Rainbow Schools offer Welcome to Kindergarten for children starting JK

All Rainbow Schools will offer a Welcome to Kindergarten (WTK) orientation session for children who are starting Junior Kindergarten this fall as well as their parents/guardians. Parents who have not registered their children still have time to do so and can reserve their spot for WTK by calling the nearest Rainbow School. Registrations for September 2013 will also be accepted at the WTK sessions.

WTK is one of many programs offered by The Learning Partnership to support teaching and learning across Canada. At the orientation session, families will have an opportunity to connect with Kindergarten/Early Learning teachers, early childhood educators, school personnel and staff from community agencies. They will also meet other children starting school this fall.

“Early years are formative years,” says Rainbow District School Board Chair Doreen Dewar. “Research has shown that brighter starts lead to brighter futures, so it’s important that schools establish strong links with the home and engage parents as partners in education from the outset.”

She adds: “In Rainbow District School Board, we recognize that building this partnership begins well before the first day of school. Starting school is not the beginning of a child’s educational experience. It is a continuation of the journey of learning together.”

At the WTK orientation sessions, children will participate in early learning activities. Parents will learn strategies on how they can help orient their children for school, with a special focus on literacy and numeracy. They will receive their very own bag of WTK resources for use at home, including drawing paper, construction paper, crayons, a pencil, scissors, a storybook, magnetic letters, magnetic numbers and play dough. The bag may also contain information from the school and/or community partners, for instance, literacy tip sheets or information about Best Start Hubs or Health Unit programs.

“WTK works to bridge the transition from home to school by familiarizing parents/guardians and their children with the school and its staff.  It is an opportunity for them to explore our schools, meet some of their classmates and get excited about starting school,” says Rainbow District School Board Director of Education Norm Blaseg. “The strategies and resources that parents will receive at the WTK orientation session will serve to introduce children to Rainbow Schools and the wonderful experiences that await them in Junior Kindergarten and Early Learning.”

Welcome to Kindergarten Orientation / Registration Sessions in Rainbow Schools

A. B. Ellis Public School
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 9:30 am and 5:30 pm
Principal: Lynn MacDonell
128 Park St., Espanola
Phone: 705-869-1651

Adamsdale Public School
Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 2 pm
Principal: Dawn Chew
181 First Avenue, Sudbury
Phone: 705-566-6020

Alexander Public School
Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 1:45 pm and 6:30 pm
Principal: Jacques Mantha
39 Brendan St., Sudbury
Phone: 705-675-5961

Algonquin Road Public School
Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at 5 pm
Principal: Michael Bellrose
2650 Algonquin Rd., Sudbury
Phone: 705-522-3171

Assiginack Public School
Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at 3:45 pm
Principal: Wayne Murdock
134 Michael’s Bay Rd., Manitowaning
Phone: 705-368-7010

C.R. Judd Public School
Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 6 pm
Principal: Jim Wachnuk
8 Lincoln St., Capreol
Phone: 705-671-5953

Central Manitoulin Public School
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 5 pm
Principal: Tracey Chapman
56 Yonge St., Mindemoya
Phone: 705-368-7005

Charles C. McLean Public School
Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 6:30 pm
Principal: Christy Case
43 Hall St., Gore Bay
Phone: 705-368-7015

Chelmsford Public School
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 6 pm
Principal: Danielle Williamson
121 Charlotte St., Chelmsford
Phone: 705-671-5945

Churchill Public School
Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 5 pm
Principal: David Farrow
1722 Fielding St., Sudbury
Phone: 705-566-5130

Copper Cliff Public School
Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at 5:30 pm
Principal: Chris Bourré
50 School St., Copper Cliff
Phone: 705-682-4721

Cyril Varney Public School
Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at 6 pm
Principal: Ron Hodkinson
1545 Gary St., Sudbury
Phone: 705-566-2424

Ernie Checkeris Public School
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 9:30 am and 6 pm
Principal: Terry Moss
1570 Agincourt Ave., Sudbury
Phone: 705-566-7610

Lansdowne Public School
Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 5:30 pm
Principal: Chantal Lacroix
185 Lansdowne St., Sudbury
Phone: 705-675-6451

Larchwood Public School
Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 5 pm
Principal: Trevor Dewit
43 Main St., Dowling
Phone: 705-671-5944

Levack Public School
Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 5 pm
Principal: Stephen Winckel
100 High St., Levack
Phone: 705-671-5943

Little Current Public School
Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 6 pm
Principal: Jamie Mohamed
18 Draper St., Little Current
Phone: 705-368-2932

MacLeod Public School (Annex)
Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 1:30 pm
Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 5:30 pm
Principal: Michelle Walton
310 Laval St., Sudbury
Phone: 705-522-8040

Markstay Public School
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 5:30 pm
Principal: Paula Mackey
7 Pioneer St., Markstay
Phone: 705-671-5946

Monetville Public School
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 6 pm
Friday, May 17, 2013 at 1:30 pm
Principal: Pam DeMarco
7099 Hwy. 64 N., Monetville
Phone: 705-898-2785

Northeastern Elementary School
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 5:30 pm
Principal: Kathy Wachnuk
45 Spruce St., Garson
Phone: 705-675-0204

Princess Anne Public School
Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 5:30 pm
Principal: Colleen McDonald
500 Douglas St., Sudbury
Phone: 705-673-6516

Queen Elizabeth Public School
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 5 pm
Principal: Gisèle Sivret
32 Dell St., Sudbury
Phone: 705-675-6198

R.H. Murray Public School
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 6 pm
Principal: Cathy Nursall
3 Henry St., Whitefish
Phone: 705-671-5942

R.L. Beattie Public School
Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 9:20 am, 10:45 am and 12:15 pm
Principal: Paul Dupont
102 Loach’s Rd., Sudbury
Phone: 705-522-7178
 
Redwood Acres Public School
Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at 5:30 pm
Principal: Susan Cousineau
4625 Carl St., Hanmer
Phone: 705-675-0202

S. Geiger Public School
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 5 pm
Principal: Kendra Mihell
355 Government Rd., Massey
Phone: 705-865-2052

Valley View Public School
Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 4:30 pm
Principal:  Gisèle LaLonde
1840 Valleyview Rd., Val Caron
Phone: 705-671-5956

Walden Public School
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 9:15 am
Principal: Lesley Fisher
249 Sixth Ave., Lively
Phone: 705-692-3602

Webbwood Public School
Friday, May 10, 2013 at 9:30 am
Principal: Kendra Mihell
6 Minto St., Webbwood
Phone: 705-869-3751

Westmount Avenue Public School
Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 9 am
Monday, June 10, 2013 at 4 pm
Principal: Denise Goodmurphy
511 Westmount Ave., Sudbury
Phone: 705-566-1770

-30-

Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171, ext. 7217.