May 13, 2022

Dear Parents,

We are very excited that your child will be joining our St. Anne’s Catholic School community in
September. We are sending you this letter to provide you with information that may answer some
commonly asked questions.

What will happen on the first day of school?

All Kindergarten students start on the first day of school. The school day begins at 8:30 a.m. and
ends at 3:05 p.m. On the first day of school, Kindergarten students will meet their teachers in the
fenced Kindergarten yards between 8:15 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. If your child is a bus student, he or she
will be greeted on the first day by a staff member who will escort your child to the Kindergarten
yard. A staff member will also escort your child to the bus at the end of the day. Please note that
bus students will receive information from the bus company through the mail. You can also visit
www.mybigyellowbus.ca.

What does my child need for lunch and snacks?

Your child will need two nutritious snacks each day, plus a healthy lunch. For morning snack, we
encourage students to make a ‘healthy choice’. Examples include fruit, vegetables, yogurt and
cheese. Some suggestions for lunches include a half or a whole sandwich, a wrap, a bagel, crackers
with cheese and meat, or a thermos containing soup, spaghetti, or leftovers. We save sugary snacks
and treats for our afternoon snack, if you choose to send them. We ask all parents to send a
reusable water bottle to school each day.

There are a number of children in our school who have severe, life threatening nut allergies.
Therefore, it is imperative that students do not bring any food into the school that may contain
nuts or peanuts. Your support makes the difference in providing a safe environment for these
children.

How can I help my child keep track of his or her personal belongings?
Please put your child’s name inside all clothing and containers. We cannot stress enough, the
importance of labelling everything (e.g., shoes, boots, coats, mittens, lunch containers, water
bottles). Don’t forget to include names on lunch bags and backpacks. At this age, children often
can’t remember what is theirs, even if they wore it or used it that day!

What will my child need for shoes?

Your child will need a pair of shoes for indoors, preferably running shoes, as these are required for
the gym. In addition, your child will need outdoor shoes. Shoes that are easy to put on and do up will
help your child to be more independent. Indoor shoes are kept at school.
What will my child need for clothing?
Please send your child in “wash and wear” clothes (i.e., clothes for learning). Children tend to get
involved in activities that can be messy and that require freedom of movement. Please send in a
clean change of clothes, including underwear and socks in a labelled bag. Spare clothes will be kept
at school, in case they are needed for an emergency.

Will my child need to bring in school supplies?

You will not need to purchase supplies for your child to use at school this year. All school supplies
will be provided by the school.

Who will my child’s teacher be?

You will receive a phone call from your child’s teacher the week before school starts to introduce
ourselves and to answer questions that you may have. At that time, we will ask you how your child
will get to and from school on the first day, as well as his or her regular transportation to and from
school (e.g., drop off and pick up by parent on the first day of school, bus starting on the second
day of school).

What do I need to send with my child on the first day of school?

On the first day of school, your child would benefit from having a backpack and lunch, spare
clothing, and running shoes.

How do I find out about the “Before and After School Program” at St. Anne’s School?
If you are in need of before and/or after school care for your child, please visit www.onehsn.com
or contact Rachel Patterson at the YMCA of Western Ontario at (519) 633-7900 ext. 6101.

What can I do to prepare my child for school?

We are often asked this question by parents. Your child does not need to have certain skills
mastered before school begins, however, here is a list of things that you could work on that will help
your child to make a smoother transition to school.

• putting shoes on and taking them off (Velcro is highly recommended!)

• putting coat on and taking it off independently
• opening and closing backpack and putting lunch bag in and taking it out
• opening and closing lunch bag and lunch containers
• using the washroom independently, and washing hands with soap and water

When your children are in our care, we will treat them like our own, and we will assist and guide
them, when needed. We see the joy and pride in our students when they are able to do things on
their own, and we recognize that independence comes with practice.

We look forward to getting to know you and your child, and we hope to make this transition to
school a positive experience for everyone!

Sincerely,

The Kindergarten Team at St. Anne’s Catholic School