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Elementary students in Kindergarten through Grade 8 will attend school five days a week with 300 minutes of instruction per day, remaining in one cohort (class) for the full day. To support student learning, students may be placed in small groups for special instructional support (e.g., English-language learning, literacy support) with students from other cohorts.
In Thames Valley, Kindergarten students are required to wear a mask following a Board of Trustee motion passed in August 2020. As such, all students (Kindergarten-Grade 8) will be required to wear a mask indoors in school, including in hallways and during classes.
Instructional Expectations
Each day includes 300 minutes of face-to-face instructional time with students.
All subject areas in the Ontario curriculum will be taught, assessed and reported on.
Kindergarten programs will continue to support play-based, inquiry and outdoor learning opportunities.
Increased outdoor learning opportunities will be encouraged.
Operational Expectations
School will begin and end at regular times; for both in-person and virtual classes.
Schedules will include time for washroom use/drinks/hand washing opportunities.
Recess and lunch times may be staggered to ensure health and safety regulations can be followed.
Kindergarten
Our Full Day Kindergarten In-Person classes will continue to engage our youngest students in learning through play- based and inquiry opportunities.
The programs focus on children’s learning development within four frames (topics):
Belonging and Contributing
Self-Regulation and Well-Being
Demonstrating Literacy and Mathematics Behaviours
Problem Solving and Innovating
In the Kindergarten classroom, students will participate in engaging learning times, at several spaces around the classroom (not solely at a table or desk).
What will my child be doing during In-person Learning in the Kindergarten classroom?
Children will:
Participate in a variety of play-based and inquiry learning throughout the day that are planned by the educator team, with the interest, needs, and abilities of all learners at the forefront;
Engage in large group, small group, and one-to-one learning to build meaningful relationships with children and educators in their class;
Learn and participate in consistent routines around proper hand hygiene, physical distancing and safety protocols - these will become a natural extension to your child’s day as they practice these routines; through modeling, visual supports, poems, and the use of social scripts (stories about positive behaviours at school);
Be prompted to follow health and safety protocol throughout the day (e.g., distancing, hand hygiene);
Experience classroom environments that are set-up to promote building relationships;
Have support getting dressed, with the intention of increasing independence;
Bring individual lunches, snacks and water bottles to school each day. There will be multiple opportunities throughout the day to eat;
Be assigned an individual coat hook/cubby where they may place their personal belongings each day.
How are educator teams preparing to welcome my child to Kindergarten?
Educator teams will:
Be trained in COVID-19 related health and safety protocols;
Develop a ‘flow of the day’ routine that allows for large blocks of time for children to play and learn indoors and outdoors, while ensuring opportunities to practice proper hand hygiene;
Set up the classroom learning environment to foster a play-based and inquiry program;
Continue to plan and implement the Kindergarten program, with a focus on Belonging and Contributing and Self-Regulation and Well-Being;
Provide specific invitations to peak each child’s interest and expand their learning.
What will the first weeks look like for my Kindergarten child?
Kindergarten students will begin using a gradual entry method during the first week of school.
Your child's school will contact you to inform you of which days your child will attend.
What Enhanced Safety Measures are being put in place to ensure the health and safety of my child and their educators?
TVDSB has developed protocols in consultation with local health units and is following the Ministry of Education COVID 19 health, safety and operational guidance for schools (2021-2022). These protocols and enhancements to health and safety at our schools can be found on our TVDSB website in our Return to Learn section – a resource document for our TVDSB Community.
The most relevant information for our Kindergarten children includes:
All students in Kindergarten to Grade 8 must wear masks/face coverings in school and on student transportation;
If a student requires a mask, the school will provide one;
All occupied Kindergarten classrooms will be equipped with a standalone HEPA filter unit as an additional health and safety measure;
Children will learn and participate in consistent routines around proper hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, physical distancing and safety protocols;
Shared learning materials and tools will be permitted. The risk associated with transmission with shared objects is low. The focus will be on regular hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette to reduce the risk of infection related to shared equipment;
Parents can help by minimizing personal belongings sent to school, labelling any belongings and remind children they must not be shared;
No sharing of food or beverages;
To maintain distance between children, staggered nutrition breaks, recesses, and transitions will be implemented;
Until further notice, volunteers will not be permitted in classrooms.
Helping your child be prepared for Kindergarten
Our parents and families play a vital role in promoting positive messages about attending school. When you are preparing your child for coming to school in the fall, reassure your child that school is a safe place to learn, play and grow. Practice hand hygiene, opening food containers, doing up zippers, putting on own shoes, opening lunch bag, and your morning routine.
Gradual Entry for Kindergarten Year One (K1) and New Year Two Students (K2)
Our JK (K1) and NEW K2 (SK) students will be supported through a process we refer to in TVDSB as gradual entry. Gradual entry means students who are new to the school (K1 students and new K2 students) start on different days throughout the first week (September 7-10), gradually as the week progresses. By Friday, all Kindergarten students will have started their year in the Full Day Kindergarten program. A specific schedule is provided to Kindergarten families by the school prior to the first day of school.
