SMK 💗 WTK - ⚫ covid-19 & kindergarten

This past year has presented many challenges to our SMK community and again as we embark school entry this September. Following Provincial and Y.C.D.S.B. guidelines, we have made many changes and adjustments to what a regular day will look like at St. Mark. Specific schoolwide changes are communicated through our main office on our SMK school website.

In Kindergarten, changes have been made to promote safety measures that provide all students the opportunity to have a "normal" day yet adhere to all the specific mandates from the Province and the school board.

sanitize hands upon entry into the classroom
wash hands after cubbies before joining in whole group
sanitize hands before and after all small group or individual activities
wash hands before/after snack
wash hands before/after lunch
wash hands before/after outdoor play at recess or an outdoor lesson
sanitize hands upon dismissal

small work/play groups are assigned, these groups will stay together for the entire week, and for no specific length after that (depending on group dynamics!)
these groups will play with specific learning centres in the morning and play centres in the afternoon
the materials used will only be used by that specific group FOR THE WEEK
all materials will be washed and sanitized ready for the next week's group
each group will have their own bin of books to read and explore for the week as well.

students will be provided with their OWN set of materials to use throughout the school year (pencils, crayons, markers, scissors, glue etc...)
they will have their own sets of manipulatives for direct teacher instruction (i.e. math centres, guided reading)
their workbooks and individual worksheets will be stored in their own portfolio
any shared materials or manipulatives will be sanitized at the end of the week BEFORE transferring to another student
individual student work will be sent home every Friday in our Friday "File" bag so you can see all the hard work that has been accomplished during the week!

cubbies are a busy place, and the ministry and school board have said we cannot all be in the cubbies together. The teacher/ECE will be storing your child's backpack (coats inside) indoor and outdoor shoes, and spare clothes in the cubbies when not in use. Students will not enter the cubbies at any point in time, and the teachers/ECE or the lunchtime supervisor will deliver necessary items to their assigned seat.
students will sit for snack/lunch with their work/play groups, and lunch bags and water bottles will be kept at their assigned seat.
during group sharing the floor will have black circle spots to help children distance accordingly
for line ups at the sink to wash hands or to use the washroom, floor stickers will be provided to help them distance. (3 at a time)
all students will have a number, when students are to go to the shelves to retrieve their workbooks or personal supplies, they will do so in small groups (called by number) in order to maintain physical distance at the supply shelves, at the sink, getting ready for home, etc.
outside in the morning, at recess, or at end of day, student will pick a physically distanced dot and line up at their classroom door for re-entry into the classroom.

students will be outside whenever possible for lessons and instruction
if your family decides that you child will wear a mask at school, which is encouraged for all, a hook is provided on the back of their chair/desk to hang their mask/or mask bag as they are preparing to eat (in order to prevent spilling, damage, or loosing the mask) or to keep it safe while going outside or to the gym
the washroom is available to students at all points during their day ** if two or more students need the washroom at any given time they will wait on their floor stickers to maintain physical distance while waiting**
water bottles will be kept in their lunch bag or on their table, and they can access it at any point throughout the day
spare clothes will be kept in their individual cubbies at school along with indoor shoes
there is no food sharing
any teacher who enters the classroom (gym teacher, lunch teacher, supervision teacher) will sanitize their hands upon entry
all teachers and staff will be wearing masks or PPE throughout the day
custodians will be cleaning all high traffic touch points throughout the day