OUR PRINCIPLES OF PRACTICE

The Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Separate Regional Division No. 4 is building a Catholic Christian Community using the gospel values of faith, hope and love.

We honour our children.

Our schools are child-centered communities.  We celebrate each student as a unique child of Christ through our love, care and respect.

We value our staff.

Our staff members are an integral part of our community and we affirm their ministry and life long journey.

We provide a safe and secure environment.

Children feel safe and secure in our schools.  We provide an environment of belonging for all children through gospel-centered communities of hope.

We live and proudly proclaim our Catholic Christian faith.

Our faith permeates our thoughts, words and deeds as we model Jesus, serving children first.

We provide quality education in a Catholic environment.

Our schools maintain high standards of academic achievement while fostering life long faith development.

We are a prayerful education community.

Our Catholic Christian education system reflects the communion of home, school, and church providing daily opportunities for prayer and celebration of our faith.

Our staff practices servant-leadership.

Our staff are committed members of our faith community who serve the family, school, and church.

Clarity of purpose focuses us on our mission.

Our Catholic Christian faith is clearly and consistently communicated and supports our unique and distinct ministry.
 

"Catholic Education:  Making a Difference" 

Dear Parents/Caregivers

Welcome to Holy Spirit Catholic Schools!  Thank you for joining us on your child's new journey - the beginning of his or her formal education.  This is an important event for your child and also for you as parents.

This handbook provides general information about the Kindergarten Program, which has been designed to help your child grow academically, socially and spiritually.  We encourage you to use this resource to help you and your child make a smooth transition from home to school.

Your child is embarking on a new journey - the beginning of his or her formal education - the school years.  This is an important event for your child and also for you as parents.  In our Kindergarten programs, children participate as active partners in learning, build a set of shared experiences and develop knowledge, skills and attitudes that prepare them for subsequent learning.  Our Kindergarten programs provide learning experiences that meet the developmental needs of all children.

We are a Catholic School Division and because of our Catholicity, we can also help in your child's spiritual development.  It is because of this that we are unique and why Catholic Education makes a difference.

Parents are their children's most important teachers, and children rely on them for support in dealing with new situations.  When teachers and parents work together to help a child thrive in their new school program, amazing progress can be made.  You are a very important part of your child's educational team!

Welcome again and thank you for entrusting your child's education to us.
 

"Living and Learning...Together in Faith"

Starting Age

Any child who is five years of age on or before December 31st may enter kindergarten in September of that year.  Parents are asked to register their child at the school office and to have available the child's birth certificate for the registration process.

Program Curriculum

Holy Spirit Catholic Schools offer Kindergarten programs based on a curriculum that has been developed by Alberta Learning based on the following beliefs:

Children develop at different rates and Kindergarten provides learning experiences that meet individual needs.

Young children are naturally curious and eager to learn, and they benefit from developing positive relationships with others, including children of their own age.

Parents are their children's first and most important teachers.

These programs use theme exploration, learning centers, field trips and manipulative materials to allow children to develop age-appropriate skills and concepts.

Your child will develop skills in the following areas:  

Language Arts
Mathematics
Community and Environmental Awareness
Physical Skills and Well-being
Creative and Cultural Expression
Spiritual Development

• Each area has specific learning objectives.
• Children are unique in their development in these areas.
• These domains of growth are interconnected
• Complement and continue the work that is done at home
• Children can be in different stages of development in each of these areas.
• Delays in these areas are identified and receive early intervention.

In a Catholic school, children are affirmed and encouraged as they make their own journey toward God and greater participation in the Church.

A young child's way of being "religious" is to play, to be creative, to be curious, and to express wonderment.  Through these natural childhood activities children explore traces of God, the "marks" of God present all around them as they grow, learn and experience life.  The essence of children's spirituality is their response to life.

In the uninhibited excitement that Kindergarten children feel toward nature, they are drawn toward a loving Creator.  Their experiences of God are "sensed" through touching, smelling, tasting, seeing and hearing, rather than through intellectual explanations.

Young children come to know Jesus through their experiences of seeing people valued and celebrated.  They recognize themselves first, and then their families, friends and classmates as made in God's image.  Later, they are able to experience Jesus as the perfect image and likeness of God.

In a Catholic school, the spiritual development of a child in Kindergarten occurs through activities that are effective, to support positive feelings toward themselves and others; and sensory, to relate directly to the good things that God has created.

All children, including those with special needs, are valued as unique members of God's family.

The Kindergarten religion program, "In God's Image," consists of 8 modules containing 33 themes that can be sequenced by the teacher to best respond to the particular needs and interests of each class.

The "Me" module celebrates the child through such topics as feelings, senses, capabilities, needs and family.  The "Earth Times" module celebrates the wonder of the earth through activities related to the seasons.  The "Community" module celebrates caring through discussion, by making friends and by helping.  The "Changes" module invites children to experience support and comfort at such times as birth of a sibling or moving to a new house.  The "Plants" and "Animals" modules celebrate creation through activities with trees, flowers, bugs, pets and other animals.  The "Special Days" module suggests activities for celebrating such events as birthdays, Mother's Day and Father's Day.  The "Church Times" module is a sequential set of lessons that invite children to celebrate the Christian story as it unfolds through Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter.

• Praise all your child's endeavors.
• Become very verbal around your child.
• When engaged in an activity, talk out the steps as you do them, emphasizing vocabulary and basic concepts such as, in, on, under, beside, above, etc.
• Maintain good eye contact and try not to interrupt your child's thoughts.
• Read to your child daily and expose your child to all kinds of children's books (ie. picture books, fairy tales, etc.).
• Encourage him/her to develop a sight word vocabulary (start with name).
• Involve your child in routine sorts of activities such as baking, cleaning, folding towels, etc.  They will learn to follow directions and learn practical life skills.
• Have your child help you with a recipe to teach measuring and counting skills.
• To build gross motor skills, play outside, skate, swim, and be active.
• To build fine motor skills try cutting, coloring, doing puzzles, beading, playing with play dough, and sorting small objects.
• Practice naming body parts.
• Practice tying shoes.
• Take opportunities to notice members around the house and in the community.
• Give your child their own calendar to acquaint them with numbers, days, months, etc.

About three months before Kindergarten begins, it is important to practice routines and schedules:

• Occasionally practice getting your child's backpack ready.
• Plan the day with your child (ie. what to wear, activities, timelines).
• Make bedtime a time for quiet activities (ie. read a story to your child, snuggles and hugs, have bath time.  Note:  Children 4-6 years should get 11 hours of sleep per night.
• Avoid having your child watch TV just before bedtime.
• Each day, try to reduce stress by leaving plenty of time for your child to get ready for the day.
• Ensure that your child has healthy meals and snacks at regular times.
• Bedtime prayers.

There are a number of things that you, as Kindergarten parents and caregivers, can do to help your child succeed.  Here are some helpful hints:

• Check with your Health Unit/Doctor for immunization, vision and hearing testing.
• Practice walking to school or to the bus stop.
• If your child will be taking the bus, make sure you spend some time going over bus safety. 
• Practice a bedtime and wake-up schedule a few weeks before school starts.
• Talk about what he/she may do in Kindergarten.

Clothing

Your child will be very active in the Kindergarten classroom.  It is wise for your child to wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

• Choose clothes that are easy for your child to put on, take off and fasten.
• Choose clothes that are easy to wash.
• Make sure that your child has clothes appropriate for the weather and activities.

Separation from Parent/Caregiver

Some children find it difficult to leave parents during the first days of Kindergarten. 
To prepare them to make the transition, periodically allow your child to stay with family members or friends.  Reassure your child that you will be back for him/her.  You will make your child more confident if you give him/her these opportunities.    Also, if you demonstrate a relaxed and positive attitude about the transition to Kindergarten, your child will too.

• Some things that are advantageous for your child to know are listed below.  Some children will be ready while others will not.  Please do not pressure your child to do the list.
• Know his/her full name, address and phone number.
• Dress themselves, fasten their shoes and recognize their belongings.
• Attend to toilet needs without assistance and be aware of bathroom hygiene (washing hands and flushing toilets).
• Tidy and put away their possessions.
• Know safety rules of the road and be obedient to traffic signs.
• Respect property of others and understand the meaning of ownership.
• Understand simple directions and be able to carry them out.

When children begin Kindergarten, parent and the school enter into a partnership to support children's learning. Parents are encouraged to become involved in the school program and can do so in a variety of ways:

• Attend parent meetings
• Serve on committees
• Provides snacks and participates in classroom activities
• Assist on field trips
• Share expertise and skills
• Give ideas or input to the program
• Help organize activities or school/family functions

Administering Medicine

Parents are encouraged to dispense any necessary medication at home if at all possible.  If medication must be taken during Kindergarten hours, you must obtain and complete a "Request to Administer Medication" Form available at the school office.  Medication must be sent to the school in the original bottle with the doctor's directions for administering and the student's name included on the bottle.

Psychologist Services

A School Division psychologist provides services to help identify and assess needs of students.   The division psychologist consults with teachers and parents to assist in providing effective and appropriate programs.  The division psychologist also assists parents to access other specialized services for their children.

Counseling Services

Children and families have access to counseling services that provide on-on-one and small group counseling.  Counselors can assist families to access community services. 

Children's C.A.R.E. Services

Holy Spirit Catholic Schools is a partner with the Chinook Country Student Health Partnership (CCSHP).  As a partner with the Children's C.A.R.E Center, our schools are served by a speech and language pathologist, an occupational therapist and a physio-therapist.  Parents may request this service by contacting the school or the Chinook Health Unit at 329-5255.

RESOURCES 

The following is a list of school and community resources that you may wish to contact for further information and services: