Children's Garden School

Thank you for your interest in our school. CGS has been a special place to start for so many children, and their families, since it was founded in 1986. We pride ourselves on getting to know each child and becoming their champion through their early and critical years of education.

As founding Principal, I have been honoured to work with, and support, a staff that has always been known for their dedication and commitment. As part of the CGS philosophy, each and every student is recognized and celebrated for who they are. CGS teachers deliver an exceptional program while keeping the heart in education.

Choosing a preschool program for your child is a big decision and at CGS we know that there are many factors to consider. Is the staff caring? Is the environment safe? Will my child get enough playtime outside? Are snacks and lunches healthy? Will my child be stimulated academically? At CGS Early Start, the answer is yes to all of the above. Our program is an exceptional balance of academic and social learning in a warm and loving atmosphere. Parents have a choice of full-day, half-day or extended morning programs. Drop off is anytime after 8:30am. After school care is available until 6pm for those families that need it.

At CGS, we believe that the benefits and joys to be found in academic learning are not to be missed in preschool. Fresh air, healthy food and plenty of playtime is essential, but it is also a wonderful time to gently introduce academic concepts. Many children are ready, even at this young age.

Early Starters love to learn their letters and sounds during their morning circle. Making connections with their written work after the morning lesson gives them a real sense of accomplishment. Table work includes guided printing exercises (including distinguishing between upper and lower case letters). Reading comprehension comes a little later in the year as the children mature. Early math concepts are introduced through Touchmath, a hands-on math program. Students explore patterns and values and gain facility with positional language. Early Starters also receive instruction in French, music, visual art and physical education several times per week.

All instruction, across the preschool curriculum, is delivered in a nurturing, relaxed, exploratory way.
Child development varies widely at this age and activities are always tailored to each child's abilities and come with lots of hugs and encouragement. Early Start students are still very little and we understand that above all else, school should be fun.

In addition to our academic program, our preschoolers also have access to our full school-age curriculum. Students participate in assemblies, special events, concerts and classroom exchanges, right alongside our JK through Grade 3 students. They love to be part of the action at school! When the time comes to move on to JK, students are ready to do so with confidence. The transition is smooth and easy for parents and children alike.

At CGS, we believe that boys and girls of this age are very capable students. They take great pride and joy in their accomplishments and absorb information quickly. Our kindergarten curriculum is designed with these capabilities in mind. The highly desirable classroom ratio of 12:1 enables our teachers to give students all the support and attention they need to thrive in our enriched environment. At a time when public school classrooms have grown much larger and more chaotic, class size has become a greater concern for more and more parents.

Small class sizes ensure that boys can be happily active, but still have the structure they need to stay on task. Girls can progress quickly, in an environment that meets their desire to focus and learn. Also of note, our JK and SK classes are never combined. Academic abilities develop significantly during this time. SK at CGS is not a ‘lost’ academic year as it can be in the public system where JK's and SK's are in the same classroom. Our SK program gives children the opportunity to build on their JK knowledge and gain the academic confidence they need to smoothly transition into Grade 1.

In JK, students are introduced to our outstanding phonics program, Remediation Plus. It is a consistent, thorough program that we have used with amazing success for many years. Students are typically reading independently by October of their SK year. Being an early reader is exciting for students and their parents, however, it is the confidence and academic independence that students gain as a result of this accomplishment that we value at CGS.

Children generally achieve this early literacy with ease and from the very beginning, reading is a positive experience at CGS. As a result, students approach all areas of the curriculum with enthusiasm. For children who may encounter some obstacles, the varied visual, tactile and auditory approach of the Remediation Plus program enables teachers to identify optimum learning styles for each student very early on. Methods are adjusted quickly and appropriately. Students do not fall through the cracks at CGS. If teachers identify a deeper need for support than what we offer in our day-to-day classrooms, our R+ Reading Clinic may be recommended.

Early literacy is a big focus at CGS but it is balanced with lots of time for math. Hands-on learning experiences and collaborative strategies play a large role in the JK and SK math curriculum. You will often see students on the floor, working together to solve math problems with manipulatives, crayons and large pieces of paper. In SK students call it their 'Think. Pair. Share.' approach to problem solving. Collaborative strategies are always encouraged and basic fact mastery is never overlooked. JK and SK students also follow an exciting Science curriculum with plenty of hands-on experiments to spark their love of enquiry.

Kindergarten students participate fully in extra-curricular school life, an advantage that comes along with choosing a school that goes beyond the kindergarten years. JK and SK classes host full length Assemblies, sing in their own choir for the Holiday Concert and Final Assembly and take to the stage for the Talent Show. SK students have the opportunity to join the cast of our yearly musical and take part in the Science Fair if they wish, right alongside our Grade 1-3 students.

Kindergarten students participate fully in extra-curricular school life, an advantage that comes along with choosing a school that goes beyond the kindergarten years. JK and SK classes host full length Assemblies, sing in their own choir for the Holiday Concert and Final Assembly and take to the stage for the Talent Show. SK students have the opportunity to join the cast of our yearly musical and take part in the Science Fair if they wish, right alongside our Grade 1-3 students.

After gaining confidence and skill in Early Start through SK, our Grade 1 students hit the ground running. If your child is a new student to CGS in Grade 1, the first month is dedicated to review for all students and there is plenty of time for the staff to determine how best to help your child integrate academically and socially with their new classmates. Many students join CGS at this time to great benefit and CGS staff is there to ensure that your child’s transition is smooth and comfortable. If your child has had limited exposure to phonics, you may want to consider the R+ Reading Clinic in the summer before the school year begins.

Students in Grades 1-3 continue to build their language skills with our Remediation Plus Phonics Program. Creative and persuasive writing are highlighted as the children develop. Media and journalism units help stimulate enquiry. Proper grammar and spelling are always reinforced. 'Spell Wells' (our name for spelling tests) are given once a week.

Math instruction intensifies as problems become more complex. Teachers draw from Nelson Mathematics, Math Makes Sense and Teaching Student Centred Mathematics by John Van de Walle, among others. Methods for teaching math vary widely from school to school and it is a subject of great debate in the educational community. ‘New’ Math (a multi-strategy, collaborative, language based approach to math) can be confusing for parents as most of us learned largely by rote.

Studies also deepen in Science, including mandatory participation in the Science Fair. French continues to be taught four days a week and Physical Education continues twice weekly, with a third day added to the schedule to accommodate trips off site to ski, skate, swim and participate in the CGS Cross Country Meet and Track and Field Championship. Students make use of the Leaside High fields to play soccer and baseball on 'Field Fridays'. If the winter is snowy, the children even have a chance to toboggan. CGS is also fortunate to have use of The Norval Outdoor Education Centre owned and operated by UCC. Grade 1 students visit for the day and Grade 2 and 3 students stay at the camp overnight.