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Questions about kindergarten? Catholic board has answers

Local school board hosting first-ever virtual kindergarten orientation session on Thursday, May 28
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Kindergarten orientation will look a little different this year.

On May 28, the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board will be hosting its first-ever virtual kindergarten Q&A session, which will be streamed live on their Facebook page and YouTube channels.

Kindergarten orientation traditionally happens annually in May, but with the COVID-19 pandemic preventing large gatherings and parents still having questions, board officials decided to meet in the middle this year.

“We’re having to adapt to reach out now,” said Pauline Stevenson, communications manager with the Catholic board. “Parents are used to going to the gym and having an orientation night... where we get to talk to them about what kindergarten looks like.

"We still want to do that, especially in this environment.”

The session will be geared to parents of kindergarten students attending any Catholic elementary school county-wide, will last for one hour and will aim to answer any questions parents of incoming kindergarteners have about the process.

A kindergarten teacher, a principal, a parent and a moderator will be present on the panel to answer questions.

“It’s tough, because parents have lots of questions. This might be their first child they’re sending off to school,” said Stevenson.

Stevenson estimates about 1,200 families have registered their children for kindergarten in the fall with the Catholic board.

“There are likely more that haven’t done that yet so we want to make sure we can reassure them, welcome them and get them geared up for kindergarten,” said Stevenson.

The orientation will take place Thursday, May 28 at 8 p.m.

Questions can be sent in advance through the board’s social media channels (Facebook and Instagram) or through a Google form, which will be going up on the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board’s website soon. There will also be an opportunity for parents to ask questions live.


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Jessica Owen

About the Author: Jessica Owen

Jessica Owen is an experienced journalist working for Village Media since 2018, primarily covering Collingwood and education.
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