Kinderstart is a program to help transition preschool children who will be starting Kindergarten the following year. Although all schools in Newfoundland have a Kinderstart program, the number of sessions varies usually between 5 and 8 sessions. This year, at St. Bernard’s, we will have eight sessions, approximately once a month, which occur from October to May.
The program also prepares the parents/caregivers for the transition. Registration usually takes place in May of the calendar year the child is turning 4 years old. In September of that year a parent session is held to familiarize the parents/caregivers with the whole program.
The schedule for Kinderstart 2007-2008:
Session # 1 October 19th |
Group 1A
9:00-10:00 |
Group 1B
10:15-11:15 |
Group 2A
12:15-1:15 |
Group 2B
1:30-2:30 |
Session # 2 November 23th |
9:00-10:00 |
10:15-11:15 |
12:15-1:15 |
1:30-2:30 |
Session # 3 December 14th |
9:00-10:00 |
10:15-11:15 |
12:15-1:15 |
1:30-2:30 |
Session # 4 January 18th |
9:30 – 11:00 |
1:00 – 2:30 |
Session # 5 February 15th |
9:30 – 11:00 |
1:00 – 2:30 |
Session # 6 March 14th |
Each child will be assign an individual 10-15 minute interview time |
Session # 7 April 18th |
9:30 – 11:00 |
1:00 – 2:30 |
Session # 8 May 9th |
9:30 – 11:00 |
1:00 – 2:30 |
For the sessions #1 - 3, the parent is requested to stay in the room with their child. For sessions #4, 5, and 7, parents will be offered an information session with the professionals in our school. These sessions will include topics like literacy support, reading with your pre-schooler, speech language concerns, behavioral supports, and nutrition. These sessions are intended to help you in being prepared for the start of formal schooling. For Session #6 each child will be assign an individual 10-15 minute interview time. Sessions # 7 & 8, the bus service will be put into place. Parents are encouraged to put their child on the bus for session # 7 and then follow the bus to school. You’ll be here to greet them when they get off the bus. For session # 8, we would like to have the children come on the bus alone, as a practice for the first day of school in September.
We look forward to getting to know you and your child, and helping them prepare for next year.
If you live in the area and have a child who will be turning 5 years old on or before Dec. 31, 2008 please contact the school for more information about Kinderstart and Kindergarten.
If you have a child turning 4 years old on or before December 31st, 2008, registration for Kinderstart is held at the same time board wide and is usually in late May. Please watch the newspapers and school newsletters for more details around that time.
You may contact the Kinderstart/Kindergarten teacher, Heidi Gatherall, at
heidigatherall@esdnl.ca
or call the school office at: 334-2222.
