1. family and parenting
2. children

Kindergarten…
…where every child is recognized as
unique and each child’s individual needs
are considered in programming to help
develop the whole child.
Format of evening
O 6:30 – 6:45 – in gym –sharing of key info
and answering questions
O 6:45 – 7:15 – time to visit classrooms –
children can participate in the various
activities
O Please make your way to all 4 classes
Introductions…
O Principal – Mr. Brian Morgan
O FDK teachers:
O Mrs. Rose
O Mrs. Hesselink
O Mrs. Honderich
O Mrs. Finlay
O Ms. Murphy
O Mrs. Romano
Any other FDK staff?
O DECE’s – Designated Early Childhood
Educators
O 6-8 DECE’s for next year – to be hired in
June
O Coverage – Mrs. Frew-Landry, Mrs. Cluthe,
Mrs. Faulhafer
A huge thank-you to all
parents…
O For entrusting us with your children every day
O
O
O
O
during the school year…
We are very excited about having your children
join us!
They will be well cared for by a caring, hard
working, professional and experienced team of
educators who love kids
We are here for your children
We will work together to make this a great year!
FDK – something new…
O Ministry of Education – started FDK in
September 2010
O We are year 5 of implementation
O All schools in WRDSB will have FDK as of
September 2014
O Based on most current research into high
quality, developmentally enriched, early
learning instructional practices
Why FDK?
O There is a bigger impact on student learning
when children attend each day
O Key strategies that children acquire in the
FDK Program will affect later learning and
behaviour
O Data show us that students are better
prepared for grade 1 – especially in area of
reading (which is key for all learning)
What is FDK?
“To address the full range of each child’s developmental
needs, the FDK program should provide opportunities for
learning, self-expression, self-regulation, and selfdiscovery in a variety of areas.” (The Full-Day Early
Learning –Kindergarten Program)
O This program provides a balance of investigation or
exploration, and guided and explicit instruction through
play-based learning
O These experiences allow children to build on their
existing knowledge, create and clarify their own
understandings, and experience a variety of approaches
to a question or problem
FDK continued…
The program:
O is based on the interests of students –
children learn best through activities that
are relevant to their lives and varied enough
to be challenging and engaging
O supports the student’s social, emotional and
cognitive development
O allows for independent and guided learning
experiences
FDK continued…
O integrates JK and SK students
O has 2 educators in the class daily and
approximately 25 students– the educators
are a team – feel free to communicate with
either member of the team
O Offers more time for individual and small
group interactions between children and
educators
O Involves intentional play-based learning
What is inquiry play-based
learning?
O Our Learning is Play-Based and evolves from
Student Interests in our Classroom.
O “Play is our brain’s favourite way to learn.
Play gives children a chance to practise what
they are learning. Play paves the way for
learning. Playing = Learning”
(quoted from The Pascal Report)
In Kindergarten…
O We learn in playful ways
because playful learning
develops:
Greater language skills
Better social skills
More empathy
More imagination
More subtle capacity to
know what others mean
O Less aggressive behaviour
O More self control
O Higher levels of thinking
O
O
O
O
O
Inquiry play-based learning…
O A strong link between play and learning for
young children (think back to your own
childhood and how much you learned from
various types of play)
O Especially true in areas of problem solving,
language acquisition, literacy, numeracy and
in the development of social, physical and
emotional skills
Play-based learning…
O Children initiate free play and engage in
more structured play-based learning
opportunities under the guidance of the FDK
team – lots of inquiry
O The learning activities designed by the staff
are based on curriculum expectations
O The Program assists in the development of
self-regulation skills and helps to foster
independence
Everything you always wanted
to know about FDK…
Using a question-based format, we
will try to answer as many of your
questions as possible
Soooooooooo…here we go…
What does a typical day look
like in FDK?
O Focuses on the 6 key areas of learning (Math,
O
O
O
O
O
Language, P.E. & Health, Arts, Science & tech.,
Personal & Social development)
“Flow of the day” - seamless
Large group and small group learning activities
Indoor and outdoor activities
Students being active
Inquiry-based
How many FDK classes will
there be next year?
O We will have 6 classes
O Each classroom is slightly different in size
O Thus we will have approximately 23-27
students in each class
O Just completing a large order for resources
and our goal is to have the same resources
in each class
When will my child know who
his/her teacher will be?
O You will receive a letter in the summer
(late July to early August)
O It will indicate name of teacher and
classroom
O Time for meeting will be indicated on the
letter you receive in the summer
O You and your child will come for 45 – 60
minutes on the first day of school
What does staggered entry
look like?
O Tuesday – first day of school - you will meet
with the teachers in your child’s classroom
(along with 2-3 other families)
O Wednesday – half the JK students come to
school (and all the SK students)
O Thursday– the other half of JK students
come to school (and all the SK students)
O Friday – all students attend school
What does my child need for
school?
O Large backpack
O Shoes with velcro straps
O Labels put on all items of clothing
What does my child need for
school?
O Lunch bag and re-usable, easy to open
containers (we are a green school) –litterless lunches are encouraged
O Water bottle
O Clothing that is easy to get on and off i.e.,
boots and jackets
Is there a nap time?
- No, there is no nap time
- Students may be tired at start of year – this
is natural (…so are the teachers!)
- There are down times/quiet times during the
day (depending on the activities)
- You can help by ensuring your child goes to
bed in good time each night
When can my child eat?
O They will have designated break times when
all students can eat
O If a student is hungry at other times, then
he/she can go to the snack centre and eat
part of his/her lunch
What about washroom breaks?
O 5 of 6 classes have a washroom
O Best if student is toilet trained before
starting school – something parents can
work on in summer
School bus information?
O JK students - STSWR will be sending a direct mail
out to the families of JK bus students.
O SK students will receive a postcard with Student
Login Information. Letters and Postcards will be
mailed out during the week of August 15th.
O Procedures will be in place and will be shared
when you meet with the teacher
O Usually the senior students act as bus helpers to
take younger students to and from the bus
Other key information…
O Your summer letter will include information
-
about:
Safe arrival and dismissal routines – hand to
hand exchange
Communication process
Nutrition breaks; types of food to send (no nut
products please)
Extra clothing, Class routines, Backpacks
How to help prepare your child for September
Entrance doors (changes for next year)
Parking
How can I help prepare my
child for FDK?
O Read daily with your child – stories, poems,
rhymes, etc. Talk about the pictures, ideas,
words and letters
O Help your child make good choices about
sharing, taking turns and tidying up
O Have them practise…putting on a
coat/shoes, opening a lunch bag, putting on
a backpack, washing their hands, doing
zippers, etc.
How can I help prepare my
child for FDK?
O Hearing test
O Vision test
O toilet train your child
O Talk positively about school with your child
O Provide your child with many different
experiences…walks in the park, meet new
people, grocery shopping, etc.
Partnerships…
Thank you for joining us…
In Kindergarten!
Stay in touch…
O Follow us on Twitter - @welwrdsb
O Website – wel.wrdsb.ca
(be sure to “subscribe” to get notification
of any new posts)
(sign up tonight by the office with Mrs. Givlin)
Time to go visit the classes…
Play Today
by Leila P. Fagg
You say you love your children and are concerned they learn
today?
So am I -- that's why I'm providing a variety of kinds of play.
You're asking me the value of blocks and other such play?
Your children are solving problems;
they will use that skill every day.
You're asking what's the value of having your children play?
Your daughter's creating a tower;
she may be a builder someday.
You're saying you don't want your son to play in that sissy
way?
He's learning to cuddle a doll.
He may be a father some day.
You're questioning the interest centers; they look like just
listless play?
Your children are making choices;
they'll be on their own some day.
You're worried your children aren't learning and later they'll
have to pay?
They're learning a pattern for learning;
for they'll be learners always.