Newsletter #1 - September 14th, 2020 |
School Goals:
- Social Responsibility (Health and Wellness)
- Numeracy (Students First)
- Student Engagement (Students First)
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Dear Falkland Families,
Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year at Falkland School. I hope that you had a relaxing, safe and enjoyable summer. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed seeing all the students return last week. Our Falkland School staff prides itself on our sense of team, community and commitment to the success of your children. It is an honour to serve as Principal at Falkland School and work with your children.
At this time, we welcome 18 new kindergarten students and 8 new students to the community which brings our total student enrollment to 115. A special "Welcome to the Wolfpack" to these students. We wish our 9 students heading off to PVSS best wishes as they transition into grade 9 at the high school. We also wish our 2 students, along with their families, who have moved to other communities, the very best. You all will be missed.
Based on our current enrollment, I am happy to report that the district approved a 6th division. The School District will look at our enrollment numbers again at the end of September to ensure our numbers continue to warrant a 6th division. If our enrollment numbers do not warrant a 6th division, we will look at re configuring our school into 5 divisions at that time.
There are several ways we keep parents informed of the happenings at our school: e-newsletters, weekly emails, our website, and Facebook. Posts on our website automatically go on our Facebook page so please LIKE or FOLLOW US on Facebook. Please feel free to email me or Dani, our School Secretary if you require information or have questions. We can also be reached by phone 250-379-2320 between 8:00 am and 2:30 pm.
School fees, which include school supplies for classroom use, are due on Wednesday, September 30th. We will have school e-transfers available, hopefully by next week. Your prompt payment is appreciated as it allows us to replenish our budget quickly for the purchase of learning resources needed for the start of the 2020-2021 school year. Click here for our fee schedule. Combined fees include $56 for Division 1 (school supplies, performance fee, agenda and lock), $53 for Division 2 (school supplies, performance fee, agenda) and $45 for Division 3, 4, 5, and 6 (school supplies, performance fee only). The fee for school supplies continues to be $35. Fees are due by September 30th please.
While there is information reiterated in this e-newsletter about mask wearing, arrival and pick up procedures, morning play areas, recess and lunch play areas, the focus of this e-newsletter will be the USUAL important information at start up for students and parents at our school. While much of this information is the same as what was provided in past school years, please ensure you re-familiarize yourself with them so you can help your child find success.
As always, I welcome your thoughts, questions, suggestions, or any concerns regarding all aspects of Falkland School.
Mrs. Cull
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Mrs. Cull will be teaching music this school year to students in Division 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Although Mrs. Cull encourages parents to pop in to see her to discuss matters, an appointment made in advance will guarantee her availability. The opportunity to address matters promptly is ideal in any problem solving scenario. A complete list of our 2020 - 2021 staff and their roles can be found here. |
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Welcome to Joe Menghini, our new Custodian. The successful candidate for the Division 4 teacher, part time teaching position for Division 2 and Explorations as well as the Indigenous Support Worker position will be announced once the hiring process is complete. |
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Bell Schedule 2020 - 2021 |
We are required to provide a minimum amount of instructional hours in the school year. In kindergarten, the minimum hours are 859. This is less than other grades in order to accommodate a gradual kindergarten entry. In grades 1 - 7, the minimum hours are 878. In grade 8, the minimum hours are 952.
The number of minutes per day is dependent on the number of calendar days there are in the school year. In order to meet the minimum requirements, we added 7 minutes extra to each school day. Also, in order to provide district wide agreed upon time for morning and afternoon instruction, our break times have been adjusted.
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Please refer to our bell schedule for the 2020-2021 school year. In order to promote a classroom community in Division 1 (home of grade 8s) all students in the class follow the schedule set out for the grade 8 students. This helps to build a more cohesive classroom culture. Click here to access the 2020-2021 bell schedule. |
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Click here to access the 2020-2021 SD 83 calendar containing statutory holidays and professional development days. Click here to access a list of upcoming event dates and times for Falkland School. |
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At this time our current configuration consists of six divisions with 115 students. Staff work very hard, given the constraints of class size and composition, on a variety of scenarios to best meet the educational needs of our students school wide. |
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When one grade is split into two classrooms, we work hard as a staff to consider the best learning environment for your children. Our goal is to create balanced classrooms taking into account social emotional factors, friendship issues, sibling issues, class size, and then the strengths and needs for the overall composition of the class. Academic reasons are also considered, however, learning outcomes from all the grade levels in a class will be addressed. Providing a rich, meaningful educational experience is important in every classroom. We know that change is difficult, but your trust in our staff and their rationale in student placement is important to us and much appreciated. Thank you to the parents who contacted me in June to provide input about their child's placement.
Division 6 (Grade K )
Division 5 (Grade 1 and 2)
Division 4 (Grade 2 and 3)
Division 3 (Grade 3 and 4)
Division 2 (Grade 5 and 6)
Division 1 (Grade 6, 7 and 8)
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Our next PAC meeting is on Wednesday, September 16th on TEAMS. Elections will be taking place for several of the following positions:
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Directors
Student Planning Council
DPAC Rep
Hot Lunch Coordinator
All parents are welcome. If you would like to receive an invitation, please send your email address to Adina Clements, clements.am@hotmail.ca.
I know some parents experienced challenges signing into TEAMS as themselves but Mrs. Cull is hoping to have this resolved by then. Fingers crossed.
Please contact Adina Clements, President (250-463-5750), Megan Jackson, Vice President (250-379-2527), or Shelly Cull (250-833-2806 or 250-379-2320) to discuss ways you can get involved and contribute to your child's school experience.
PAC has their first fundraiser of the school year already in motion. Orders are due on Thursday, October 1st and delivery will be Wednesday, October 14th.
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When you advocate on behalf of your child, the way in which you express your concerns has an effect on the outcome. Click here to learn more about the steps to follow when you have a concern. You can access the parent brochure here.
It is important to address concerns in a timely manner so they can get solved and a common understanding can be achieved. It is important that students perceive staff and parents working together as partners in supporting their learning.
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Falkland School Routines and Procedures |
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Supervision
Please note there is no supervision at the school prior to 8:00 am and after 2:27 pm when our bus leaves.
Students should not arrive to school prior to 8:00 am.
MORNING: Breakfast Club is open to all students each morning in their class room. If students need breakfast we will arrange to have breakfast delivered to them in their class.
AFTER SCHOOL: Students still at the school at 2:27 pm will be asked to head for home or wait inside near the office for pick up. Due to the volume of phone calls at the end of the day, the phone in the office is not available for students to make after school arrangements. Please ensure after school plans are in place in advance for students. We are more than happy to deliver a message to your child regarding after school arrangements if necessary. No unregistered students are permitted to ride the bus home with friends.
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Student Use of Office Phone |
Students are able to access the office phone to make calls home if deemed necessary by the classroom teacher. Phone passes are provided by the classroom teacher and we prefer calls are made home during the break times. Due to the amount of calls at the end of the day, students are not permitted to use the phone to make social arrangements. The arrangements are best made in advance. |
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If you need to reach your child during the day while at school, please call the office and leave a message if no one picks up. Our school secretary will deliver the message to your child. Please do not leave messages regarding transportation after 1:30 pm as we cannot guarantee we will be able to get the message to your child before the end of the day. |
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Arriving to School - Pick Up and Drop Off |
WALKING: Students are expected to enter and leave the school grounds by using one of the three openings in our chain linked fence. Please DO NOT have your child enter using the parking lot entrance at any time. Students are expected to use pathways and avoid walking through the parking lot.
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Please remember our walkways are for walking only and traveling to designated play areas as outline in our September Start Up Plan here. Because the individuals accessing the walkways are from various Learning Groups/Cohorts, physical distancing is expected for all students and adults while on the walkways. |
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BY VEHICLE: Due to limited parking for staff, we ask that parents do not enter the parking lot to drop off their child, unless of course you plan on staying. It is encouraged that parents drop their children off on the school side of Tuktakamin Road near one of the three openings in our chain linked fence. Students are expected to enter the school grounds immediately using the openings in our chain linked fence, not the parking lot entrance please.
BY BIKES/SCOOTERS/SKATEBOARDS: Students are expected to dismount their bikes/scooters/skateboards at one of the three openings in our chain linked fence and walk their bikes/scooters/skateboards along the pathways. Helmets must be worn. Bikes must be locked up at the bike racks. Scooters and skateboards can be stored in the office if there is no room in the classroom. Students are not allowed to ride their bikes/scooters/skateboards on school grounds during the school day. Students are asked to walk their bikes/scooters/skateboards along the pathway to one of the openings in our chain linked fence to leave the school ground at the end of the day.
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Once students arrive to school, they have been instructed to place their back packs in their designated line up and proceed to their designated morning play area. Line up areas have temporary markers to provide a visual reminder of our expectation to minimize physical distance.
Students are instructed to walk to their play areas using the walk ways (to keep out of areas belonging to different learning groups/cohorts) and keep physically distanced while on the walk ways. The expectation for students within the same learning group/cohort, while inside or outside the school is minimizing physical contact.
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To learn more about our designated play areas, including line up areas for end of day, click here. Our recess and lunch play areas are outlined below. |
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Designated Recess and Lunch Play Areas |
Our areas for play are different at recess and lunch as we are able to incorporate the far field as an additional space. Please see our weekly schedule below. |
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Students k-5: Masks will never be required for students in elementary K-5 (even on buses), unless they become symptomatic in the school day. In our Stage 2 Return to School Plan and SD 83 Health and Safety Plan, masks for k-5 is a optional and remains a choice. Parents please talk to your child about their personal preferences for mask wearing at school. The newest information from BCCDC and Ministry of Health (August 11) is that masks are not recommended for k-5 due to the increased likelihood they will touch their face and eyes, as well as require assistance to properly put on and take off their mask (requiring increased close personal contact from the school staff). SD 83 has provided disposable masks to schools and these have been provided to teachers in case students choose to wear a mask or become symptomatic. If parents choose to send reusable masks to school for students k-5, please talk to your child about caring for their mask. A baggie can be provided by the classroom teacher.
Students Grade 6/7/8: Masks must be worn by students in middle school (Gr. 6-8) when there is potential for coming in contact with individuals from other cohorts/learning groups and physical distancing may not be possible (eg. high traffic areas like hallways, on the way to the washroom, and buses). Masks are not required outside as this environment is considered low risk and there are greater opportunities to physical distance from individuals not in their learning group/cohort. If your middle school aged child cannot tolerate a mask, please discuss this matter with the School Principal. If your child did not come to school with a mask, one has been provided to them.
Staff: Masks must be worn by all staff when working outside their assigned learning group/cohort and physical distancing is not possible. Masks must be worn when there is potential for coming in contact with individuals from other cohorts/learning groups (eg. high traffic areas like hallways). Face shields may also be worn by some staff at our school, like guest teachers and those working in multiple learning groups/cohorts.
EVERYONE: Staff and students 6-8 may choose to wear masks in their assigned learning group/cohort, however, this is not required. Students in k-5 may also choose to wear a mask at the choice of the parent. If students require a baggie, to store their reusable masks in, one can be provided by the teacher. Students k-8 choosing to wear a reusable mask will be encouraged to take their reusable masks home for washing. Parents, your help to ensure your child's reusable mask is cared for at home is appreciated. SD 83 will soon be providing reusable masks to schools. More information about how these will be distributed will be forthcoming.
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Parent Access to School Grounds |
At this time, parents are asked to remain outside of child care spaces, including our playground. Signs, like that pictured, are at all entrances to our playgrounds. At drop off and pick up time, please ensure that you remain behind the fence and physically distance from others. If you feel you must enter (eg. late drop off or early pick up), please ensure you are physically distancing from all children (other than your own) and adults. If you would like to enter the building, please pre-arrange your visit with the Principal. 250-379-2320. Many thanks for your cooperation with this.
Parents are encouraged to continue maintain contact their child's classroom teacher if they have questions about their child's learning. Face to face meetings can continue, please prearrange your visit with Mrs. Cull to ensure that our procedures for visitors are adhered to.
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Leaving Early and Arriving Late - please check in at the office |
Falkland School is a closed campus which means that once students arrive at school they must remain on school grounds for the rest of the day. Students are not permitted to leave school grounds during the instructional day, unless accompanied by their parent. If you need to pick your child up early or are arriving late, after the first bell, please ensure you contact the office to ensure our sign in and out procedure for visitors is followed.
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Use of Computer, Internet and Personal Devices |
Wi-Fi is available throughout the school and can be accessed on personal devices. In order for students to access it on their personal device, parents must give their consent on Parent Connect and students on Student Connect after agreeing to the Digital Citizenship Policy. Students are not permitted to share their login password or use another student's login and password to sign in. |
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We support the use of personal devices for educational use in our older grades. However, if students choose to bring their device to school, the school is not responsible if it gets lost, broken or stolen. We encourage students in our younger grades to leave all technology at home. |
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If students bring technology to school, it should not be visible at any time during the school day, including recess and lunch. Personal devices should be kept in backpacks or lockers (Div 1) unless they have the expressed consent and supervision of their teacher for its educational use in class. |
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Smoking/Tobacco/Vaping Products |
Healthy school and workplace environments are essential to the quality of learning and working. In accordance with School District policy, Falkland School and its grounds are smoke-free (including our parking lot while in your vehicle) at all times - evenings and weekends. The use or possession of tobacco or vapour products by any student is a Bottom Line Behaviour and is immediately referred to school administration where, as with all bottom line behaviours, School District Policy, 1030.10, Student Suspensions, will be implemented. Please see information regarding our Student Code of Conduct here. |
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First Aid and Administration of Medication |
Serious first aid will be administered by staff with First Aid Training. In the event of a serious injury or illness, parents will be contacted. If parents cannot be reached then the emergency contact person you identified will be contacted. |
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If your child has a medical condition and has been prescribed medication that needs to be administered during the school day, please contact the office to complete the required forms. We are unable to administer any medication without the required documentation in place. Please do not send medications to school, prescription or otherwise, with your child, unless it is part of a school medical plan developed in collaboration with the school principal. |
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Peanuts are Allowed at School |
We did not receive notice of any life threatening peanut allergies this school year. So until such time that we do, students ARE allowed to bring food containing peanuts to school. |
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Thanks to the continued support of the Rotary Club, we are able to keep our breakfast and lunch top up program in place for the 2020-2021 school year. Donations of eggs, milk, bread, yogurt, fruit, cereal and other healthy options for breakfast are welcome as well. Students in need of breakfast will have their breakfast delivered to their classrooms. Full bellies make for better learning. |
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Spray deodorant and perfumes are not permitted to be used in the school due to potential allergic reactions from students and staff. We ask that students and guests in the school be mindful, before entering our building, of the impact strong smells have on others and avoid the use of strong perfumes. Thank you! |
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Students are expected to have a pair of indoor shoes available to wear while inside the building only. Non marking running shoes are preferred so they can be used in the gymnasium during PE. This helps to keep students safe and our school much cleaner. |
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Thank you for your cooperation. In case of emergencies, shoes must be worn at all times, sock feet are not permitted. |
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Nutrition and Healthy Choices |
There is an established link between good nutrition, healthy development and academic achievement. In accordance with School District policy, Falkland School supports and promotes healthy nutrition. This is a responsibility shared with parents. We will continue to educate students about the benefits of eating nutritious foods and encouraging nutritious food choices. |
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To this end, we ask that you not send foods/drinks with large amounts of sugar to school. Please do not send your child to school with candy or pop or pop like drinks, such as ice tea, some flavoured carbonated and non-carbonated waters, including vitamin water, sports drinks, etc. Did you know there can be as much sugar in fruit juice as a can of pop? We kindly request you send your child to school with water in a reusable water bottle. Water is recommended as the drink of choice in the new Canadian Food Guide 2019. |
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In the 2018-2019 school year, our Me to We Leadership group started a We Go Green initiative to help our students learn ways to reduce their impact on the environment. |
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A reminder that this school year, due to COVID-19, students have been instructed to take their recycling and food compost from their lunches home each day. |
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Students stay healthier and learn better with opportunities to play in fresh air during play times. It is important that students come to school prepared for the weather - sun, rain, snow, warm, cold, hot. In the winter months particularly, please send your children to school with gloves, toques, winter boots and warm coats. It is up to the Principal to decide whether conditions indicate that students should stay indoors (ie. too wet, windy, smokey or cold). Our guideline for weather too cold for outside play is colder than -13. |
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Each year, we conduct safety drills to ensure we practice and are prepared in the event of a real emergency. Each year we conduct 6 fire drills (3 in the Fall and 3 in the Spring), 2 earthquake drills, and 1 lockdown drill in case of intruder. |
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Student Code of Conduct and Violent Risk Threat Assessment |
Click here to access information about our Student Code of Conduct, Discipline Philosophy and Bottom Line Behaviours.
Included is a Fair Notice document outlining our Violent Risk Threat Assessment protocol and procedure in School District 83. To keep our school and community safe staff, parents, students and community members must report all threat-related behaviours (verbal and/or written, online and/or on paper) to the school principal to ensure a response, utilizing the appropriate authorities, occurs. Threats are taken seriously, investigated thoroughly and responded to accordingly.
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The North Okanagan-Shuswap School District expects all students to dress in a respectful manner which is appropriate and conducive to a positive as well as safe learning environment. Appropriate dress is considered to be that which:
- Is safe and respectful of self and others;
- Is free of any reference which promotes alcohol, drugs, gangs, hate, obscenity, profanity, racism/discrimination, sex and/or violence;
- Is not disturbing or distracting to others within the school setting;
- Is similar to office or retail workplace attire.
At Falkland School appropriate coverage is expected in all learning environments (playground, classroom and gymnasium). Students wearing clothing which is too revealing, including bare backs, bare midriffs, spaghetti straps, plunging necklines, muscle shirts, or clothing not suitable for the task at hand, will be asked to wear something more appropriate, or be given something to wear.
Underwear needs to be under your outerwear, and therefore, should not be visible. Footwear must be worn at all times. Inside shoes are mandatory for all students to be sure our school stays clean.
We ask that hats and hoods be removed once students enter the building. Hats and hoods may be worn during breaks and lunches while outside.
In conclusion…please, Dress For Success.
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Information on Upcoming Events |
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Orange Shirt Day - Wed., Sept. 30th |
Students and staff are reminded to wear an orange shirt in support of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come. Teachers, with the support of our Indigenous Resource Teacher, Sandra Eustache, will be providing age appropriate learning opportunities to better understand the impact residential schools had on children and families. |
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If you would like to order a SD83 Orange Shirt for Orange Shirt Day, please place your order using this form linked here. Orders are due on Thursday, September 17th and are $10.
Click here for more information on Orange Shirt Day.
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2020 Terry Fox Run - Fri., Sept. 25th |
Students and Staff will be participating in a modified Terry Fox Run this school year. We will learn about Terry's contributions and provide different times for each of our three learning groups/cohorts to run in the far field.
We will be collecting loonies or toonies to send off to the Terry Fox Foundation.
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FSA Administration - Sept. 30th - Nov. 6th |
The Foundation Skills Assessment is an annual province-wide assessment of all B.C. students’ academic skills in grades 4 and 7, and provides parents, teachers, schools, school districts and the Ministry of Education with important information on how well students are progressing in the foundation skills of Reading, Writing, and Numeracy. Administration of this assessment starts on or after Sept. 30th and will be completed by Nov. 6th. A schedule and more information will come out at the end of September to parents of students in grades 4 and 7.
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Picture Day - Thurs., Oct. 8th |
Lifetouch photography will be at our school on Thursday, October 8th to take individual photos of students and staff. StrongStart will be included as well. Retakes are scheduled for Thursday, November 5th. |
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Information about StrongStart in School District No. 83 |
StrongStart is a parent participation program for children 0 - 5. We do not yet have a StrongStart facilitator at Falkland School for the 2020-2021 school year. All StrongStart programs in SD83 will most likely open in October.
Click here to access the StrongStart job posting and be sure to share it out in the community. |
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Mother Goose at Falkland School |
We are working on having Mother Goose return to Falkland School sometime in October. More information will be coming soon.
The Parent Child Mother Goose Program uses songs, rhymes and storytelling with parents and their children to promote oral language, social competence and emotional regulation in young children. Parents play with their children by engaging in songs and games with trained facilitators. Mother Goose strengthens the bond between parent and child and provides parents with the tools that make daily life with a young child more fulfilling while enhancing their child’s development.
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FALKLAND SCHOOL | 5732 TUKTAKAMIN ROAD, FALKLAND BC
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