For Families

This is last year's information, but it will give you an idea of what to expect for next year.  We will update it before the summer.

Welcome to Kindergarten! July 2023

Dear Parents,

Welcome to the kindergarten year at Eileen Madson Primary School! This will be an exciting year filled with many new experiences for your child. It is also an important time for parents, and we hope that together we can make this a wonderful year for you and your child.

During the first two weeks of September, students will not yet be assigned to a specific teacher or group of peers. During this time, teachers will be collaborating to create balanced classes that support student learning best over the course of the year. All K teachers will have similar routines and lessons around social/emotional learning and build understandings around being a student at school. All K students will get to know all K teachers and support staff. We will meet in the gym at the beginning of each day and dismiss from the back playground area at 11:00 am.

Kindergarten children in B.C are required to have fewer instructional hours in a year than other grades, which allows for a smooth transition schedule for your child. We understand that this schedule can create some challenges for parents regarding childcare. We also know the value that it holds for children going through this time of transition. New experiences can be difficult and exhausting for young children, so this alternate schedule provides time to learn new routines, rest, and build stamina in the school setting. Below you will find your child’s schedule for the first few weeks.

Regular bussing is available for getting to school each day. Return home will be up to individual families to manage for the 6 days when kindergarten is dismissed at 11:00 am. If you need a bus registration form, please contact Ms. Gray at the EMP office.

Regular school hours will be 8:50 am – 3:08 pm for all students starting on Monday, September 18, and bussing will be available for all at this time. Please note that we finish at 1:08 pm on all Fridays and our two early dismissal dates.

On the day of the Teddy Bear picnic, parents will go through the C.H.E.Q. survey with school staff so we can get to know the needs of the classes better. You are also invited to connect with EMP’s kindergarten teachers in the afternoons to discuss any concerns or questions you may have. If you feel there is any pertinent information that should be communicated prior to September, then please contact the school to advise the kindergarten team. We are here to work with you to provide a successful entry into kindergarten!

Teddy Bear Picnic (First Day of Kindergarten – Wednesday, September 7): Because parents are an integral part of a smooth transition to kindergarten, you and your child will attend together on the first day. We will host a 1.5 hr. outdoor/indoor event, starting at 1:15 pm, at which time students will meet their kindergarten teachers and classmates. Students will see the kindergarten classrooms to become familiar with the space and tour the school. During the picnic, parents will have 20-30 minutes to complete the Childhood Education Questionnaire (C.H.E.Q.) about your child, which provides valuable information to our school.

Please RSVP by August 26 to confirm your attendance at the Teddy Bear Picnic as we will be providing some snacks and need to know numbers and allergies. In the event that you and your child are unable to make it at the last minute, please contact the school so we are aware. (Call (250) 342-9315 or email Rebecca.Gray@sd6.bc.ca). Families are encouraged to bring their favourite stuffies and a blanket to sit on in the field.

Important Information for the Rest of the School Year:

• Please send your child with “inside shoes” on the first day of school. These should be running shoes that your child can put on and take off
• Also send a water bottle. In the name of cleanliness, this should go back and forth each day to be
• Please LABEL ALL belongings with your child’s name (lunch kit, backpack, hoodies, shoes, )
• Your child will need a recess snack and lunch every school day (Friday included). Please send it “ready to eat”. We do not provide hot water or
• We encourage students to bring “no garbage” lunches and
• Just a reminder that EMP is a NUT FREE and SCENT SENSITIVE This means we do not allow nuts, including peanut butter, and we try to avoid strong scents (lotions, perfumes, etc.).
• This year, the kindergarten supplies fee is covered thanks to funding from the provincial government.
• If you have any questions, please feel free to phone the school at 250-342-9315.
• The office will be open to begin the school year on August 21,

We look forward to a busy and exciting year with your child. See you soon!