We are so happy you will be joining us in the upcoming 2022-2023 school year. Here you will find some important and useful information to get you started on this new and exciting journey with your child.  Please also visit our school website  and the TDSB website for specific information about TDSB policies and procedures. 

Our Kindergarten classrooms may have two educators – a Teacher (OCT) and a Designated Early Childhood Educator (DECE). The Kindergarten educators work as a team to provide your child with a safe and engaging learning environment.

The Kindergarten program is a two-year program. It is a play-based and inquiry-based program, where your child will learn through purposeful play and free exploration. Our curriculum is based on four frames: Belonging and Contributing, Self-Regulation and Well-Being, Demonstrating Literacy and Mathematics Behaviours, and Problem Solving and Innovating. The Program is balanced with both indoor and outdoor play, and focuses on developing social/emotional skills as well as academics.

Please see an outline of our Kindergarten Day

Visit OUR PROGRAM for more detailed information about the Kindergarten Curriculum.

Your child's first day of school

This year, the first day of school for ALL Kindergarten Students is Tuesday Sept. 3 , 2024 

Please see the 2024-2025 Calendar for other important dates such as Holidays, Breaks and P.A. Days.

School Bell Times

Entry   8:43 AM

Lunch   11:30 AM - 12:43 PM

Dismissal   3:30 PM

TDSB Safe Arrival, Entry, Lunch and Dismissal Procedures

These key procedures will be communicated to you in your Welcome to Kindergarten letter (this letter will be sent to families at the end of the Summer break) and in our Parent Handbook (families will receive a copy during the first week of school).

Your child will need:

• a large backpack (needs to fit all of the students belongings including their lunch bag)

• a lunch bag (two snacks and lunch) which adhere to our ALLERGEN SAFE SCHOOL GUIDELINES and our ECO Schools Waste Free Initiatives.

• a full set of extra clothes in a labelled Ziploc bag (shirt, pants, underwear, socks)

• a reusable water bottle (access to water fountain to refill)

• a pair of indoor shoes (velcro instead of laces) to be kept at school.

Please ensure that you LABEL EACH INDIVIDUAL ITEM of your child's personal belongings (i.e. coat, mittens, backpacks, lunch bags, food containers, water bottles, shoes, shirt etc.)

When do I find out which class my child has been placed in?

Classroom teachers will be connecting with families via email (provided at time of registration) prior to the start of the school year. 

Does my child spend the entire school day in one classroom?

Your child will participate in a variety of learning activities throughout the school day. Some will be conducted in our own classrooms and others will take place outside in our Kinder Yard. It is important for your child to come dressed appropriately for the weather and so that they may be comfortable during a variety of activities.   

How often does my child go outside?

Outdoor play is an integral part of our Kindergarten Program. In addition to spending time outdoors during the lunch period, students take part in daily outdoor play during instructional times. Necessary accommodations will be made for extreme heat and extreme cold alerts. Dressing your child appropriately for the weather every day will ensure they are comfortable when participating in outdoor play.

Does my child's classroom teacher teach all the subject areas?

Your child's classroom teacher will be teaching many subject areas (i.e., reading, writing, mathematics, inquiry, etc.). Other teachers are designated to teach Physical Education, Drama and Dance, and Music. 

What does lunch time look like?

We must be informed of whether the child is staying or going home for lunch every day.  

Children who are staying for lunch will be supervised by a Kindergarten Lunchroom Supervisor. Students will spend part of the lunch period eating and the other part outdoors in the Kindergarten Playground located at the side of the school (on Marilyn Ave.) Students who go home for lunch are to be picked up and dropped off at their designated door at the bell times.

Please arrange your child’s food so that it is easily accessible, cut into pieces if needed, and requires no heating. The children must be completely independent in feeding themselves.

Is there a lunch program?

We do not have a daily lunch program at Presteign Heights. In the past, occasional paid lunches have been planned and announced once the school year is underway. Please join the Parent Council meetings to volunteer for these programs.

What should I pack my child for snack?

We have snack time in the morning and in the afternoon. We recommend sending your child with 2 healthy snacks to give them energy to learn throughout the day. Dairy products (yogurt, cheese), fresh fruits and vegetables, granola bars and crackers are great options! When packing food for your child, please check all food labels carefully. Do not send anything with peanuts and/or nuts, legumes, sesame seeds or eggs. Even products that state may contain nuts/peanuts should be avoided. Some people at Presteign Heights have severe life threatening allergies. We need to take all necessary precautions to keep the environment ALLERGEN SAFE. Please review our Allergen Safe School Guidelines.

The Presteign Heights School Community has worked hard to achieve Platinum Eco School status for many years. Thus, we encourage students to eliminate bringing packaging and garbage to school. Reusable containers that are easy to open and close are appreciated. All food wrappers, garbage and uneaten food will be returned home for disposal, as part of our Boomerang and Waste Free Programs. 

What if my child has an accident?

It happens! Your child should have a full change of extra clothes that will be kept at school or in their backpack. Your child will use the classroom washroom to change their clothing. Soiled clothing will be sent home in their backpack in a plastic bag. When this happens, please remember to send back a clean set of extra clothes the next day. 

Can my older child pick up a sibling in Kindergarten?

Kindergarten students should be picked up by a parent/guardian. Please complete the Dismissal Form, with information about who will be picking up your child. A list of people allowed to pick up your child will be required for safe dismissal. If there are any changes, parents will need to inform the school by calling the office ahead of dismissal time.

What if my child feels unwell at school? 

When children begin to feel unwell at school, we immediately inform the parents. If we are unable to get in touch with the parents, we often call the next emergency contact on file. We encourage parents to pick up their child as soon as possible. If your child has a fever or any other signs of being unwell, they are required to stay home for at least 24 hours symptom free before returning to school.  

What if my child will be absent or arrives late to school?

If you know your child will be away from school, please report absences by calling the Safe Arrival Program at 1-833-250-2290, or inform the school office at (416) 396-2430  by leaving a message to let us know that your child will be absent. Otherwise, the TDSB system will call you to confirm your child's absence. 

Our school morning entry bell rings at 8:43 AM, and lunch entry bell rings at 12:43 PM. If your child arrives late to school, please have them report to the office at the Main doors for our office administrator to update the system and print a late slip before your child can proceed to class.  Please review the  TDSB Safe Arrival procedures.

How do you celebrate birthdays or other special occasions at school?

We love the opportunity to celebrate a variety of special occasions as a class. Recognizing cultural events and traditions that are important to our students and their families is a wonderful way to learn about one another. Sometimes, students would like to distribute tokens of celebration. If so, we kindly ask that there is something for each member of the class and that items are non-edible (e.g. stickers, pencils, erasers). Please also know that we will celebrate as a class with special games, stories, music or other activities. 

My child may cry.  How can I help with transitions?

Sometimes we get tears and that is natural. Your child is attached to you and that is as it should be, so being upset by a separation makes sense. Sometimes the longer you stay will make parting more difficult. We recommend a hug, reassurance, and a reminder to your child that you look forward to seeing them at the end of the day. Remind them of something that you will do together when you see each other next (e.g., play at the park or read a book).  In doing this, it will help your child get into the school routine quickly and ease some of the separation anxiety. Please know that for some children it takes time to make the transition to school and every day can be different. We promise we will touch base with you to let you know how things are going! Please remember that a tearful 'see you later' does not mean that your child is unhappy at school.

We know when your child enters school for the first time, it is an exciting and new journey for you. We completely understand that you may have some questions or concerns. Please feel free to use this form to ask questions and we will do our best to answer in a timely manner.

Access the Welcome To Kindergarten, Question Form here