Bienvenue

à la maternelle
2018-2019
 

Welcome to Kindergarten at École John McCrae. We hope we can help make your
child’s transition to school life as smooth as possible. Welcome back to our
returning students. We’re looking forward to another year together!

This booklet has been compiled to provide you with information about our classroom
routines and the Kindergarten program. Please keep it for future reference.

To keep up to date with classroom information, please subscribe to our class blog:
madamemjohnson.weebly.com (box in the bottom right hand corner).

School Phone Number – (519) 824-0028

Teacher: Madame Margie Johnson
ECE: Madame Emily Noftall
Class website: madamemjohnson.weebly.com
Email: margie.johnson@ugdsb.on.ca
Phone: 519-824-0028 ext. 403

Principal: Leslie Newman

Vice Principal: Chad Reay
Office Staff: Kathy Lambkin, Melinda Rice & Janet Wozniak
 Communication
Your child will be provided with a “sac de communication” (communication bag). All
notes and forms from the school will be placed in the bag. Please return this bag
each day. Any notes you write to us should be written in the communication
booklet located in this bag. Please leave the booklet OPEN when you have
written a note.

Please subscribe to both the class blog and school website to stay informed.
By subscribing, you will be automatically notified of updates, reminders and events:
www.madamemjohnson.weebly.com (subscribe box located on the right hand side)
www.ugdsb.ca/jmc/ (scroll to bottom of webpage to subscribe). Please let us know
if you will require paper copies of notices (for those who do not have regular
Internet access).

Payments for any school related items (e.g., field trips, milk orders) can be made
online through the School Cash Online program (see link at the bottom of the
school’s webpage). We prefer online payments. If you choose to send in cash or
cheques, please send the payment to school in a labeled envelope (child’s name
and purpose of payment).

Do not hesitate to contact us any time if you have questions or concerns.

 Lunch and Snacks
Lunch and Snacks
We have two nutrition breaks (lunch breaks) during which students eat in the
classroom. The first break is from 10:10 to 10:30 and the second from 12:35 to
12:55. Encourage your child to help choose nutritious foods that they enjoy
eating. Some suggestions include: veggies, fruit, granola bars, apple sauce,
yogurt, crackers, cheese, meats, sandwiches, wraps, noodles, pizza, etc.
Please try to send items that your child can open on their own and that don’t
spill easily (avoid glass containers). Please be advised that peanuts and nut
products are not allowed in the classroom, and that children are asked to
not share their food.
The children will be supervised by teachers and/or ECEs during nutrition
breaks, and by teachers and paid supervisors during recesses. If you would like
to volunteer during nutrition breaks, please return the volunteer form included in
this package. A schedule will be sent home when available.

Water Bottles
Each day your child should bring a labeled refillable water bottle to school.

Milk/Pizza
Through the school’s milk program, you can pre-order white or
chocolate milk, or juice (available daily or on the days of your
choosing). There is also a weekly pizza program. Information
and order forms will be sent home in the coming weeks.
 Attendance &Transportation

Safe Arrival and Departure

If your child is ill or will be absent from school for any reason, please call the
office before school starts (or the night before) and leave a message
explaining your child’s absence. By making a quick call (519)-824-0028,
you save our office staff a lot time.

If there is a change in your child’s arrangements for after school, please advise
us with a note in your child’s “sac de communication”. If changes occur during
the day, please call the office. Before allowing a change to the normal
routine, we need to receive notification / parental permission.

Before School
Beginning at 8:20, staff supervise the arrival of the buses and the students in
the Kindergarten yard. Children should not be dropped off prior to 8:20.
Please ensure your child arrives at school promptly by 8:35. We begin the
day outside and our morning routines are an important way to learn the French
language. During inclement weather (e.g. pouring rain, extreme cold) a bell
may ring early (before 8:35) to allow students inside.

After School
At the end of the day, teachers and ECEs supervise the dismissal of the
students: to their bus lines, after school care, and for pick-up in the
Kindergarten yard. If you are picking up your child, please arrive by the 3:05
dismissal bell. If late, you will need to collect your child from the main office.

Bus Students
Older students are our school bus patrollers. These students take the children
to and from the buses. Please ensure your child’s bus tag is securely
attached to their backpack as this information is extremely important.

 
 School Supplies
Items to send to school
on a daily basis
- A lunch bag and lunch containers that
your child can open
- A reusable labeled water bottle
- Clothing suitable for the weather that
day (sun hat, raincoat, etc.)
- A backpack (large enough to hold the
lunch box, water bottle, “sac de
communication” and a library book)
Items that will
remain at school
- 1 pair Velcro running shoes (to be used as
inside shoes and for gym)
- A FULL change of labeled clothing in a
labeled Ziploc bag (shirt, pants, socks,
underwear for accidents / spills)
- A VERY SMALL labeled blanket or towel
for quiet time (optional)
- A photo of your family / families.

Family photo: If you sent one last year, you don’t need to send another. You can also
email a photo: margiejjohnson@ugdsb.on.ca.

Clothing
Please encourage your child to wear comfortable, easy-care clothing. We run an active
kindergarten program involving experimentation, paint, outdoor play, etc. Choose
clothing and footwear that your child can put on and remove independently (please no
laces unless they can tie them themselves!). Please LABEL everything (especially
shoes, coats, hats, lunch boxes, containers, water bottles).

Rain and Cold Gear

We will be spending time outside everyday in ALL WEATHER. Please ensure that your
child is dressed appropriately. This includes sun hats, raincoats, boots and rain
pants/splash pants for rainy days, and warm winter wear (mitts, boots…).

Classroom Supplies
If possible, please consider sending in the following items to be used in the classroom.
These materials are shared, so they do not need to be labeled.
- All students: 1 box of crayola markers (thick or thin) and 2-3 large glue sticks
- Year 1s (JKs): 1 box of medium or large freezer ziplocks
- Year 2s (SKs): 1 package of dry erase markers or 1 box of food colouring

We also welcome donations of craft materials, boxes of Kleenex, and plastic grocery
bags. Thanks for supporting our program!
 Our Program
In the Kindergarten program, four “frames” or broad areas of learning are used to
structure our thinking about learning and assessment. The frames are:
Belonging and Contributing
Self-Regulation and Well-Being
Demonstrating Literacy and Mathematics Behaviours
Problem Solving and Innovating

These frames are embedded in a play-based and inquiry approach to learning. This
is a two-year program, and our class is composed of both Year 1 and Year 2
Kindergarten students. To view the full Kindergarten Curriculum, Google “Ontario
Kindergarten Document”, click Kindergarten - edu.gov.on.ca, and select The
Kindergarten Program, 2016.  

We follow a 5-day cycle (rotation of 5 cycle days). The calendar of the 5-day cycle is
available on our class website and the Upper Grand District school board’s website.
Our class visits the library (with Madame McEwan), the music room, and the gym
once per cycle. Two mornings a week, from 8:35-10:15, another teacher will work
with our class, with a focus on mathematics. In our Immersion program, French is
used throughout the day. The children will learn French through routines, activities,
and songs, as well as with gestures from the AIM language learning method.
Outdoor learning is an important part of our program and we often spend time
exploring our beautiful natural surroundings (including the river and forests).

Our class is a busy place with over 25 students. We often separate the class into 2
groups so that the children can engage with one another in a smaller group setting.

A typical day: (though we often vary our plans to accommodate many factors!)
8:35 Class gathers outdoors for attendance and morning routines. We then give the
children some time to play outside as this allows us to “check-in” with them and for
them to connect with their peers. We then head inside for a class gathering, small
group activities (literacy / math focus) and other activities
10:10 First nutrition break, 10:30 Recess
11:00 Meet outside for attendance and songs. Half the class will head inside (quiet
time and exploration / inquiry / play) and half will remain outside (games / physical
activity / nature & inquiry explorations)
12:30 Second nutrition break, 1:00 Recess
1:25 Meet outside for attendance and songs. Switch groups from middle block (half
inside and half outside)
2:30 Class gathering to share reflections and learning from the day
2:45 Pack up, 3:05 Dismissal