who attend will be helped outside by an Educational Assistant if they catch the bus at the end of the day.

Before and After School Care (Status for this Fall is still not determined at this time) o Kindergarten students have access to the Before & After School Care Program o. The hours of the program are 7: 00 a. m. to 8: 05 a. m. before school and 2: 48 p. m. to 5: 45 p. m. after school o. Registration forms are available in the office o. All of MHPSD Before & After School Care Programs are run through the YMCA

Bell Times Ø Bell rings at 8: 21 a. m. for the students to come in from the playground and the class starts at 8: 26 a. m. Ø Recess from 10: 00 a. m. – 10: 15 a. m. Ø Kindergarten ends at 11: 20. Ø If Play and Learn takes place this year: Ø Lunch from 11: 45 a. m. – 12: 05 p. m. Ø Lunch recess from 12: 05 p. m. – 12: 30 p. m. Ø Dismissal is at 2: 48 p. m.

September Start Up �Our first day of school is tentatively set for Monday, August 30. Please make sure your child has: �non-marking comfortable shoes suitable to wear in the school and in the gym �a backpack that is large enough for a 9 x 12 folder to fit inside without folding, as well as winter gear (including snow pants!) �a lunch kit with lunch and snacks

Kindergarten School Supplies �School Source package �Includes pencils, glue, eraser, scissors, crayons, markers, binder, home folder, notebook, headphones, pencil box �All children need to have own supplies – cost will be around $30. �At-home materials that would be beneficial to gather: �A laptop or device for on-line learning �Playdough, dice, playing cards, sidewalk chalk, paper

Recess o Kindergarten students will have some outside time without the other classes to learn outside rules and boundaries. o Kindergarten to Grade 6 students will be outside at the 10: 00 – 10: 15 recess with teachers and E. A. supervision. o K-3 students will be outside from 12: 05 – 12: 30 for lunch recess with teacher and E. A. supervision. (Grade 4 -6 go outside from 11: 45 – 12: 05, and have a later lunch. )

Literacy o letter and sound recognition o begin to blend and segment sounds o focus on pre-reading skills o rhyming

Numeracy o Number Sense o. Patterning o Sorting o Comparing Measurements o. Building 3 D objects

Technology o Our Epson Board is used for group learning, centers and morning routine o There are classroom i. Pads available to the students to use at specified times during the day. o Cameras to document student learning (we will be looking for a parent to help with our Kindergarten Yearbook) o Seesaw On-line Portfolio

Play Based Approach to Learning o Play enables children to develop all their skills – and as children develop so does their play. o Play provides opportunities to improve small and large muscle skills and maintain physical health. o Play helps to develop imagination and creativity, provides a context in which to practise social skills, acts as an outlet for emotional expression and provides opportunities to understand value systems. o. Providing for play includes ensuring that the child has opportunities, resources and time for play appropriate to each child’s stage of development. o. Long periods of uninterrupted play build children’s concentration and the inner motivation to take responsibility for their own learning.

Environment and Community Awareness o Explore familiar places in the community and learning environments through field trips o Some of the field trips we will be taking may include a visit to a farm, Petland, the fire station, Safety City, Windmill Garden Centre, etc …

Snack and Lunch Time o Students will be required to bring their own snack (everyone) and lunch (if attending Play & Learn) each day. o We encourage healthy choices and would like you to consider this as you choose items for your child’s snack. Please choose from the 4 Food Groups.

Seesaw Learning & Portfolio https: //youtu. be/j. DHZE-2 x 5 Jw Information with how to join Seesaw will be sent home in the summer. Watch for an information letter in the mail at the beginning of August.

MISSION: Sunday Spy Tour of VM https: //youtu. be/j. L 9 p. Qlfbn. Jg

Vincent Massey School Council o Vincent Massey School Council meets the third Tuesday of each month from September – May o Provides parents/guardians an opportunity to get involved with the school and the programs offered/supported

Please connect with us! �Our website is full of information http: //vincentmassey. mhpsd. ca/ �Check out our school handbook. http: //vincentmassey. mhpsd. ca/User. Files/Server_139803/Image/For%20 Families/Pub lications/School%20 Handbook/Vincent%20 Massey%20 Handbook%202019 -20. pdf �Please sign up for Remind to receive important school messages. Text @g 89 bcg to (587)800 -0522 � “Like” us on Facebook to receive updates! https: //www. facebook. com/vincentmasseymhpsd

Thank you for joining us! o Questions? o Have a great night!