What is Prekindergarten?

Ѐcole Connaught Community School

        4210 4^th Avenue Regina, SK        S4T 0H6        Phone: 791-8620

                                                                           Fax: 751-2113

                                                                           E-Mail:   connaught@rbe.sk.ca

                                                                           Web Page: http://connaught.rbe.sk.ca  

                                                                                                                              

Regina Public Schools
Prekindergarten Program: Overview

What is prekindergarten?

• Prekindergarten in Saskatchewan is a shared responsibility of the province, school divisions, community partnerships, and families and is operated by school divisions.
• Prekindergarten incorporates effective educational practices to support young children’s social-emotional, physical, intellectual, and spiritual development and to lay the foundation for school success from professional and qualified staff with early learning experience and education.
• Meaningful family engagement and relationship building is key to children’s success. Active participation of parents/guardians and other family members provides the opportunity to access a variety of educational resources and supports.

How is prekindergarten structured?

• Prekindergarten is targeted primarily to vulnerable children aged three and four years old and their families. Each program has one teacher, one associate, and up to 16 children. Prekindergarten is not a universal program with eligibility dependent upon level of vulnerability and spaces available.
• Prekindergarten teachers and associates employ educational practices that are appropriate to the individual and to the age of the children. The teacher and associate model language and behaviour, encourage and extend learning, and challenge children through play, exploration, and development of readiness skills that support learning.
• Prekindergarten students’ first and last day of school as well as progress report dates may differ from other grade levels. This allows schools to accommodate prekindergarten selection and progress reporting processes.
• Prekindergarten operates on a slightly different daily schedule than other grade levels with prekindergarten students attending a half-day of school from either 8:53-11:45am or 12:45-3:37pm Monday through Thursday. This allows for schools to accommodate family engagement activities and teacher planning, reflection and professional development on Fridays.

How are children selected for prekindergarten?

• A child can be referred by outside agencies or parents/guardians can apply for their child to attend. Application forms are available online or at schools which offer prekindergarten programming. Completed application forms are to be submitted to the child’s home-school.
• Applications are reviewed and home visits (family visits) for children demonstrating high levels of vulnerability will be scheduled. Home visits (family visits) are scheduled for mid to late June and/or early to mid September.
• In an effort to prepare for home visits (family visits) it is requested that:
• animals be enclosed/kenneled in another area/outside
• space be available to accommodate portable seating which the teacher and associate may bring with them
• offer of food and beverage be limited due to appointment schedule
• a call be made to the school if teacher and associate have not arrived within 30 minutes of scheduled visit
• a call be made in advance to reschedule if cancellation required
• A selection committee composed of, but not limited to, the prekindergarten teacher and associate, administrator, and other school-based professionals review applications and home-visit (family visit) observations. Based on a common set of vulnerability factors, as outlined by the province, children demonstrating highest levels of vulnerability and who would benefit most are selected for enrollment.
• Parents/guardians are notified, by mid to late September, whether their child has or has not been selected for enrollment. Children selected are registered. Once children have been selected, children not selected and who demonstrate high levels of vulnerability will be placed on a waiting list.
• If space becomes available mid year, applications, home visit (family visit) observations, and waiting list will be reviewed by a selection committee with additional home visits (family visits) scheduled if needed. Parents/guardians of children selected, having demonstrated highest levels of vulnerability, will be contacted and children selected will be registered.

What is the role of prekindergarten parents/guardians and family members?

• The central responsibility and advocacy for the development and well-being of children is that of parents/guardians and family members. Therefore, parents/guardians and family member commitment and involvement is a key component of the prekindergarten program and, for vulnerable children in particular, an important factor in their success.
• Expected role includes, but is not limited to:

a.    Ensuring their child attends regularly.

b.    Providing transportation for their child both to and from school on time.

c.    Participating in home-visits (family visits) which occur two to three times a year at the home, school, or mutually agreed upon location and provide opportunity for parents/guardians, family members, and the teacher and associate to get to know one another and share information about the child.

d.    Attending student progress reporting meetings (i.e. parent-student-teacher interviews and celebrations of learning).

• Encouraged role includes, but is not limited to:

a.    Participating in planned educational opportunities and family days planned to support prekindergarten students, parents/guardians, and family members.

b.    Extending opportunities for their child's learning in their home.

c.    Providing information, input, and advice into program direction and regarding their child’s successes, needs, and interests (i.e. informal conversation, surveys and questionnaires, and School Community Council).

d.    Providing continuity between the home and the school.