Thorncliffe School Kindergarten Orientation

Thursday May 30, 2019

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 19 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 based on where students live (bussing).

• 19 Regular Program students 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

TLC Program

Uniform

Daily Homework (Gr 1-6)

“I do, We do, You do” Model

Regular Program

No Uniform

Some Homework

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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

Homework is a required component of the TLC Program beginning in Grade 1.

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 on their blogs 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

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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 preferably Velcro laces

• 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

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TLC students must wear formal uniforms on

Mondays, assembly days, and to 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.

• Parents must inform the school which bus your child takes to and 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 child is coming and 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 students enter & exit the doors at the south end of the building.

Busses arrive at the school at 9:05 am and at 12:55 pm

A teacher meets the students at the bus.

Parents who drop off must supervise your child at the south student doors until the bell at 9:15 am or 1:05 pm.

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 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 9:15 -12:03

PM Classes

Mon-Thurs 1:05 - 3:53

Kindergarten attend alternate Fridays

Fridays 9:15 -1:25

*Check school website for Calendar

Communication

• School Messenger

• School Website

• School Calendar

• Trustee Updates

• School Council Updates – Please join us!

• My CBE Account (fees, conference bookings)

Website

• Weekly Homework

• Classroom Learning Updates

• Special Classroom Events

Blog

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The school website and classroom blog are your first stops 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 talking 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 joining us!

Please visit the bathroom with your child and show

him/her how to enter and exit a stall.

Our first parent/teacher conference will be Thurs, Sept 19

& Fri, Sept 20.

A package of forms will come home the first week of

school regarding allergies, consent to post etc.

See you Tues, Sept 3, 2019!

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