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Balanced Day Schedule
This is the basic structure of a Kindergarten Day at MSB. Kindergarten students take part in what is called a “free flow” day.
9 a.m. - Supervision Begins
Staff supervision begins at the Kiss ‘n Ride and in the Kindergarten Yard at the back of the school, where parents drop off their children. Students drop off their backpacks where they will be lining up. Parents remain outside the fenced area.
9:15 a.m. – Student Entry
When the bell rings, students join their lines, put on their backpacks and enter the school with their educators.
9:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Kindergarten Program
Students eat snack between 9:30 and 11 a.m. and lunch between 1 and 2 p.m. Please send your child with a morning snack and a lunch. (You might choose to label the snack and lunch as #1 and #2 – as this helps the little ones organize their food options at the beginning of the year). The outdoor times differ from students in Grades 1 to 6. Each class spends up to 100 minutes outside every day in all weather at a variety of times throughout the day. The nutrition break times for the rest of the school are 10:55 - 11:35 a.m. and 1:15 - 1:55 p.m.
3:35 pm – Student Dismissal
The Kindergarten students are out in the yard for 3:30 p.m. for pickup to avoid parking lot congestion.
Kindergarten Entry
All Kindergarten students will start on the first day (September 6, 2023). There is no gradual entry for JK students. For all students, the teacher’s names will be emailed on Friday September 1, 2023. If you are still unsure there will be lists posted on the morning of September 6, 2023 in the Kindergarten Yard where children can line up and meet their teachers.
Kindergarten Dismissal
Students will be dismissed at the back of the school in the fenced area. Students will be released when a teacher makes eye contact with the adult picking up. Please ensure the office knows of people who might pick up regularly and send a note on days when there might be a change in pick up for that day. Parents are asked to stay outside the fenced area.
If your child will be travelling on the bus, your child will receive a yellow tag indicating the appropriate bus #’s which will be attached to the backpack at the end of the first day. JK and new SK students will receive their bus information by mail. Kindergarten students are met by a staff member in the mornings and are walked to the bus at the end of the day with EA's or other staff.
Kiss ‘n’ Ride
Staff come on duty at the Kiss ’n Ride area in the North parking lot at 9a.m. They will help your child move from the car to the Kindergarten yard in a safe manner. Please only stop long enough to get your child out of the car and handed over to a supervising adult. In order to protect staff and students, staff will not open doors, unbuckle or remove students from vehicles. Please pull as far forward in the Kiss 'n' Ride as possible, even if it means driving past the school doors a little bit, so other cars can do the same. This helps keep things moving in a safe and orderly manner. Supervised duty starts at 9 am.
Before and After School Program - YMCA
Currently, the YMCA offers an enriching before- and after-school program at MSB for Kindergarten and school-age children that combines fun and learning. The morning program opens at 7 a.m. until school entry and continues after school from school dismissal until 6 p.m. For registration and more information please call 647-960-9301 or send an e-mail to MSBennett@ymcagta.org.
For parents who are new to MSB, here are a few things you might need to know. Our school doors are locked during the school day for everyone's safety, so if you are coming to the school for any reason, please buzz and enter through the front door and go directly to the office to sign in. The secretaries and administrators will be more than happy to help you with anything you need (e.g., dropping something off for your child, signing your child out for an appointment, picking up an ill child etc.) If you are interested in volunteering in the school or attending field trips, you must submit a current criminal reference check and other forms to the office prior these activities. Volunteers are welcome! Parents are also encouraged to attend Parent Council meetings on the first Monday of the month in the evening. Watch for more details in September about ways to get involved at the school!
Student Health
If your child has any medical conditions that we should be aware of, please check in with us or visit the following link on the HDSB website for more information and forms HDSB Student Health Link . In the office, there are forms that need to be filled out if a child will be self-administering any medication or needs assistance with prescribed routine medication. Please do not send any medication without first checking in with the office.
Last minute FYI’s
It is important to send your child with a small bag (ziploc) of labelled spare clothes on the first day of school. This will help with any accidents big and small. Also, classes spend a significant amount of time learning outdoors, so please ensure your child is always dressed suitably for all types of weather, so he/she is comfortable and ready to learn and play. (see Getting Ready for Kindergarten tab)