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 for school, still have time to do so and can reserve their spot for WTK by calling their nearest Rainbow School.

WTK is one of many programs offered by The Learning Partnership to support teaching and learning across Canada. At the orientation session, families will 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 important years,” says Rainbow District School Board Chair Tyler Campbell. “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.”

He added: “In Rainbow District School Board, we have committed to the Welcome to Kindergarten program because 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.

“With Junior Kindergarten now offered all day, every day in all Rainbow Schools, and the implementation of the new Early Learning program, children are being exposed to more learning opportunities through play,” says Rainbow District School Board Director of Education Norm Blaseg. “Parents, as their child’s first teachers, can extend these learning experiences at home and in the community. The strategies and resources that parents will receive at the WTK orientation session will serve to introduce children to Rainbow Schools and the exciting experiences that await them in Junior Kindergarten and Early Learning.”

Welcome to Kindergarten Orientation Sessions in Rainbow Schools

A. B. Ellis Public School

Tuesday, May 3 at 4:30 pm
Principal: Lynn MacDonell
128 Park St., Espanola
Phone: 705-869-1561

Adamsdale Public School

Tuesday, May 3 at 2 pm
Principal: Dawn Chew
181 First Avenue, Sudbury
Phone: 705-566-6020

Alexander Public School

Thursday, May 26 at 1:30 pm
Principal: Jacques Mantha
39 Brendan St., Sudbury
Phone: 705-675-5961


Algonquin Road Public School

Tuesday, May 3 at 9:15 am
Principal: Bob Deeth
2650 Algonquin Rd., Sudbury
Phone: 705-522-3171

Assiginack Public School
Tuesday, May 10 at 3:15 pm

Principal: Wayne Murdock
134 Michael’s Bay Rd., Manitowaning
Phone: 705-368-7010

C.R. Judd Public School

Monday, May 9 at 6 pm
Principal: Michael Bellrose
8 Lincoln St., Capreol
Phone: 705-671-5953

Central Manitoulin Public School

Wednesday, May 11 at 6 pm
Principal: Tracey Chapman
56 Yonge St., Mindemoya
Phone: 705-368-7005


Charles C. McLean Public School

Wednesday, May 11 at 6 pm
Principal: Anna Armstrong
43 Hall St., Gore Bay
Phone: 705-368-7015


Chelmsford Public School

Tuesday, May 31 at 11 am
Principal: Pam DeMarco
121 Charlotte St., Chelmsford
Phone: 705-671-5945


Churchill Public School

Monday, May 16 at 6 pm
Principal: David Farrow
1722 Fielding St., Sudbury
Phone: 705-566-5130


Copper Cliff Public School

Monday, May 2 at 6 pm
Principal: Chris Bourré
50 School St., Copper Cliff
Phone: 705-682-4721

Cyril Varney Public School

Tuesday, May 3 at 6 pm
Principal: Ron Hodkinson
1545 Gary St., Sudbury
Phone: 705-566-2424


Ernie Checkeris Public School

Tuesday, May 17 and Wednesday, May 18 at 9 am
Principal: Terry Moss
1570 Agincourt Ave., Sudbury
Phone: 705-566-7610

Lansdowne Public School

Wednesday, May 18 at 6 pm
Principal: Chantal Lacroix
185 Lansdowne St., Sudbury
Phone: 705-675-6451

Larchwood Public School

Wednesday, May 18 at 6 pm
Principal: Trevor Dewit
43 Main St., Dowling
Phone: 705-671-5944

Levack Public School

Friday, May 27 at 1:30 pm
Principal: Jack Mallette
100 High St., Levack
Phone: 705-671-5943

Little Current Public School

Tuesday, May 17 at 6 pm
Principal: Jamie Mohamed
18 Draper St., Little Current
Phone: 705-368-2932

Long Lake Public School

Wednesday, May 4 at 9:15 am
Principal: Bob Deeth
4420 Long Lake Rd., Sudbury
Phone: 705-522-6168

MacLeod Public School

Thursday, May 26 at 1:30 pm
Principal: Michelle Walton
310 Laval St., Sudbury
Phone: 705-522-8040

Markstay Public School

Thursday, May 5 at 11:30 am
Principal: Stephen Winckel
7 Pioneer St., Markstay
Phone: 705-671-5946


Monetville Public School

Wednesday, May 25 at 9:15 am
Principal: Paula Mackey
7099 Hwy. 64 N., Monetville
Phone: 705-898-2785

Northeastern Elementary School

Wednesday, May 4 at 9:15 am
Principal: Kathy Wachnuk
45 Spruce St., Garson
Phone: 705-675-0204

Princess Anne Public School

Wednesday, May 25 at 5:30 pm
Principal: Colleen McDonald
500 Douglas St., Sudbury
Phone: 705-673-6516
(Will also include students from Wembley Public School)

Queen Elizabeth Public School

Wednesday, May 25 at 5:30 pm
Principal: Gisèle Sivret
32 Dell St., Sudbury
Phone: 705-675-6198

R.H. Murray Public School

Tuesday, May 3 at 6 pm
Principal: Danielle Williamson
3 Henry St., Whitefish
Phone: 705-671-5942

R.L. Beattie Public School

Friday, May 27 at 1:30 pm
Principal: Paul Dupont
102 Loach’s Rd., Sudbury
Phone: 705-522-7178


Redwood Acres Public School

Wednesday, May 4 at 6 pm
Principal: Susan Cousineau
4625 Carl St., Hanmer
Phone: 705-675-0202

S. Geiger Public School

Thursday, May 5 at 5 pm
Principal: Kendra Mihell
355 Government Rd., Massey
Phone: 705-865-2052

Valley View Public School

Thursday, May 26 and Friday, May 27 at 11:15 am
Principal:  Gisèle LaLonde
1840 Valleyview Rd., Val Caron
Phone: 705-671-5956

Walden Public School
Tuesday, May 3 at 9:15 am
Principal: Leslie Fisher
249 Sixth Ave., Lively
Phone: 705-692-3602

Wanup Public School

Thursday, May 5 at 9:30 am
Principal: Cathy Nursall
4543 Hwy. 537, Sudbury
Phone: 705-522-2671


Webbwood Public School

Thursday, May 5 at 1:30 pm
Principal: Kendra Mihell
6 Minto St., Webbwood
Phone: 705-869-3751

Wembley Public School

Wednesday, May 25 at 5:30 pm
At Princess Anne Public School
500 Douglas Street
Principal: Colleen McDonald
Phone: 705-673-1381

Westmount Public School

Thursday, May 26 at 10:50 am
Principal: Denise Goodmurphy
511 Westmount Ave., Sudbury
Phone: 705-566-1770

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Media Contact:

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