A Day in the Life of a Senior Kindergartener in Salle 101
Welcome parents and students of Salle 101,
My name is Tamara Mitchell, and I will be your child’s teacher this year at Dewson Public School.
I started my education, like your child, in a French Immersion program in Bowmanville, Ontario.
I also participated in an exchange trip to France. As well, I come from a very musical family and
look forward to sharing my experiences with the class. I’m looking forward to learning about each
of my students and creating a community of learners in our classroom.
Our school day will contain several components and routines that are outlined in the following pages.
I thank you for taking the time to read and discuss this information with your child.
Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or concerns. I welcome your communication
and will respond as soon as I can.
This newsletter and more will be posted on our class blog (see communication).
Please inform me if you cannot access the blog as I will try to limit my use of paper newsletters
after today!
Yours,
Tamara Mitchell, B. Mus. (Hon), M. Ed., B. Ed. (OISE)
Discovery Centres
The kindergarten program is play-based. Research has shown that through play, children can develop
a strong foundation for learning. Through play, children practice problem solving, develop their
critical thinking skills and the ability to make connections. They learn to understand and manage
their feelings and develop socially and emotionally.
To that end, our classroom is set up with many different “discovery centres” where children are
free to build, create, imagine, experiment and interact freely. I will support the children in their
self-directed learning by interacting with them, prompting them, asking questions, listening,
helping them document their ideas and providing the tools necessary for them to continue on their
learning journey. I look forward to working with students throughout the year to update, rearrange
or change the centres, depending on where their interests lie.
To begin the year, I have set up the following centres: Reading & Rest, Letters & Listening,
Arts & Crafts, Water, Sand or Playdough, Building & Bin Toys, Science & Math, Drama & Music.
Outdoor Exploration
The kindergarten program highlights the importance of outdoor learning.
Our class will spend time outside each day, often with other kindergarten classes.
We will offer students a variety of outdoor discovery centres that they may choose from, such
as: Art, Science, Sand, Water, Nature, Bikes, Sport, Building, Reading and Drama.
Community Circle
Everyone in salle 101, including myself, is part of a community of learners.
It takes time to build a community that is inclusive, supportive and appreciative, but this is our goal.
We will strive to meet as a class twice a day for a short time. Community Circle is an opportunity
for us to share how we are feeling, discuss class agreements, solve problems as a group and
celebrate successes. As we begin learning French, it is an important opportunity to introduce new
vocabulary and become comfortable speaking French with our classmates.
Specialists
Each day, students will visit a specialty teachers in our school. This will include Mme Gaudreault
for library and technology, and Mme Abbat for gym and the arts. A calendar will be provided each
month outlining special dates, trips and gym days. This may help you pack for school each day, but
please ensure that your child has running shoes at school every day. These can be left in your child’s
cubby unless they are needed at home.
To learn more about play-based learning and the kindergarten program,
please visit http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/kindergarten/. This website contains a great deal
of useful information, including ideas for how you can support your child this year.
Other Routines & Information
Expectations
During the first week of school, we will discuss some simple classroom agreements and sign a class
contract that we will refer to throughout the coming year. Our agreements center around the following
principles:
attentive listening (on écoute)
active participation (on participe)
mutual respect (yourself, others, materials) (on est respectueux)
appreciation & positivity (on dit des choses gentilles)
We will continue to discuss what each agreement looks like. For example, attentive listening means
eyes up, hands to yourself and we raise our hand to share. I would appreciate you taking the time to
review these agreements with your child.
At-home-work
While there will be no “homework” in the traditional sense this year, there are many ways that you
can support your child’s learning at home.
First, it is very beneficial for even our youngest students develop a consistent reading routine at
home. Students are encouraged to read (or listen to reading) with a parent or guardian every day.
This can be in any language. I am very happy to lend out books anytime.
This year, I have developed some activity bags that students will bring home on a weekly basis.
Each bag contains an activity that I hope students will try with a parent or as a family. The activities
are well explained and usually don’t take long, although you have a week and may wish to do them
more than once. Each activity is an opportunity for discussion and learning, but more importantly,
should be a way to have fun and create yet another link between home and school. Activity bags will
go home Mondays and should be returned the following Monday. More information will be provided
with the first activity bag.
As we begin learning French, children will have 5 words or a short phrase to review each week.
These will be high frequency words or phrases which children are learning to use at school. Words
will be posted on the blog and I encourage you to ask your child what each word means, and practice
using it with them at home. I do not expect children to practice reading and writing these words,
although you may absolutely extend on our learning as you see fit. We will also be devoting at least
a week to each letter of the alphabet. It is our goal to send our students on to grade 1 knowing what
each letter looks and sounds like in French. Information will be posted on the blog regularly so that
you can follow and learn along with your child. Finally, I think it is very valuable to talk to your
child about what they have done at school. You may want to expand on what we have done, or
review it. I hope that you will find my blog to be an excellent tool for keeping up with the class.
I will make every effort to give you conversation starters and specific questions you can ask to get
your child talking!
Library Exchange
Our book exchange period will occur once weekly on days 3 and 8, but books may be returned
to our class bin at any time during the week. Students are encouraged to sign out 1 French book
on their library code. I appreciate your help in reminding your children to have their book ready to
return or renew each week!
Bravo!
I believe in recognizing students for the good things they do at school. The Bravo! note gives me
an opportunity to write a short note to students to thank them for an act of kindness or particularly
good behaviour (for example, helping a friend or helping to tidy up even when it wasn’t their activity
area). I will send these notes home, and I hope you enjoy reading them with your child!
Class Blog & Communication
I have created a blog for salle 101. This will enable me to provide parents with current information
on what we are working on in class, special events happening at Dewson, and other reminders! You
can access the blog at www.mllemitchell.blogspot.com. You can make your life easier by signing up
for automatic emails each time I update the blog. Simply enter your email address in the field on the
blog and then follow instructions in the confirmation email.
Another valuable form of communication between yourself, your child and me, is the communication
“pochette”. I have provided each child with a zipper pocket that they can keep and hopefully reuse
next year. All I ask is that you replace it should it ever get lost (they are available for $1.50 at the
dollar store). Any notes, forms or work will be sent home in the pochette, size permitting. Please
return forms or send notes to me via the pochette - I will teach students how to use their pochette and
place any mail for me in the bin on my desk each morning. Please ensure that any forms or money
you are sending has your student’s name on it, as there is usually a delay between when I receive mail
and when I can go through it with a checklist. Try to make it your child’s responsibility to unpack
his/her pocket every morning at school and evening at home, and put it in his/her bag for the next day.
This is a great way to start teaching your child how to stay organized.
The best way to reach me is via email at tamara.mitchell2@tdsb.on.ca (don’t forget the 2).
I will return emails as soon as I have a minute during school days. You can also send a note in the
communication pocket or leave me a message at the school (416-393-9120).
I will be in touch when we are in need of volunteers for trips or special classroom events. If you
know that you are interested in volunteering in our classroom, or supervising on a field trip, please
let me know by checking the appropriate box on the attached letter. You can also let me know how
best to reach you and whether you would like your information to be shared with other salle 101
parents.
Allergies
Please inform me of any allergies or medical conditions your child has, and if they are bringing
a puffer, Epi-Pen or other medication to school. All students are to refrain from bringing any
products containing peanuts to school. Some children in our class and school have severe allergies
to these products. Thank you in advance.
Labeling & Supplies
To limit lost items at school, please remember to label your child’s belongings (e.g., lunch bag, hat,
boots & shoes). Thank you! In salle 101, all students share classroom supplies (pencils, erasers,
markers etc.). Students are not required to bring their own materials, in fact this is discouraged
since students are able to move freely about the classroom and sit at different places throughout
the day, making it difficult to keep track of belongings that are not kept in their cubby. All Dewson
classes share a “no home toys” policy. We appreciate your assistance in ensuring that home toys
stay home.
Getting ready for school
As we will spend time outdoors every day, regardless of the season, it is very important that students
come to school dressed for the weather. On rainy days, an extra pair of socks (or even two) is a great
idea. All kindergarten students have been asked to keep a change of clothes at school. Please send
this in, in the labeled ziplock bag provided. If used, we will send the soiled clothes and the ziplock
bag home for a new back-up outfit.
In senior kindergarten we expect students to dress for outdoor times with very minimal assistance.
Please practice shoe-tying and zippering skills at home. This will help your child, and our class,
enjoy lots of fun learning indoors and out. Thanks!
Scholastic
Salle 101 participates in monthly Scholastic book orders. I encourage you to participate in this
program whenever possible.
