August 29, 2025

Dear Kindergarten Families,

Opening Information & Welcome

Welcome to our Kindergarten family! I’m so excited to welcome you to Andrew Sibbald School.

A Bit about Me

I’m excited to be part of your child’s learning journey! I have several years of experience working in early childhood education, with a strong background in both early and special education. I’ve had the joy of teaching Kindergarten, Grade 1, and early development programs, supporting children at different stages of their growth. My approach is rooted in creating a nurturing, inclusive, and engaging environment where every child feels valued and encouraged to thrive. I'm passionate about building strong foundations in learning and fostering a love for discovery from the very start.

Learning This Year

This year, as a staff, we have chosen the anchor text, “I am We: A Book of Community” by Susan Verde. We are excited to see where this learning takes us as we start up the school year together. Please check out these links for information related to the curriculum students will learn this year:

Kindergarten at a Glance – New Learn Alberta

https://curriculum.learnalberta.ca/cdn/parent-space/prints/at-a-glance-ke-en.pdf

Open House, Friday, August 29th

Monday/Wednesday Class 1:00 – 1:45 p.m.

Tuesday/Thursday Class 1:45 – 2:30 p.m.

We look forward to inviting families into the school for a quick meet-and-greet on Friday afternoon. This open house is optional and very informal.

First Day of School Procedures

Morning Arrival – Tuesday, September 2 & Wednesday, September 3

On these mornings, I will be outside on the east side compound (parking lot side, far door) to greet students at 7:50 a.m. When the bell rings at 8:00 a.m., students and I will head inside together to begin our day. At this time, students will say goodbye to their parents before entering the school.

Please make sure your child has the following items on the first day of school:

• Labelled lunch kit and a small snack
• Labelled water bottle
• Labelled indoor shoes for the gym and classroom

Backpack

Thank you in advance for leaving all toys and electronics at home. All cell phones and watches that connect to the internet need to follow the “Away for the Day” policy outlined here by CBE.

At the end of the day, your child will leave out the same door that they entered in the morning. Dismissal is at 2:30 p.m. I will bring students to these doors to meet their ‘adult’ unless your child is attending Rec House or We Wonders. If they are attending one of these programs, school staff will ensure they meet these caregivers.

Before and After School Care

If your child attends Wee Wonder Before and After School Care or Rec House, please be sure to inform me by sending an email, and ensure your child is also aware that they will be attending.

Classroom Communication

I will communicate learning updates and celebrations on our classroom blog this year. Our blog will be updated weekly and will be published on Sunday evening inside the “Monday Message” sent out by the office.

Please reach out to me at jlhayes@cbe.ab.ca email around any questions or concerns. Ongoing parent communication is important. Email is checked and responded to Monday-Friday. If there is a timely need to be in touch, please reach out to the school office at 403-777-6830.

Upcoming Learning Opportunities (already confirmed)

• Flag Football & Ball Hockey Residency
• Sound Kreations Dance Residency
• Trickster Theatre Residency

Volunteers

I value parent volunteers and look forward to having parents support all students inside the classroom community once our classroom routines are established, and we need parent support. All parents are required to have a valid police clearance in place & have completed the online CBE Annual Volunteer form.

 Parent volunteers will be utilized throughout the year for:

• Walking field trips to Fish Creek Park
• Offsite activities (field trips)
• Special events or projects that are happening inside the classroom

Please look for upcoming information from the office regarding volunteer clearance processes.

Allergies

Please note that due to a severe nut allergy in the class, food items with nuts are not permitted to be sent to school.