Kindergarten at Westmount Charter School

Please note: the Kindergarten admission process has been reviewed and significant changes have been made for 2012-2013, as follows:

1. Kindergarten is becoming part of our programming for gifted learners.
2. Enrollment in Kindergarten, which used to be 'first come, first served' is now going to be based on a screening of students, based on profiles provided by parents and other nominators.
3. Siblings will continue to have the first opportunity for Kindergarten spaces, HOWEVER, the siblings MUST meet the screening criteria described in #2 above.
4. Students who are admitted into the 2012-2013 Kindergarten class will be assessed in March 2013 for entrance into grade one. Enrollment in Westmount's Kindergarten program does not guarantee enrollment in grade one, but Westmount's 2012-2013 Kindergarten students will be given first priority in 2013-2014 placement decisions.

Days and Times
At Westmount we offer families the option of full days, Monday-Wednesday-alternate Fridays or Tuesday-Thursday-alternate Fridays. We do not offer a half-day program. The Friday schedule is clearly laid out in the school year calendars on this website: Mon-Wed are "A" days, Tue-Thur are "B" days.

A few details about our 2011-2012 pattern:

• Classes begin at 8:45 AM and end at 3:35 PM. Staff are available to supervise students from 8:20 AM-4:00 PM only. Parents are to make every effort to pick up children at 3:35 PM.
• Lunch is from 11:45 AM to 12:25 PM, including a recess time.
• Kindergarten classes have a recess time separate from grade 1-4 students.
• To respect the needs of children with life-threatening food allergies, all Westmount students are to refrain from bringing foods containing nuts or nut products to school.
  

In order to promote student security, all visitors to the school, including Westmount parents, are required to obtain a Westmount photo ID badge, or sign in at the entrance to receive a visitor's badge. Parents picking up their children at day's end are asked to wait outside - in the first couple of weeks you will learn which door your child will be using at day's end.

Program Philosophy
Emphasis on the total child
Preparation for Grade One
Development of: Multiple Intelligences, Social skills, Self-discipline, Self-respect, Curiosity, Character, Co-ordination, Self-awareness, Self-confidence, Initiative, Independence
Math and Language skills and concepts integrated into the Kindergarten day.

In our Kindergarten we:
Explore, examine, and enjoy literature
Develop vocabulary
Experiment with words and letters
Sort, count, extend patterns
Explore the community through field trips
We hope our students view school as an exciting and wondrous place to be, where learning is a fun and fascinating life long journey.

Parent Volunteers are warmly welcomed in our classrooms, but volunteers are expected to obtain a security clearance. We encourage an open and supportive working relationship between home and school.

Transportation
Bussing is available at cost (see link on right hand of web page) for kindergarten students living outside the 2.4km radius of the school.

Staggered Entry
Students who have been accepted into our Kindergarten program will be receiving a letter from one of our Kindergarten teachers, indicating which "staggered entry" day he/she will be attending. Some of the students will come on the first day, some will come the second day, some will come the third day, all will come the fourth day.

15 December 2011

Kindergarten Links

The 2012-2013 Kindergarten application process is now underway, click here for details. We are now FULL for the current 2011-12 year and do not keep a wait list for future years.

As with all publicy-funded kindergarten programs in Alberta, the birthday cut-off for 2012-2013 Kindergarten applicants will be February 29, 2008. Children born later than February 29, 2008 will need to wait until subsequent school years to apply for kindergarten.

Click here to download our Kindergarten brochure!

As a publicly-funded program for gifted learners, we do not charge tuition. For a schedule of our school fees, click here.

Click here to see the structure of the Westmount Admin team. Mr Hal Curties is your first contact for Kindergarten, and Dr Shelley Robinson is Principal of both campuses.

Westmount's Kindergarten is housed at the Elementary (Parkdale) campus, 728-32 St NW T2N 2V9.

Kindergarten Supplies 2011-2012

Most kindergarten supplies are provided by the school. For the detailed supplies list, click here!