Thorncliffe School Kindergarten Orientation

2020-21

Kindergarten Programs at Thorncliffe

School

Regular Program

Attends K to Grade 6 at Thorncliffe

School

TLC Program

Kindergarten at Thorncliffe

School

Grades 1 – 4 at Colonel

Sanders School

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Organization of Students

There are currently 80 TLC spaces filled and 2 Regular

Program kindergarten students registered.

Currently, we are planning for:

• 80 TLC kindergarten students divided into four classes

(2 AM and 2 PM). AM/PM Classes are already

determined.

• We are projected for 22 Regular Program students, and

they will be in one AM class.

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Program Commonalities and Differences

Program Commonalities

Belong to CBE

Alberta Program of Studies

Kindergarten Program Statement

Character Education

Phys-Ed and Music

Students Learn the SameContent

Personalized Learning

“I do, We do, You do” Model

TLC Program

Uniform

Regular Program

No Uniform

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Kindergarten Program Statement

Young children are naturally curious and eager to learn. They are

active learners who learn through a variety of means.

Children experience a range of appropriate experiences and

interactions that enable them to add to their knowledge, learn new

skills and practise familiar ones through self-initiated and

structured activities.

Purposeful play is an important mode of learning for children.

Children at play are highly motivated and capable of intense

concentration.

Through organized activities and purposeful play, children explore

and experiment with their environment. They clarify and integrate

information and concepts encountered in their previous

experiences.

Personalized Learning

All CBE schools personalize learning for students.

Young children arrive in Kindergarten from diverse backgrounds and with a variety of experiences.

Children develop through similar stages but at individual rates, and they need differing amounts of time and support to develop common understandings.

Kindergarten programming recognizes and supports each child’s prior knowledge, skills, attitudes, learning pace, personal traits, interests and goals, and preferred learning styles.

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“I Do, We Do, You Do” or Gradual Release

Model

Homework

Alberta Education guidelines do not support formal homework assignments for TLC or Regular Program kindergarten students.

Teachers do provide informal, optional tasks for home study such as:

• Reading nightly, grapheme practice

• Printing practice

• Math games and activities

• Further ways to extend classroom learning at home

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Uniforms for TLC only

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• Any items with TLC crest are purchased through McCarthy’s

• Other items can be purchased elsewhere

• Students need to buy any black runners with non-marking soles and we strongly recommend Velcrolaces

• No dress shoes in kindergarten please

• Please pack extra pants and undergarments in your child’s backpack in case of emergency

• Students do not need to wear the uniform if they are participating in School Spirit “dress up” days. (i.e. Dress like your favorite book character day.)

Formal Uniforms - TLC

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TLC students must wear formal uniforms on

Mondays, assembly days, and when we go on field

trips.

Please visit our website to read specific uniform

information

https://www.cbe.ab.ca/programs/program-

options/teaching-philosopy/Documents/Traditional-

Learning-Centre-Uniform-Requirements.pdf

Transportation

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• Route maps will be available online, not at school. CBE transportation will send an email when route maps are available.

• Parents of students attending afternoon class must inform the school which bus your child takes home from school BEFORE the first day of school. The school will NOT know which bus your child takes home unless you inform us.

• Please email the school with the letter of the bus your PM child is leaving on BEFORE the first day of school to thorncliffe@cbe.ab.ca

• https://www.cbe.ab.ca/schools/busing-and-transportation/Pages/default.aspx

-All TLC Kindergarten students enter &

exit the doors at the south end of the

building.

-All Regular Kindergarten families will be

emailed prior to the first day of school

with their entry & exit doors

-Parents who drop off, must supervise

your child at the student doors until

the bell rings at the am or pm time

Arrival

South School Doors

Dismissal Routine

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Bus Students

Teachers walk bus students to their busses.

Parents need to be on-time at bus stops.

Students are returned to the school if parents

are late, to ensure student safety.

If your child usually goes on the bus, and you

are picking them up instead - please come on-

time and inform the teacher or office. Otherwise

your child will be on the bus.

Parent Pick-Up Students

Teachers will release students to you when they

see you at the south doors. Please be on time.

Thorncliffe School Bell Times:

AM Classes:

Mon-Thurs 9:10 am -11:58 am

PM Classes:

Mon-Thurs 1:04 pm - 3:53 pm

Kindergarten attend alternate Fridays

Fridays: 9:15 am -1:25 pm

*Check school website for Calendar

note color coding for am & pm Fridays

Communication

• School Messenger

• School Website

• School Calendar

• Trustee Updates

• School Council Updates – Please join us!

• My CBE Account (fees, conference bookings)

Website

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The school website is your first stop for information. Please email

teachers if you have any specific questions.

Services OT/PT/ Speech

In kindergarten, we have an Early Learning Team of specialists that will help students with speech, fine motor and gross motor skills.

What does Learning Look like in

Kindergarten?

Literacy

Mathematics

Virtue of the Month

Thorncliffe School teaches the Three Pillars of Respect:

• Respect for Self

• Respect for Others

• Respect for This Place

Another part of character education is the Virtue of the Month. This is chosen by our Student Voice club composed of Grade 1-6 students.

Students regularly participate in character circles, make literacy connections to virtues, and practice virtues during less teacher-directed tasks such as centres.

All students are assessed on Character in and through learning. This is communicated to parents during conferences and on report cards.

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Daily Phys-Ed

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Art, Creative Expression, Music

Snack Time!

• 5 - 10 minutes each day

• Small snack- one food item from two food

groups, for example, three slices of apples and a

cheese string

• Uneaten food is sent home.

• Just water please!

• Snack must be nut-free

• Aim for healthy snacks

• Fridays – Please send TWO snacks

Learning Through Dramatic Play

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Learning Through Dramatic Play

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Centres

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Science/Social Studies

Library

Provincial government passed Bill 28:

School Amendment Act 2017 in November

The Province is legislating a common age of

kindergarten entry effective for the 2020-2021 school

year.

In the fall of 2020, all school boards in Alberta will have

the same age of entry for children starting kindergarten.

Children can start kindergarten in the fall of 2020 if they

turn 5 years old on or before December 31, 2020.

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Questions?

-Thank you for reading this PowerPoint!

-Please also read the document titled “Kindergarten Welcome 2020-21” to read about how to prepare your child for Kindergarten.

-We know that there are many unknowns and we do not yet know what September will look like for return to school.

-We will be updating parents on the CBE re-entry plan. Please check our website for updates, and we will be emailing you our updates.

-A package of forms will come home the first week of school regarding allergies, consent to post etc.

-If you have further questions please email sjtraquair@cbe.ab.ca

-Thank you for your understanding and stay well!

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