Early Years K to 5

What We Believe

In Rolling River School Division, we strive to help each child develop to his or her fullest potential, regardless of ability, learning style, or stage of development.

Our purpose is to develop and maintain a learning environment that encourages a child to be creative, self-motivated, self-confident, independent, and responsible.

Our goal is to provide for each individual's intellectual, emotional, social, physical, and aesthetic development in a safe and supportive child-centred environment.

Areas of Development

1. Intellectual

  • basic academic skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing, phonics, spelling, mathematics)
  • computer skills
  • independent thinking skills
  • problem-solving skills

2. Emotional

  • self-confidence as a learner
  • self-esteem

3. Aesthetic

  • appreciation for and participation in music, art, and drama

4. Physical

  • fine motor skills (e.g. cutting, paper and pencil skills)
  • gross motor skills (i.e. large muscle development through jumping, skipping, etc.)
  • physical fitness
  • a healthy lifestyle

5. Social

  • ability to interact appropriately with other children and adults
  • sense of responsibility for self, others, and the world
  • role playing

Approaches and Strategies

Various approaches and strategies are used to ensure development of the "whole" child:

1. Intellectual

  • direct instruction of basic skills
  • learning by doing
  • activity centers
  • whole language
  • cooperative learning

2. Emotional

  • encouragement
  • meaningful praise
  • promoting risk-taking
  • support and guidance

3. Aesthetic

  • creative activities as an integrated part of many subject areas

4. Physical

  • fine motor classroom activities
  • physical education classes
  • health programs
  • group play

5. Social

  • opportunities to interact with other children and adults
  • cooperative learning situations
  • meaningful play

Parents as Partners in Learning

  • Make your home an environment which supports thinking, reading, and studying.
  • Read to and with your children every day.
  • Talk with your children every day about school. Allow them to express feelings.
  • Listen with undivided attention when your children want to share information about school.
  • Encourage your children to do their best. It is okay for them to make mistakes as long as they learn from them.
  • Teach your children "positive self-talk". Take a tip from the Little Engine, who repeated, "I think I can, I think I can".
  • Discipline with love - use "do this" more often than "don't do that".
  • Set clear, reasonable, consistent limits.
  • Encourage your children's independence and sense of responsibility.
  • Communicate with your children's teachers on a regular basis.