• The kindergarten class will have a washroom in the classroom or close to the classroom. Children are expected to be independent with personal toileting- close the door, use the toilet, flush, and wash their hands. The routine for individual classrooms will be reviewed by the classroom teacher as we begin school.

  
  *Some children may not be independent with toileting for various reasons- medical condition, readiness issues etc. If your child is not yet independent with their toileting abilities please be sure to inform the school prior to school entry so that we can develop a plan together.

• Twice a day your child will go outside for recess. This may include the playground and the field.
• There is supervision for all students during recess. Supervisors wear a safety vest so they are easily identified.
• There is also outdoor supervision for 15 minutes before and after the school day as all children arrive and leave each day.

• Please send a pair of non skid velcro runners or good fitting slip on shoes to be worn in the classroom and gym.
• Choose a backpack that is the right size for your child; too large makes it hard to carry, too small makes it difficult for them to pack up and manage their belongings. Possible items that go back and forth between school and home are: a lunch kit, a library book, and a Back and Forth folder.
• Select lunch kits and containers that your child can easily open and close. Practice using them and putting them back into the kit.
• Provide a change of clothes labeled with your child’s name in a bag.
• Dress for play. In Kindergarten we are active and often get messy with paint, playdough, markers, mud and more.

• If your child lives more than 4.0km from your catchment school, your child will be able to take the bus to and from school.
• You can read more and register your child for a bus pass by visiting the information for parents page here 

The School Act states that parents/guardians must enroll their child in an educational program, provided by a Board of Education, on the first school day of a school year if, on or before December 31st of that school year, their child will have reached the age of 5 years.

The School Act also states that parents/guardians, of a child this age, may defer the enrolment of their child until the first school day of the next school year, when you may choose to register your child in either Kindergarten or Grade One.

If you are wishing to delay school enrollment for your five-year-old child, we request that you meet with your child’s catchment area school principal.

We encourage you to take this opportunity for a meaningful consultation regarding the programming we provide in Kindergarten, future placement and educational considerations, and also the program you would be providing at home, if you elect for that choice. This conversation would include, but not be limited to:

• Understanding a Play Based Learning Environment;
• Social emotional learning strategies;
• Personalization of learning strategies and individual education planning;
• Supports available if at school;
• Placement considerations when returning to school; and,
• Educational considerations resulting from a one-year delayed entry.

According to the Ministry of Education, children are 15% less likely to graduate on time if they are held back before grade 5.  The table below summarizes some of the research with respect to delayed entry to kindergarten:

Potential benefits of a delayed start:

• Delaying school start may benefit children with significant developmental delays who will receive intensive early intervention in the preschool setting.
• Students with significant challenges with self regulation may show lower levels of inattention and hyperactivity after a delayed entry to school. 
• Students born between the beginning of October and the end of the December may have lagging motor skills, social skills and self regulation skills than their peers. Some of these students may struggle to meet the demands of kindergarten.

Potential outcomes of a delayed start:

• Delaying entry to school also delays early intervention and supports that can be provided through the school team. Delayed entry is of less benefit for students who have lagging social skills, but do not have specific medical or developmental diagnosis.
• Often, students with lagging social skills are bright academically, and thrive when given opportunities to explore the learning opportunities provided in school. As children develop at different rates, the gap with peers often narrows as they mature over time. There is little evidence that it makes a long-term difference in terms of academic learning or social development after grade 5.
• As children develop at different rates, the gap with peers often narrows as they mature over time. There is little evidence that it makes a long-term difference in terms of academic learning or social development after grade 5.

 The continuum of learning in the primary years is deliberately broad, as young learners all reach the developmental milestones in their own time and pace.  Many students who seem behind at school entry catch up with peers given time and the opportunity to practice new skills with others. 

We appreciate you taking the time to meet with us for this important discussion, so you can make the most informed decision for your child.

Please keep in mind that, upon returning your child to school following a delayed entry year, it will be presumed that your child will be placed in grade 1 with their age group peers. Should you wish, at this point, to have a Kindergarten entry considered for your child, it is required that you meet with your child’s catchment area school principal.