Kindergarten

Entering Kindergarten in the Fort McMurray Catholic School Board is an exciting time for your child and an important first step in their Catholic education. Children of all faiths are welcome to our exciting early learning programs offered in a Catholic Faith environment. The Catholic Education philosophy welcomes, engages, and celebrates everyone-individuals and community-regardless of religious identity. Our language rich early learning programs help children develop and grow spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, physically as well as socially. Fort McMurray Catholic Schools welcomes children and their families to come learn, play and grow in our faith based Kindergarten programs.

Kindergarten programs in Alberta are funded for 475 hours (half time).  Children attend the program either in the morning or the afternoon depending on availabilty.

A full day kindergarten program is being offered at Father Turcotte School starting in September 2011.  The school has a higher percentage of children that can benefit from additional time in kindergarten to help them be ready for grade 1.   A maximum of 22 children will be accepted in the program and priority will be given to children residing in the Father Turcotte designated area (Downtown, Waterways and Draper).  Transportation can only be provided to children residing within the Father Turcotte area.

OVERVIEW KINDERGARTEN

Alberta Education develops the curriculum for Kindergarten in consultation with early childhood teachers.  It describes what young children need to learn to prepare for Grade 1 and provides a foundation for future learning.

For more information on Kindergarten in Alberta, we invite your to review the following information from Alberta Education:

Early Childhood Services (ECS)

Facts about ECS in Alberta

All of our Kindergarten programs include:

- Certified Teachers

- Learning through play

- Integration of the fine arts

- Rich oral language opportunities

- Family oriented programming opportunities

- A multi-disciplinary team that includes early learning consultants, speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist and psychologist

- faith based learning environment

FAMILY ORIENTATED PROGRAMMING EVENINGS

Family orientated programming is offered throughout the school year free of charge to parents/caregivers and children who are attending our early learning programs. These family orientated programs enhance the children’s learning, and gives parents support in key areas.  Families will be invited to meet with our team’s speech-Language, Physical and Occupational Therapists for fun interactive workshops.  They will have the opportunity to learn ways to incorporate early literacy skills into everyday routines through books, songs and rhymes.  There will also be informative workshops to explore positive strategies for parenting your child.

EYE SEE … EYE LEARN

Eye See…Eye Learn provides comprehensive eye exams by local optometrists (or eye doctors) to kindergarten students in Fort McMurray Catholic Schools. If the child requires a pair of glasses, they will receive them FREE of charge courtesy of our participating sponsors.  With the “Free Eyeglasses Program” any kindergarten student who requires glasses will receive one pair at no charge form their optometrist.

For further information, go to: Eye See … Eye Learn

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION PROCESS

To be eligible for Kindergarten, your child must be four years, six months old before Septebmer 1st of the school year.

Kindergarten registrations for the 2011/2012 school year are now being accepted at all district elementary schools.  For additional information contact any of our elementary schools or call Fort McMurray Catholic School District at 780-799-5799 (5043).

If you would like to register your child for a program you will be asked to provide proof of your child’s name, date of birth and citizenship. Only the following documents verifying birth:

•            Birth certificate of the child

•            Canadian Citizen Certificate

•            Passport

KINDERGARTEN TRANSPORTATION

Transportation is provided to morning kindergarten programs only.  This is for students who live more than 1 kilometer away from the school.  Contact the school secretaries to arrange transportation for your child.

CONTACT EARLY LEARNING

For additional information contact any of our elementary schools or call Fort McMurray Catholic School District at 780-799-5799 (5043) or by e-mail to Mishell Usick at mishell.usick@fmcsd.ab.ca