Please access the documents under Related Information for more information on the Spanish Bilingual Program.  We hope you find the reading there to be helpful in understanding Kindergarten Education.

Registration for 2025-2026 Kindergarten and Grade 1 begins on January 13, 2025. Collingwood School is a Lottery school for Kindergarten and Grade 1 registrations. The lottery deadline occurs in February each year. For the 2025-26 school year, registrations submitted prior to the lottery deadline of Feb. 111, 2025, will be included in the lottery draws. All registrations received after Feb. 11, 2025, will be added to the callback list (based on the appropriate priority level) in the order they are received. Lottery Information

Parents are asked to follow the registration information on the CBE Website posted on January 13, 2025.

Thank you for choosing to register your child and Collingwood School.  It is an honour for us to be part of your child's first year of formal schooling.

Welcome to Kindergarten at Collingwood School

This page will provide answers to many of your questions. If you require further clarification, please do not hesitate to ask. 

We are looking forward to a wonderful school year!

What to Bring to School

Clothing 

Encourage your child to wear comfortable, “play clothes” in which they will feel free to run and roll in the gym and occasionally get messy with paint, playdoh or who knows what! 

Indoor running shoes – All children require a pair of non-marking runners to wear indoors for gym and classroom activities that he or she can put on and do up independently. 

Please label your child’s shoes, boots, mitts, coats, clothing, backpack and lunch kit.

Backpack- every child needs to bring a backpack to and from school everyday. 

Snacks

Each day we will take about 10 minutes to eat a snack and longer on Fridays. Every child should bring a nutritious snack. Some suggestions are:

•  half a sandwich
• granola bar
• fruit juice
• water
• crackers and cheese
• vegetables
• fruit leather
• fruit cup
• yogurt
• pretzels
• dried fruit

**** ALERT - Please do not include any nut products (including peanut butter and Nutella) as a snack, since a nut allergy is present in a number of our students. Contact through touch or breath with such a product could be life threatening. Your child’s teacher will update you with any other allergies in their classroom. Gracias! 

Toys 

Please do not send toys with your child to school. These items tend to be lost or damaged and are a distraction at school. 

School Supplies 

All school supplies will be provided by the school. There is Supply Fee along with Fieldtrip fees that will be charged for each student on your MYCBE Account. 

Communication 

The school sends out a weekly email with updates about upcoming school events. Kindergarten teachers will also communicate with families directly via email with information specific to kindergarten and a monthly newsletter. Teachers check their email everyday and will endeavor to respond to you in 24 hours. Teachers will not check their email during the school day as they are busy with students. If you have important information to share with the school regarding absences or transportation, please communicate directly with the school office at 4023-77-6180 or via email at collingwood@cbe.ab.ca.

Safety First

Your Child’s First Day At School 

Kindergarten classes are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. We are planning to have a "staggered entry" on the first two days where smaller cohorts of students come to school. Families will receive an email indicating whether they should attend on Tuesday or Wednesday. The first regular day of kindergarten and kindergarten bussing begins on Thursday, September 4, 2025. 

Regular School Day Entrance 

Children line up in front of the basement doors.

The kindergarten teacher will open the door and allow the children in.

Parking and Traffic Safety 

There are some visitor parking spots at the far end of the South Parking lot. Please do not park in the staff parking stalls in the South parking lot. Parking is also available along the park/Collingwood Drive - south of the school. The North Parking Lot is for school staff only. Note that permits are required to park on the west side of the street and tickets are often issued to violators. We encourage families to park along Collingwood Drive South of the school and walk through the playground rather than through the parking lot. The parking lot at St. Francis High School is reserved for their use. Please do not park or stop to drop off your child in the bus zone during school hours. Please ensure that you use crosswalks along the street. Please refrain from jaywalking or doing U-turns. Remember that children learn from their best role models, their parents. 

Note: The Drive-Through Loop is for students who do not require assistance with car seats, coats or backpacks. Parents are asked to remain in their vehicles. The South Parking Lot is for drop off ONLY! Kindergarten parents are asked to walk your children to their designated lineup area. 

Drop-off 

Kindergarten students must be handed off directly from an adult to the teacher. Do not leave your child on the playground/compound without your supervision. 

Supervision 

There will be adults supervising on the playground/compound 15 minutes prior to the start of school. Do not leave your child on the playground/compound if the Kindergarten Teachers are not yet on duty. Teachers are easily identified by their florescent yellow safety vests. 

Pick-up 

A.M. Students & P.M. Students: Pick up will be at the same entrance location.

Your child will be brought out to you at the end of their designated school time. Children will only be dismissed to the designated caregivers/daycare, as listed in your emergency contacts. Please ensure that anyone who may be picking up your child is on your emergency contact list. If your child is normally bussed at the end of the day, but you will be picking up them up on a specific day, please send an email to the office prior to the beginning of the school day. In case of last-minute emergencies, phone or email the office by 1:00pm, otherwise your child will be placed on the bus.

Bussed Students 

Children will be lined up, accounted for and walked to their bus by the teacher or a school assistant at the end of the school day. Be sure that you or your caregiver is on time to pick the child up at their designated bus stop. Buses must adhere to a strict schedule and cannot wait at the bus stop until you arrive. 

Attendance Procedures 

Regular, punctual attendance is important as it establishes a pattern that we hope will continue for the next 12 years of school. 

When your child will be absent from school please call the school and leave a message on the attendance line at 403-777-6180, extension “1” – available 24/7. When leaving a message please spell your child’s first and last name and speak slowly. 

For extended absences, please contact the school, as you will need to complete an Extended Absence form. 

When your child is late, he or she must report to the Office and receive a late slip. If you have accompanied your child to school, please go the office and sign them in. Your child will walk independently to their classroom.  

Medication 

If your child has any medical conditions or allergies including lactose/gluten intolerance or medical needs and requires medication during the school day, you will need to complete a Student Health Plan form. School staff are not permitted to administer medications without this form. If your child requires an inhaler or EpiPen, it is highly recommended that you provide the office with this medication and have your child keep this medication in a fanny pack or their backpack.

Vision and Hearing 

Please ensure your child has had a vision and hearing screening done within the last year. These are free of charge for children. 

Changes in Address/Phone Number for All Emergency Contacts 

Please keep the office staff and teachers updated on changes in address, phone numbers and living arrangements etc. In case of emergency, it is extremely important that the school be able to contact you. 

Birthdays 

Your child's birthday will be acknowledged at school. For health and safety reasons please do not send food or treats for the class. Those whose birthdays fall in July/August will be acknowledged on a special day in June.

Learning Activities 

Volunteers 

There are many opportunities for parents to volunteer to help the classroom teacher and the school. This includes volunteers for classroom helpers, field trips , fun lunches, sports day, skating, swimming, etc. All parents wishing to volunteer in the school, classroom or on Field Trips will be required to have a Police Security Clearance check done prior to volunteering in the classroom. The process is initiated through your MyCBE account under SchoolEngage (online Forms). More information on steps to obtain a volunteer clearance letter is detailed on the CBE Volunteer Page. Once you receive a clearance letter from the CPS you must upload that letter on school engage or email it to the school. The clearance check is valid for 5 years. In addition to the Police Security Check there is a volunteer registration form which must be completed online in school engage every year. 

When coming to the school to volunteer, please use the main doors to enter the school, sign in and wear an ID tag. Volunteers must be scheduled in advance with the teacher for any volunteering 

Scholastic Book Orders 

You will receive order forms from the Scholastic book company. Scholastic book orders are optional. The deadline for orders will be clearly stamped at the top of the order sheet. Payment is accepted by cheque or through Scholastic’s online Parent Pay Option.

Music & Physical Education 

Music will be integrated into the curriculum in addition to Music class with the Music teacher. The children will participate in physical education both in the gym and outside on the playground. Proper footwear is required. For this reason, we request that your child’s indoor shoes are running shoes and that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather everyday.

Spanish Vocabulary/Poems/Songs 

In September, you will receive a list of the monthly Spanish vocabulary. At the beginning of every month you will receive the kindergarten newsletter, as well as the words to Spanish songs. It is helpful for you to review and practice the Spanish vocabulary with your child on a regular basis. If you do not speak Spanish, Google Translate has a button you can push to hear the word pronounced correctly. Your child has the best opportunity for success in a bilingual program with your regular support at home in both English and Spanish. 

Home Learning 

There are many activities that parents can do at home to help support your child’s learning. The kindergarten team will send home a list of some suggested activities at the beginning of each month. It is a good idea to establish a regular home routine to support your child with their learning, reading, practicing Spanish vocabulary etc. One of the most important ways you can help develop a love of reading is to read with your child every day.

Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten 

Literacy:

• Read stories, make predictions and ask questions about characters or new vocabulary.
• Practice sounds – What word does the sounds /C//A//T/ make?
• Go for a walk and read the signs along the way. Look for specific letters.
• Practice the letters of the alphabet –out of order!
• Teach the meaning of the various signs (yield, stop, enter, poison, etc.).
• Sing! Recite nursery rhymes!
• Go to the public library and explore books in English and Spanish and register for their multiple children’s programs
• Calgary Public Library Events
• Explore Literacy Websites:
  - http://www.starfall.com
  - http://www.abcya.com/kindergarten_computers.htm

Math

• Count everything!   Count forwards and backwards.
• Play a dice or card game such as Go-Fish, Dominos, Snap, UNO or Clock Solitaire.
• Bake cookies – teach the different measurements and concepts such as “full”

Math Websites:

http://www.disfrutalasmatematicas.com/

http://www.poweroften.ca/

http://www.abcya.com/kindergarten_computers.htm 

Spanish

• Look at Spanish/ English books and have your child compare the words.
• Label objects around the house in Spanish
• Read the book “My first 100 words in Spanish”.
• Listen to Spanish music or watch shows in Spanish.
• Attend Latin American festivals or restaurants. Spanish Websites:

http://www.123teachme.com/learn_spanish/spanish_for_children http://www.youtube.com   

(Search for “Spanish for children, colores, formas, letras, canciones para niños en español etc.) 

Fine Motor Skills

• Do arts and crafts, card games, practice printing, drawing and cutting, play with PlayDoh & Lego.
• Practice exercises where the left side of the body has to cross to the right and vice versa. (i.e.: Touch your left knee with your right elbow) It sounds crazy but this type of exercise really does work!
• Enroll in sports that improve the strength of the upper body (swimming, gymnastics, yoga).
• Build a habit of putting toys and games away independently.
• Have your child practice writing their name in uppercase and lowercase, starting letters at the top. 

Health and Self Care

• Ensure your child has been to the doctor for a vision and hearing test within the last 12 months. These tests are FREE for children.
• Ensure your child is familiar with going to the washroom independently, including using toilet paper and hand-washing –both at home and in public washrooms.
• Practice getting dressed independently – including putting on shoes and zipping zippers.

School Hours for 2025-2026

Please visit our Bell Times page.