Welcome to Kindergarten and the Gordon community! This is an exciting time for your child, your family, and our school staff. We are excited to begin the school year with your child in September. To help each child begin the year successfully, our youngest learners will have a GradualEntry Schedule. The first day of gradual entry will be onWednesday, September 4^th. 

During gradual entry, students will begin with a shortened day, with a smaller group of students. Over the first five school days, we will increase their time at school towards a full day. During this time, children will have an opportunity to get to know the kindergarten teachers, school staff, socialize, play, and explore the different classrooms.

During the afternoons of September 11^th-12^th, families who would like to, are welcome to sign up for a time to come in (5 families at a time) to see your child’s classroom, meet some other families and provide your child’s teacher with any further information not included in the Kindergarten Questionnaire. A signup link will be sent home on September. 8^th. We will also have an open house on September 15^th where we will go over what to expect this year in kindergarten and answer any general questions. 

Attached to this email you will also find a link to a Kindergarten Survey. This is an opportunity for you to tell us about your child and how to best support them in the coming year.

Thank you for your support as we gently transition our students through gradual entry. We are looking forward to getting to know the new kindergarten students and their families.  

What to bring: for gradual entry all your child will need is a snack and a water bottle. Once they are placed in their kindergarten classroom please send them with a Backpack (large enough to hold their lunch bag and their book bag which they will get from their teacher), water bottle (no screw tops), change of clothes in Ziplock bag (underwear, shirt, pants and sock – ALL Labeled), indoor shoes (no laces unless they can tie them independently, they need to be able to run in them). All other supplies will be provided by the school. 

 If you haven’t already please fill out the kindergarten survey to let us know a little about your child https://forms.office.com/r/LbV3JZQ4GY

Please see attached Welcome to Kindergarten document. 

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s transition to kindergarten, please contact our Principal, Sharlene Steele at (604) 713-5403 or email at ssteele@vsb.bc.ca. We look forward to welcoming you and your child to General Gordon. 

Warmly,

The Kindergarten Team & Sharlene Steele, Principal