Parkside Centennial

Elementary
Kindergarten Handbook
2019-2020
 Welcome to Parkside Centennial Elementary!

We are looking forward to working with your child in the coming year. Many exciting themes,
activities and special events have been planned to make this Kindergarten year a most enjoyable and
rewarding experience for your child. The first year of school is so important for instilling a love of
learning and setting a foundation for the future. We believe that by working together we can form a
partnership that will benefit your child in their first year of elementary school.

Kindergarten is designed to provide opportunities that encourage your child’s social, emotional,
academic, physical and aesthetic development. Children enter school at different levels of ability and
will progress at different rates. Therefore, it is important to provide opportunities and experiences to
build upon the specific interests, needs and strengths of all children in the class.

We hope this handbook will be helpful to you. Please keep it as a reference throughout the year.
Notices, newsletters, monthly calendars and class websites will keep you informed of Kindergarten
activities throughout the year. Should you have any questions about the program or should your child
have a problem regarding school, please contact us at the school by phone or email so we can be of
assistance to you.

Sincerely,
The Kindergarten Team
Mrs. K. Blair, Mrs. L. Colledge, Mrs. T. Doiron, Mrs. T. Randen, Miss A. Stockwell & Mrs. Vleeming.
 Gradual Entry: What to expect in the first two weeks of Kindergarten

The first two weeks of school are directed towards ensuring that each child experiences the positive
orientation that is essential for school success. In order to achieve this objective, students will attend
school part time for the first two weeks. Students will begin attending full days on Monday,
September 16th.
During the first week and a half of school, students will be placed in four temporary classes. Two
classes will meet in the mornings (group A) and two will be meeting in the afternoons (group B). The
temporary classes will be team taught by the kindergarten teachers, who will spend their time getting
to know the children and helping them to learn about the basic routines of Kindergarten. This will
allow us to be more informed about each child so they can be placed in a permanent class that will
best fit their social, emotional and academic needs.
How will I know where my child’s temporary class will be meeting?
On Wednesday, September 4th, all students are to meet in the courtyard, around the corner from the
primary playground, for the group time they have been assigned (Group A or B). Temporary class lists
will be posted on the exterior doors to the kindergarten rooms in this courtyard shortly before their
class time begins. A teacher from each room will also be present to assist families and help the
children to line up at the correct entrance. Students will remain in their temporary classes from
Wednesday, September 4th through Tuesday, September 10th and will be dropped off and picked up at
the same classroom each of these days. Please look closely at your scheduled group time to ensure
that students are dropped of and picked up on time.
Beginning Wednesday, September 11th, students will be meeting in their permanent classes. Classes
will be held during the mornings, from 8:40-11:40, while intake meetings will be held in the
afternoons. This week will focus on getting to know their new classmates and learning the rules and
routines of their classroom.
When and how will I know what permanent class my child has been placed into?
Permanent class placements will be decided on Tuesday, September 10th, after the conclusion of the
school day and you will receive notification of your child’s permanent classroom and teacher via email
during the evening of Tuesday, September 10th.

Intake Meeting / Classroom Visit

To ensure that each child experiences a successful entry into the Kindergarten program, individual
visits are conducted once permanent classes are assigned. These visits provide an opportunity for the
teachers and children to become acquainted in the child’s new environment and to get to know one
another. During this visit, parents will be asked to fill out an information form while the child visits
with the teacher. These visits are helpful in establishing a positive relationship between the teacher
and child, as well as enabling the teacher to gain an understanding of the child’s interests, social,
emotional, academic needs, physical development and individual personality. Classroom visits will be
approximately 20 minutes long.
How do I sign up for an intake interview?
On the evening of Tuesday, September 10th, you will receive a welcome email from your child’s
permanent teacher(s) welcoming you to their class. Along with this email, you will be provided a link
to sign up for an interview time, which will take place in the afternoon hours of the following three
days.
 Important Information for all Kindergarten Families

Student Drop-Off/ Pick-Up Areas

The children will line up outside the exterior door of their assigned classroom. Families should not be
in the hallways during drop-off or pick up, unless you have made prior arrangements with your child’s
teacher. At pick up time, please come to this same door to collect your child. We will dismiss the
children one at a time, giving each child an opportunity to identify the adult who is picking them up.
This is to ensure that your child does not leave the school grounds without adult supervision.

Regular Attendance
Regular attendance and punctuality are a vital part of Kindergarten. In this beginning year, it is an
appropriate time to cultivate habits of being on time and attending regularly – both of which help
develop confidence, a positive self-image and habits which are important throughout all the years of
school. If, for some reason, your child is late for school, please stop at the office to report that your
child is at school and then walk them to the classroom. At Parkside, we have a policy of accounting
for the whereabouts of every student, every school day. If your child is absent from school, it is
essential that you phone the school that morning (or let their teachers know in advance) to inform us
of the absence. All lates and absences will appear on your child's report card. The school day
concludes at 2:30 p.m. Please arrive promptly to pick up your child. If you are more than five minutes
late your child will be waiting for you in the office.

Change of Address/ Phone Number/Emergency Contacts

Please inform the school secretary and your child’s teachers if you have any changes in this
information.

Snacks/ Lunch
Research has proven that a healthy diet will help your child do better in school. Children need to
bring their own lunch each day, as well as, a small and nutritious snack. We require children to eat
either fresh fruit or veggies for their recess snack and save any other snacks for after the main lunch
meal. Consider sending foods that cover all food groups, that have minimal artificial flavouring and
colour and that are low in refined sugar. Please send a clean reusable water bottle each day. We ask
that these be filled with water only and that all other beverages, such as juice and milk be consumed
at home. We appreciate when families make an effort to reduce waste by sending food in reusable
containers. Please help your child to practice opening these containers on their own so they are able
to do this independently during snack and lunch breaks.
*If your child has any food allergies, please let us know ASAP!

Supplies
For your convenience, a bulk purchase of supplies has been ordered for all the Kindergarten classes and
a one time fee of $40 is requested for the first full day of Kindergarten. This amount covers all supplies
relating to in class activities. In the Langley school district, we use an online payment program to keep
monies safe and secure. It is a quick and easy process. You will receive your CASHONLINE payment
form when you attend your child’s interview next week”.
Shoes
Each child is required to have an extra pair of running shoes with non-marking soles that grip well. It
helps to keep our classroom clean and is a necessity for gym and our daily physical activity. These
shoes will be kept at school and will be used inside our classrooms each and every day. NO SHOE
LACES for inside or outside shoes please! Velcro or slip on shoes would be greatly appreciated (no flip
flops, crocs or slippers). Your child will change their shoes a minimum of six times within the school
day. Be sure to label you child’s footwear and send them to school on Wednesday, September 11th.

Backpacks
Your child needs a backpack so that they can bring home newsletters, library books, crafts and all
sorts of “stuff”! Please ensure that your child’s bag is large enough to carry these school materials
along with a reusable lunch bag and water bottle.

Clothing
Remember that we use a lot of paint, glue, water and other “messy” materials and are physically
active every day. Please dress your child wisely! We go outside, rain or shine, both at recess and
during class activities. Weather appropriate clothing is necessary, each and every day. Please send a
change of clothes, including socks and underwear in a labeled Ziploc bag. It is also a good idea to
label each individual clothing item as well as lunch bags, backpacks and shoes. The school has a lost
and found where you can look for any missing items.

Independence
Fostering your child’s independence is essential for kindergarten success, from day one. Therefore,
we request that your child enters the classroom on their own. Please have a conversation with your
child to prepare them to be ready to say goodbye to you at the door. There are up to twenty children
and one teacher in each room. You can help your child by continuing to practice the following
routines at home: Opening and closing lunch kits and containers, putting on and zipping coats, putting
on shoes and packing and unpacking their backpacks. Your child needs to be independent in the
bathroom. Be sure to send them to school in clothing that they can manage themselves. They also
need to be competent at closing the stall doors, wiping, flushing the toilet and washing their hands.

Money
Parkside now offers an online payment option for most school expenses! We strongly recommend
you sign up for this convenient program. When it is necessary to send money to school for book
orders or other programs that do not qualify for the online payment option, please send exact change
in a sealed envelope or sealed baggie labeled with your child’s name.

Toys/Technology
The activities and materials in the classroom and on the playground have been carefully chosen for
your child’s learning and development. Please leave all personal toys at home. Teachers do not take
any responsibility for toys that are brought to school and then lost or damaged.