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Kindergarten Information

Kindergarten Information Meeting Schedule

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board’s kindergarten program provides children with organized educational activities appropriate for young learners, taking into account their physical, intellectual, social, and emotional needs. The young child's natural world is one of curiosity, exploration, and imagination; the richest gains are likely to occur when these capacities are promoted in the classroom through play. Children investigate and develop an understanding of their world through play. Play provides a context in which the teacher observes the children’s handling of materials and social situations, assesses their stages of development, and encourages experiences to further growth.

Social/Emotional Development

In order to learn effectively, children must feel good about themselves, about school, and about others. A prime goal of kindergarten is to foster social and emotional growth through play. Children practice socially appropriate behaviour and develop self-help skills to assist them in working with new people and situations.

Physical Development

In indoor and outdoor play children use balls, hoops, water, sand, and climbers to strengthen large muscles. Fine motor skills enhance small muscle growth and coordination and include such activities as manipulating stacking toys, picking up small objects with the thumb and forefinger, tracing over simple shapes and designs.

Intellectual Development

Kindergarten encourages children to develop critical thinking such as observation, compare/contrast, categorization and sequencing skills, to question, to experiment, and to develop creativity through language, music, the arts, and drama. As individuals and in groups, children explore topics of natural interest to young learners.

Language and Communication Development

Activities in kindergarten enhance speaking and listening habits in young children. Games, music, stories, and discussions build necessary oral language skills such as vocabulary, concepts, and grammar, which are required for later instruction in reading, writing, and oral communication. Kindergarten provides a learning program developed from guidelines provided by the Ontario Ministry of Education.

Great Beginnings Start with Caring Staff

Kindergarten teachers have a genuine love for small children, show a lot of patience, kindness, and empathy toward the needs of the young child. They realize the initial years in the kindergarten environment provide an extension of the home and provide a warm, caring environment for your child in order that he/she may develop in the above areas. At the same time your kindergarten teacher will help your child to develop a sense of responsibility and beginning independence.

Your Child’s Introduction to Kindergarten

Once your child is registered in kindergarten, you will be notified regarding school entry procedures. You and your child will have an opportunity to meet your child's teacher alone, prior to regular attendance of all children. This meeting will occur during the first two weeks of school. Its primary focus is to share information about your child: preschool and health history including allergies, along with developmental milestones and pertinent details relating to your child’s history in your family. At this time, there is no attempt by the teacher to assess your child’s academic readiness for formal learning. Rather, the emphasis is on creating a relaxed, joyful transition from home to school.

In order to foster a climate of warmth and comfort, the entry of kindergarten children is staggered over several days. This means each child enters school for the first time as one of a smaller group, whose needs can better be met by the teacher during the first busy days of school.

Ottawa Public Health

All children attending school in Ontario must be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella, unless there is a valid exemption. Nurses from the Ottawa Public Health Immunization Program collect and assess immunization information in accordance with the Immunization of School Pupils Act. Your child’s complete immunization record must be provided to the school at kindergarten registration. The school will not keep this record, but will forward it to Ottawa Public Health Immunization Program. Please also remember to notify Ottawa Public Health Immunization Program every time your child receives a vaccination.

If your child has lived or travelled outside Canada or in a First Nations/Inuit community in Canada for three months or longer during the past five years, you need to provide the school with a Certificate of Immunization and Tuberculosis Assessment for School Entry. For more information, please contact the Immunization Program at 613-580-6744, extension 24108 or by e-mail.

Ottawa Public Health no longer provides visual and auditory screening. Parents who notice their child having difficulty seeing or hearing should contact their health care provider. Ideally, the health care provider should perform vision and hearing check-ups at each visit, with special vision testing as soon as possible after a child’s third birthday. Parents who are concerned about their child’s communication development before the age of five years should contact the First Words Program through Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744, in addition to their health care provider.

French Instruction

Children in junior and senior kindergarten are introduced daily to French through songs, rhymes, movement, stories, and a variety of other activities. The Core French Second Language Program is delivered each school day. Early French Immersion is an option in senior kindergarten with instruction given in French. Further information is available from schools offering these programs. Please call the Program Division at 613-596-8292, for a list of these schools.

Kindergarten Class Time

The time children spend in a kindergarten class includes:

Play Time at Learning Centres — Children engage in small group and individual play at learning centres, some permanent and others short term. Learning centres may include water, sand, crafts, blocks and other building tools, nature, puppets, dress-up, library, puzzles, carpentry, climbing, and computers. Much of the subject content is pursued through activities at these centres. Teachers modify the focus at various centres to accommodate changing needs and interests. Many classrooms are equipped with computers that have software programs to reinforce readiness skills. During play time, the teacher interacts with the child or small groups of children.

Circle Time — Children assemble in a large group for storytelling, songs, games, finger plays, rhythm band, creative movement, math, science activities, and discussion. The focal point of this part of the day is literacy development: the growth of oral expression, the fostering of interest in books and reading, and related language activities.

Indoor/Outdoor Play — Most frequently, students play together in the classroom, in the gym, or outside. Enjoyment of energetic activity allows students to use large and small muscles to improve coordination and to build self-confidence.

Kindergarten Parents Are Important

Partnership — The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board believes in a strong partnership between school and home. An active role in your child's education is vital.

Volunteering — Children, teachers, and parents gain from active parent volunteer programs. Kindergarten teachers often welcome parents, older students, teachers-in-training, early childhood educators, senior citizens, specialists such as story-tellers or musicians, and other members of the community. Volunteers enrich the kindergarten program in many ways. Parents gain valuable insights by observing their children in the preschool setting; children feel special pride and pleasure by having parents with them.

School Councils — All our elementary and secondary schools have a school council. Parents and guardians are encouraged to take an active part in this advisory group. To volunteer or find out more about your school council, speak to your principal or kindergarten teacher.

For Further Information

Talk to the staff at your neighbourhood school. These caring individuals are able to provide you with support, guidance, and information on kindergarten. Information sessions are held in individual schools. These meetings highlight program possibilities, children’s needs, and preparation for school, as well as parent concerns.

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