Still Time to Register: Full Day Every Day Junior Kindergarten begins this fall

Rainbow District School Board reminds parents/guardians that there is still time to register for programs for four and five-year-olds beginning this fall. Full day Junior Kindergarten will be offered every day in all Rainbow Schools in Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin.

“Making full-day programming available for all four and five year olds will ensure they get the best start for the brightest future,” said Director of Education Jean Hanson. “We look forward to implementing full day Junior Kindergarten every day this fall. We invite all parents to register their children in Rainbow Schools as soon as possible if they have not done so already. This will help us plan for the start of the new school year.”

The Ministry of Education has designated some schools to offer the new Early Learning Program this fall. The Early Learning Program will be introduced in six Rainbow Schools in the first phase of implementation in September 2010 – Churchill Public School, Lansdowne Public School, Princess Anne Public School, Queen Elizabeth Public School, Wembley Public School and A.B. Ellis Public School in Espanola.

The Early Learning Program will be offered in three more schools in the second phase of implementation in September 2011 – Adamsdale Public School in Sudbury, C.R. Judd Public School in Capreol and Central Manitoulin Public School in Mindemoya. The program will be phased into all schools over the next five years.

In Early Learning Program schools, a teacher and early childhood educator will lead the program, with average class sizes of 26 children. For a fee, parents will have an option of enrolling their children in before and after school programs, providing there is sufficient interest. There will also be a new curriculum for four and five-year-olds.

“Early years are important years,” said Director Hanson. “Research has shown that the early years influence success in learning and life. This investment in our youngest citizens will pay huge dividends in the long-term.”

She added: “Making full day Junior Kindergarten available every day will ensure that all children are immersed in a rich play-based learning environment. Their social, emotional, physical and developmental growth will be nurtured through stimulating hands-on activities.”

For more information, visit rainbowschools.ca and click on Full Day Every Day Kindergarten under “highlights”.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 674-3171, ext. 7217.