Kindergarten

Kindergarten at Muriel Martin

At Muriel Martin, we offer English and French Immersion Kindergarten, with both full and half-day programming available in each language. For full-day programming, students attend in their target language of instruction all day. For half day, we endeavour to provide morning and afternoon options, pending family interest and registration.

At present, we have five amazing Kindergarten teachers, two in English and three in French. Each classroom has their own entrance, bathroom, a common learning nook, and access to a shared Kinder kitchen.

Full day Kindergarten students have just over an hour long break in the middle of the day. For the first half of their break, they go outside for recess to play. The playground is otherwise empty at that time of day, so they’re not competing with the older students for access to the play structures or fields. During the second half of the break, they eat their lunches in their classrooms.

Detailed information regarding the school calendar, bell schedules, and Kindergarten fees can all be found under the Information tab on the website’s home page.

Transportation and Daycare

School bus transportation continues to be available for Kindergarten students, including mid-day pick up and drop off, for those families who live in our catchment area and qualify per the distance from school rules. Please contact district office at 780.460.3712 if you have questions about transportation eligibility. Some of the daycares in St. Albert will also transport students to and from the school. Muriel Martin has a SIGIS daycare that operates from our school, offering before and after school care, as well as during school care for half day Kindergarten students.

What do children learn in Kindergarten?

Early childhood is a significant period in human development. It is the time when children begin to develop and learn independence, decision-making abilities, creativity, early literacy and numeracy, socialization, verbal communication skills and feelings of self-worth! What young children learn at this stage will have a major impact on successful learning experiences in school, on personal development and on future participation in society.

How do young children learn at Muriel Martin?

• Young children are naturally curious and eager to learn. They are active learners who learn through a variety of means.
• Purposeful play is an important way that children learn.
• Educators and psychologists refer to play as the serious work of childhood.
• Children at play are highly motivated and capable of intense concentration.

In our Kindergarten classes, we strive to meet the needs of the individual, while providing many small group and larger group learning opportunities, preparing children for the challenges and experiences in their next 12 years of education.

Preparing your child for Kindergarten

1. Check your child’s health.
   • Is their eyesight good?
   • Does your child hear normally with both ears?
   • Is your child eating a healthy diet?
   • Is your child getting enough sleep?
2. Bring routine and predictability into their daily life. Establish regular bedtime routines and hours.
3. Allow your child to try things – experiment, encourage with patience and praise. This will help to give your child confidence to tackle new things at school.
4. Arrange challenges for your child which they are able to meet – they need to experience success.
5. Give your child the opportunity to organize their life and give your child responsibilities at home. Allow them to take responsibility for dressing.
6. Encourage your child to be independent and curious. Ensure that your child has spent time away from you in order to make their transition
   into Kindergarten easier.
7. Encourage play time – play extends your child’s knowledge of the world and how it works; shows them cause and effect; allows them to experience comparison; illustrates the benefit of trial and error; and shows the give and take of relationships with other people. Children learn in play how to manipulate their environment and test their growing skills – physical, intellectual, social – against the many demands of their environment. 
8. Help your child develop listening skills.
9. Teach your child, by your own example, how to deal with difficult situations and how to overcome problems. Talk about a problem you faced at work and how you solved it. Let your child hear you “think out loud” as you solve a problem in your home.
10. Teach your child their full name, name of town/city where you live, how to follow directions, to identify colours, shapes, numbers and letter names.
11. Spend time with your child – read to them; make a point of eating together at the table each night. Be there when your child wants to talk. Play games; limit television and the use of video games.
12. Do arts and crafts – provide opportunities for your child to use scissors, markers and crayons.
13. Give your child a proficiency in languages – read aloud, tell stories, take your child on excursions and talk about what you see, talk
    about language of the arts (music, rhythm, dance, drawing, poetry). Surround your child with books. Go to the library.
14. Praise your child's efforts, as well as accomplishments. Make your child feel important.
15. Be positive and enthusiastic about the Kindergarten experience.