Preparing for 2023-24 school year
Believe it or not, we are well into the planning stages for the 2023-24 school year. Please take a few minutes to read through the information below in order to help us with a smooth transition.
Is your family moving?
If your family is moving out of the St. John’s boundary we need to know in the main office. Students are expected to be enrolled in the school boundary which they live. Please contact the main office to let us know your new address and we can help you locate the new school for your child. You will need to contact the new school directly to register your child.
It is critical that we know this information as soon as possible as student enrollment impacts our staffing for next school year. Thank you for calling us as soon as possible.
If you are moving but your new address is still in the St. John’s boundary we need to have your new address on file at school. Please contact us in the main office so we can update your child’s information. It is critical that we have accurate contact information for each student in the school. Thank you for your help.
Registration for 2023-24
We are still accepting registrations for all new students for the 2023-24 school year. If you have a child who is not yet registered please contact the office immediately. We need to know as soon as possible so we have the correct number of teachers hired to start the year. If you have friends or family who have not yet registered for next year, please encourage them to contact the office.
Class Requests for 2023-24
Preparing class lists is a process that involves weeks of work to ensure the needs of all our learners are met in an equitable manner. Lists are fluid documents that will, no doubt, change several times from now until the beginning of school in September. We also know that over the past few years, class lists have continued to change throughout September as enrollment fluctuates.
As St. John’s CES continues to grow and diversify, we will have many new students join our community each school year. This is an opportunity for your child to broaden their circle of friends and include new members in our amazing community. Our goal is to place each child where they will achieve success academically while balancing social development. A balanced class reflects the diversity and needs of our school community and all of our students.
A great deal of thought and reflection goes into the placement of each child. For September 2023, we will take into consideration the needs of over 460 students when making decisions around class placements. In addition, we must adhere to Board and Ministry of Education requirements for class sizes. Listed below are some criteria we use to build classes:
- a balance of academic abilities, interests, and learning needs
- social blending to ensure a learning environment that is inclusive and diverse
- individual learner profiles are a priority at the school level
Hopefully, this explanation makes it clear that the process for creating class lists is not a simple one, nor is it undertaken lightly. Since it is very difficult to honour requests from parents, as well as make the most prudent decisions for all students in our care, we will not be accepting classroom requests for the 2023-2024 school year. We ask you to respect that our professional judgement on classroom placements is in the best interests of all students at St. John’s.
As a parent or guardian, the best thing you can do to prepare your child for next year’s class assignment is assure them they will be in a safe, nurturing, inclusive learning environment. There will be both familiar and new faces in each classroom setting. We have a team of exceptional educators and support staff who are skilled and passionate about creating dynamic and welcoming learning environments for all learners in their care. We will be sharing classroom assignments with families as we head into the Labour Day weekend.
Kindergarten Class Requests
Some families have asked for an assurance their child will have the same teacher for Year 2 of Kindergarten. Please know there will be changes to our Kindergarten classrooms for a number of reasons including staffing changes at the school. Once our staffing is finalized for the 2023-24 school year we will share updates with the community. You should be prepared for your child to be welcomed into a classroom with new friends and educators for September 2023.
The information in the post above about class lists absolutely applies to Kindergarten, as well. A very important consideration for us this year is balancing the number of “new to school” friends with those who have some classroom experience and are already familiar with school routines. The Kindergarten Program, 2016 ministry document notes,
“Children arrive in Kindergarten as unique individuals shaped by their particular cultural and social background, socio-economic status, personal capabilities, and day-to-day experiences, and at different stages of development. All of these factors influence their ability to reach their full potential. Experiences during the early years strongly influence their future physical, mental, and emotional health, and their ability to learn.
For these reasons, children’s early experiences at school are of paramount importance. Quality early-learning experiences have the potential to improve children’s overall health and well-being for a lifetime. By creating, fostering, and sustaining learning environments that are caring, safe, inclusive, and accepting, educators can promote the resilience and overall well-being of children. The cognitive abilities, skills, and habits of mind that characterize lifelong learners have their foundation in the critical early years.”
Our Kindergarten friends have shown us repeatedly this year they are resilient and adaptable. Please trust that we will make decisions that respect each child’s readiness for change, classroom leadership opportunities, and personal growth and skill development when making our Kindergarten class lists. We are truly blessed to have an outstanding team of Kindergarten educators who are excited to welcome both new and familiar faces to their classrooms in September.
A Parent’s Guide to Full Day Kindergarten
A Parent’s Guide to Play based learning
A Parent’s Guide to Literacy and Mathematics in Full Day Kindergarten
Finally, our board’s vision statement is rooted in all of our class placement decisions: