The Primary Campus works on a six-day cycle so that the students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 4 experience variety in their school week. A typical day for the youngest age groups can vary considerably from older age groups, but we have a number of daily routines in common. Our staff provides instruction and extra-curricular activities throughout the day to interest and challenge each age group.
With the first bell, our students go to their coat hooks located outside of their homeroom classroom to store their outdoor clothing, backpacks, and put on their black shoes. Then they enter the classroom to get organized for the day by handing in homework books, putting away lunch bags, and heading to their table or desk to begin a bell-work activity provided by the teacher. Students are in their classroom ready to learn by 8:45 AM when the second bell rings.
The Primary Campus begins each day with students singing the national anthem in English or French. After the anthem, the morning announcements are streamed to classrooms by principals via Teams, informing our students about upcoming school events as well as the times and locations of the daily extracurricular activities we offer at recess and after school. Attendance is submitted to the office at this time so we may follow our safe arrival procedures. If a student arrives later than 8:45 AM, they must check into the office. Morning routines, or calendar activities and opening circles typically follow the announcements, giving students the opportunity to "lead the class" and plan for the day.
The formal instruction time of our day begins. Each class or period is based on a specialty schedule of 30 minutes in length; there are nine instructional periods each day. Students spend the majority of the day with their homeroom teacher who provides instruction in the core subject areas: math, reading and language arts, printing/cursive, art, and social studies. Specialty teachers, with additional qualifications in their field, offer instruction on a rotational basis in Physical Education, Music, Technology, Science, and French. Our homeroom teachers escort their students to and from each specialty class.
At 12:00, Primary Campus students eat lunch in their classrooms with their classmates, supervised by their homeroom teacher. There are three recesses for Grades 1-4 students. The first is at 10:35 AM for 15 minutes, the second is at 12:25 p.m. for 20 minutes, and the third is at 1:45 for 15 minutes. Kindergarten students have two outdoor recesses each day. Junior Kindergarten classes enjoy a separate Kindergarten playground before their lunch break for 30 minutes and Senior Kindergarten classes use the Kindergarten playground for 40 minutes following their lunch break.
Our students are in their homeroom classes where they tidy up their work area, put away their belongings, and pack their backpacks. From Monday to Thursday in Grades 1-4, homework is assigned to reinforce skills and concepts taught during the day. Homeroom teachers initial each student’s agenda to ensure that the assigned homework has been recorded correctly. Homework assignments, upcoming events, and expectations are also posted to Edsby, our school online learning platform.
All Primary Campus bus students are dismissed to begin the teacher-supervised bus dismissal routines. Each afternoon, some students are also escorted to the Main Campus for the HeadStart programme (our after school study hall programme for students in Grades 4-8). Kindergarten - Grade 2 students are escorted out to the front of the school to meet their parents.
The final bell rings to indicate the end of another school day. Students in Grades 3 and 4 students are dismissed to meet their parents on the supervised sidewalks near the school exits. Each night, some students are also dismissed to the Homework Central room, gym, swimming pool, music rooms, or sports field to participate in one of the many activities offered at Mentor College.