School Supplies
A big thank-you to all our Kinder families that are sending school supplies in this week. New to Kinder families can bring them in during their intake interview and returning families can send them in on their child's first day of school. All school supplies (pencils, erasers, markers, etc.) will be used as shared resources. They do not need to be labelled with your child's name. Each homeroom team will collect them and replenish classroom supplies throughout the school year as students use them.
Essentials, Indoor/Outdoor Shoes and Clothing
Please be sure to label all your child's school essentials (backpacks, reusable water bottles, extra clothing, lunch bags, etc.) outdoor/indoor shoes and outer gear. Many children come to school with the same items or very similar looking items. Labelling your child's belongings greatly assists the Kinder team in making sure everything goes home with your child at the end of the day. Families are also encouraged to label their child's tupperware, thermos and any of the reusable cutlery/containers, etc. they send in their child's lunch. Children are rarely able to identify these items outside of the context of their lunch bag therefore if families are particular about them, please label them. When in doubt - label it!
Drop off/Pick up
Kinder teams will be confirming drop off and pick up routines with families during intakes and first day drop offs. It is not uncommon for students to have a different routine in the morning from the afternoon. Many are dropped off by a parent in the morning and then either bus or go to aftercare in the afternoon. Please communicate your child's routine to your homeroom team over the course of this week. Parents can do this by sending a message via Remind or in person at their intake interview or at drop off on the first day of school.
Note Totes/Communication Books
All Kinder students will have a Note Tote and Communication Book this year. Your child's Note Tote is a ziplock bag with their name that houses all school correspondence as well as anything your child completes at school (art work, crafts, writing, etc.). Your child's Communication Book is a small notebook for educators and parents to exchange notes on child's progress and needs throughout the year. The system is simple - if the notebook is closed there is no new message, if the notebook is open to a page there is something to read. This year Note Totes and Communication Books are to be returned to school on Mondays and will be sent home on Fridays. From time to time, Note Totes will be sent home earlier in the week if there is time sensitive information/forms that needs to be communicated home.
The Remind App
If you haven't already please download the Remind App on your phone or tablet. The Remind app will be used to remind parents of library days, special events, field trips, when to read the Kinderland blog and to share pictures of classroom learning. The Remind app also allows for 2 way communication between parents and the Kinder educators allowing for educators to send individual messages to parents when their child has a toileting accident at school or suffers a scratch, scrape or bump at recess. It also allows for parents to send educators a quick message if they need help in finding a lost item, title of a library book or if there is a change in their child's end of day routine.
The app is free and can be downloaded here: https://www.remind.com/
Once the app is downloaded, click on this link to join the Hilson Kinder Class: https://www.remind.com/join/hilsonk.
We kindly ask that all parents, list their name as follows on the app:
Your name (Your child's name). Ex. Raquel Alves (Lennan)
This makes it easier for educators to communicate with you over the course of the school year.