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This website is no longer being updated Click [|here] to go to our new website  Welcome to Mrs. Pipe's, Mrs. Metcalf's & Mrs. Evans' Kinder garten 'C'  ...where we //Play//, //Learn// and //Grow// Together [|Kindergarten Day Cycle Calendar]
 * SCHOOL PHONE NUMBER: 519-766-0862 **** (Mrs. Pipe extension #402) (Mrs. Metcalf extension #420 ) ** [[image:th_school_bus_back_to_school_sm_nwm.gif]][[image:september_is_here.jpg width="700" height="140"]][[image:Pg6b_color.png width="137" height="163"]]

__** Where do all the teachers go? **__ Where do all the teachers go When its four o'clock? Do they live in houses And do they wash their socks? Do they wear pajamas? And do they watch TV? And do they pick their noses The same as you and me? Do they live with other people Have they mums and dads? And were they ever children And were they ever bad? Did they ever, never spell right Did they ever make mistakes? Were they punished in the corner If they pinched the chocolate flakes? Did they ever lose their hymn books Did they ever leave their greens? Did they ever scribble on the desktop Did they wear old dirty jeans? I'll follow one back home today I'll find out what they do Then I'll put it in a poem That they can read to you. - Peter Dixon

** MEET YOUR TEACHERS: ** ** Mrs. Ann Pipe: ** Although many of you already know me, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and tell you a little bit about me. This is my 10th year teaching Kindergarten for the Upper Grand District School Board and my 7th year at Rickson Ridge. Teaching young children has been a life-long desire of mine since my early childhood. Previously, I was a Vision and Hearing Specialist and Intervenor for the Waterloo Wellington Separate School Board, a Family Studies Parenting and Human Development Teacher in the Preschool Centre at John Fraser Secondary School in Mississauga, an Outreach Worker for Erin Oak in Brampton and a Deaf-Blind Intervenor and Interpreter for the W. Ross MacDonald School for the Visually Impaired in Brantford. Through all of my career experiences I have had the opportunity to teach a diverse population of children from Kindergarten to OAC. My career began with an educational background in Early Childhood Education from Mohawk College and continued with an Honours Degree in History from the University of Guelph where I had the opportunity to have my Honours Research Project entitled "Life in Upper Canada between 1830 and 1850" published in academia! I graduated from Brock University Teacher's College with a Primary/Junior Bachelor of Education Degree and have taken many hours of professional development in order to be prepared to meet each child's needs. I hold a Math Specialist and Special Education designation. This year I am excited to be co-teaching with two wonderful teachers, Mrs. Karen Metcalf and Mrs. Kylei Evans. I am the mother of two wonderful children, Wayne and Heather and the grandmother to three adorable grandchildren, Bailey, Cora and Keaton. I am also the proud Auntie of triplets Charlie, Elliot and Reese! My husband keeps very busy flying Boeing 777 airplanes to many destinations some of which include the UK, France, China, Hong Kong and Germany. I LOVE reading, writing and reading poetry, listening to music and knitting in my spare time. I love all animals, especially dogs and cats - I even like snakes!!! I love to travel, and Hawaii, Florida and California (DISNEY!!) are my favourite destinations! The most important thing about me is I LOVE TEACHING KINDERGARTEN!!! My mission as a teacher is to help children discover the joy of learning and to help each child develop a strong belief in his or her own ability. I want all of my students to love coming to school! I encourage all of my students to do their very best and I hope to instill a sense of pride in all that they do. It is also important to me that everyone in the class appreciates and respects the challenges and personal differences in other people - each child is unique and each child learns in a different way. I hope to create a community of caring and respectful learners who are committed to working hard and having fun! I firmly believe in hands-on experiences, learning creatively, and learning through spontaneous, meaningful and pleasurable play. Furthermore, I strongly believe that play is an essential, vital and critical foundation for success in school because play is a very natural activity for young children whereby they learn about language, social skills, problem solving, themselves, as well as the people and the world around them. I would like to extend to you and your child my warmest welcome into our classroom. I believe that collaboration, cooperation and open communication between home and school are keys to building a strong foundation for a successful school year. Together we can make this year the best year possible for your child. I am very excited about working with your child this year and am looking forward to sharing all of our classroom adventures with you. I enjoy making good news calls home and I am looking forward to discussing your child's successes with you!!! Please feel free to contact me any time. ** Mrs. Karen Metcalf: ** I am delighted to be working in the KC classroom again! I have known and worked with Mrs. Pipe for over 5 years and we share the same values and beliefs in play based learning. I had gained my Bachelor of Education Honours degree from Christ Church College in Canterbury and taught in both the private and public systems in England. My husband's job brought us to Canada 12 years ago and we thoroughly enjoy being a part of the Guelph community. I have 2 children who are both in university. Apart from teaching, I enjoy attempting to play the classical guitar, singing and dancing around the house to the radio, working out puzzles and logic problems, travelling, knitting and most recently Zumba. Please feel free to introduce yourselves, I look forward to meeting you.

__** Whose Child Is This **__ "Whose child is this?" I asked one day Seeing a little one out at play "Mine", said the parent with a tender smile "Mine to keep a little while To bathe his hands and comb his hair To tell him what he is to wear To prepare him that he may always be good And each day do the things he should" "Whose child is this?" I asked again As the door opened and someone came in "Mine", said the teacher with the same tender smile "Mine, to keep just for a little while To teach him how to be gentle and kind To train and direct his dear little mind To help him live by every rule And get the best he can from school" "Whose child is this?" I ask once more Just as the little one entered the door "Ours" said the parent and the teacher as they smiled And each took the hand of the little child "Ours to love and train together Ours this blessed task forever." - Author Unknown

//** Thank you for sharing your children with us. We are looking forward to an amazing and exciting year together!!! **// //** Ann, Karen & Kylei **//

__**Click the picture to view the September 2013 Newsletter**__

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: = "Children Learn By Doing, And Play Is Their Work" =
 * //Author: Unknown//**

Aristotle: ** "Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all." **

//__** When You Thought I Wasn't Looking **__// When you thought I wasn't looking, you displayed my first report, and I wanted to do another. When you thought I wasn't looking, you fed a stray cat, and I thought it was good to be kind to animals. When you thought I wasn't looking, you gave me a sticker, and I knew that things were special things. When you thought I wasn't looking, you put your arm around me, and I felt loved. When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt--but that it's all right to cry. When you thought I wasn't looking, you smiled, and it made me want to look that pretty too. When you thought I wasn't looking, you cared, and I wanted to be everything I could be. When you thought I wasn't looking--I looked...and wanted to say thanks for all those things you did when you thought I wasn't looking. - Mary Rita Schilke Korzan

__** FUN SITES FOR THE COMPUTER **__ [|MAKING LEARNING FUN] [|STARFALL] [|CHILDFUN] [|KIDZONE] [|PBS KIDS] [|ARTHUR] [|CRAYOLA] [|SESAME STREET] [|LEARNING PLANET] [|SCHOLASTIC] [|FUN SCHOOL] [|DISNEY] [|SUESSVILLE] [|RED FISH SOUP] [|KINDERSITE] [|CLFFORD]



Kindergarten Rocks by Katie Davis (Harcourt Children's Books, 2005). Meet Dexter, a soon-to-be kindergartner! He's terrified and has thoughts of all kinds of reasons to be so. A must-read to help relieve the anxiety all of us feel when starting school. Dexter finds out it's okay to be scared The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn (Child & Family Press, 1993).

The Kissing Hand is the perfect story for parents to share with a child who may need reassurance about going to school. In this story, mother raccoon shares a secret with her son Chester. The secret eases Chester's fears as he heads off to school. This tender, loving story reminds us that no matter where we are, our parents always love us and we can carry them with us. Find out how as you read this endearing story. Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow, 2000).Wemberly the mouse worries about everything — especially the first day of school. Luckily she finds a friend, and soon her worries fade away. Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus by Mo Willems (Hyperion Press, 2003). Mo Willems is such a huge name among picture-book authors that it's hard to believe his first children's book, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! was published only five years ago. Willems perfectly captures a small child's method of trying to get his own way, as the pigeon implores, promises, whines, begs and, in the end, throws a tantrum that both you and your child will recognize. The Pigeon books are some of my favourite books for young readers. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert (Simon and Schuster, 1989). When "a" tells "b" and "c", "d" and "e" to meet at the top of the coconut tree, all of the alphabet joins in the rollicking adventure. Too many vowels and consonants bring a crash that calls mamas, papas, uncles and aunts (the capital letters, of course) to the rescue. Skit Skat Skoodle Doot, Flip Flop Flee, no sooner are the little letters comforted and consoled than the rhyming tale begins anew with a moonlight challenge: "Dare double dare, you can't catch me. I'll beat you to the top of the coconut tree!" I Can Read With My Eyes Shut by Dr. Seuss (Random House, 1978). The Cat in the Hat is back to remind us that reading can be done everywhere and anywhere, upside down, on a train, or even with your eyes shut! Budding readers will appreciate Dr. Seuss' trademark humor about one of their favorite new activities [|100 Stories to Read in Kindergarten]

**__ THE POWER OF STORIES __**
 * The following link provides information about reading with your child and the power that stories have on early learning. **  [] []

Welcome to Kindergarten 'C'! (September 2013) We am really excited about the new year and we am very pleased to have your child in our class this year! We look forward to sharing the many new experiences and pleasant memories that each year brings. Kindergarten is a year of growing socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually. Your involvement, interest and enthusiasm will help make this a wonderful year of growth for both you and your child. This handout will offer you a bit of information about your child’s new school and will hopefully answer some of the questions you may have about your child’s kindergarten classroom. Please take some time to review important information from the handbook with your child.

 This year there are 3 kindergarten classes – you are in ‘KC’, Mrs. Pipe’s and Mrs. Metcalf's class. Mrs. Kylei Evans (ECE) is joining us this year as Mrs. Clarke is on leave. At the present time, there are 21 children in our room – your child may even know some of them already. If not, don’t worry – they will be meeting lots of new friends! Take a moment to imagine the kindergarten world: learning letters and numbers, reading and sharing stories, putting puzzles together, sharing blocks, playing with toys, singing songs, painting pictures, creating with playdough, and a little bit of homework. Wow…imagination and creativity are everywhere! Our classroom will be a safe and happy environment where each child is treated as a special unique individual. As you talk with your child about their day and celebrate their best efforts on the work they do, remember that Kindergarten is a “child’s garden.” Many times the process is more important than the product, and learning is accomplished by doing, touching, and experiencing. Encourage your child to recite a finger play or sing a song learned at school. Read to your child daily. A class calendar and newsletter will be available on this web page at the beginning of each month. Please refer to this calendar for important happenings in the classroom and in the school. We believe that working together as Teacher/Child/Parent will enhance your child’s learning experiences. If you have any questions or concerns throughout the year, please feel free to contact us at the school (519)766-0862 or send a note with your child in their Note Tote. We look forward to a wonderful, fun-filled school year!

The First Day of Kindergarten  []

__** OUR CLASSROOM SCHEDULE **__
 * **TIME** || **DAY 1** || **DAY 2** || **DAY 3** || **DAY 4** || **DAY 5** ||
 * **8:45 – 10:15**

**MRS. PIPE** **&** **MISS BROWN** || Bell rings; children put shoes in hall shoe cubbies; inside shoes on; unpack note totes; students proceed to learning centres/ morning bins or to journal writing

shoes in hall shoe cubbies; inside shoes on; unpack note totes; students proceed to learning centres/ morning bins or to journal writing || Bell rings; children put shoes in hall shoe cubbies; inside shoes on; unpack note totes; basket; students proceed to learning centres/ morning bins or to journal writing shoes in hall shoe cubbies; inside shoes on; unpack note totes; students proceed to learning centres/ morning bins or to journal writing
 * Small Group Instruction Time**
 * “Language Focus”** || Bell rings; children put
 * library books** in library
 * Small Group Instruction Time**
 * “Language Focus”** || Bell rings; children put

shoes in hall shoe cubbies; inside shoes on; unpack note totes; students proceed to learning centres/ morning bins or to journal writing
 * Small Group Instruction Time**
 * “Language Focus”** || Bell rings; children put

**9:35 – 10:25** ||^  ||^   ||^   || **Hand Washing** || **Tidy Time** **Hand Washing** || **Tidy Time** **Hand Washing** || **Tidy Time** **Hand Washing** || **Tidy Time** **Hand Washing** || Break || First Nutrition Break || First Nutrition Break || First Nutrition Break || First Nutrition Break || Math Focus **OR** || Group Learning Time/Bins Language Focus || **READING BUDDIES with** **MR. ROBINSON** || **PLANNING with Mrs. Anderson – MATH FOCUS** || Group Learning Time/Bins Math Focus || **Miss Brown** || **Quiet/Rest Time:** **Book Time** **Mrs. Pipe/Mrs. Metcalf Transition Time** || **Quiet/Rest Time:** **Book Time** **Mrs. Pipe/Mrs. Metcalf Transition Time** || **Quiet/Rest Time:** **Book Time** **Mrs. Pipe/Mrs. Metcalf Transition Time** || **Quiet/Rest Time:** **Book Time** **Mrs. Pipe/Mrs. Metcalf Transition Time** || **Quiet/Rest Time:** **Book Time** **Mrs. Pipe/Mrs. Metcalf Transition Time** || **MRS. Metcalf** **&** **MISS BROWN** || Group Learning Time Science/Social Studies/ Language Focus & Learning Centres || **Gym: 12:00 – 12:25** Group Learning Time Science/Social Studies/ Language Focus & Learning Centres || **PLANNING with Mrs. Anderson & Mrs. Patrick**
 * Small Group Instruction Time**
 * “Language Focus”** ||
 * ^  ||^   || **PLANNING with Mrs. Anderson – MATH FOCUS**
 * **10:15 – 10:25** || **Tidy Time**
 * 10:25 – 10:45 || First Nutrition
 * **10:45 – 11:10** || **Recess** || **Recess** || **Recess** || **Recess** || **Recess** ||
 * 11:10 – 11:45 || Group Learning Time/Bins
 * ^  || **PLANNING with Mr. Duncan every other week: Music Focus** ||^   ||^   ||^   ||^   ||
 * **11:45 – 12:15**
 * **11:45 – 12:15**
 * **12:15 – 12:50**
 * **12:15 – 12:50**

**Library12:00 – 12:25/** **Math 12:25 – 12:50** || Group Learning Time Science/Social Studies/ Language Focus & Learning Centres || **PLANNING with Mrs. Anderson**

**Gym: 12:00 – 12:25/** **Math 12:25 – 12:50** || Break || Second Nutrition Break || Second Nutrition Break || Second Nutrition Break || Second Nutrition Break || Sharing Time || Music and Movement Sharing Time || Music and Movement Sharing Time || Music and Movement Sharing Time || Music and Movement Sharing Time ||
 * ^  || **PLANNING with Mr. Duncan every other week: Music Focus** ||^   ||^   ||^   ||^   ||
 * **12:50 – 1:10** || Second Nutrition
 * **1: 10 – 1:35** || **Recess** || **Recess** || **Recess** || **Recess** || **Recess** ||
 * **1:35 – 2:15** || OUTDOOR PLAY || OUTDOOR PLAY || OUTDOOR PLAY || OUTDOOR PLAY || OUTDOOR PLAY ||
 * **2:15 – 2:50** || Music and Movement
 * **2:50 – 3:05** || **Prepare Backpacks for home time** || **Prepare Backpacks for home time** || **Prepare Backpacks for home time** || **Prepare Backpacks for home time** || **Prepare Backpacks for home time** ||
 * **3:05 – 3:15** || Read aloud, Reflection, Songs – wait for dismissal || Read aloud, Reflection, Songs – wait for dismissal || Read aloud, Reflection, Songs – wait for dismissal || Read aloud, Reflection, Songs – wait for dismissal || Read aloud, Reflection, Songs – wait for dismissal ||