Unprecedented times call for unprecedented solutions.
Hastings Prince Edward District School Board Superintendent of Education and Curriculum Services Tina Elliott told board members on Monday night during a virtual committee of the whole what the school board is doing to reach out to those families who have children entering kindergarten this fall.
Elliott stated they have updated their kindergarten promotion and orientation plan to engage incoming families.
She said under normal circumstances, families would visit the schools and meet some of the staff but right now that is not possible, prompting staff to come up with a new way to engage with families.
There will be the creation of school-based promotional videos for each kindergarten entry school, and school- based virtual meetings for currently registered and all potential incoming families.
Elliott told the board it is important for incoming students and their families to see the school and hear their voices to help promote and support a positive experience that is this milestone moment in a child’s educational life.
There will also be a learning support material package mailed to each registered family, a creation of a 360 degree virtual school tour and the distribution of a picture book by mail to each registered family.
The school board’s kindergarten website page and school videos and each individual school’s Google meeting date, time and invitation link will be made live on the school board website and school-specific websites by May 25.
Learning support material mailing will take place by May 29, the virtual tours will be posted to the school board website by June 5 and picture book mailing will occur by June 12.
Elliott says this is a new approach to the first point of entry and the need to connect to families with incoming students is critical and the board can do their very best to make the new students feel welcome and cared for.
