Education minister in Castlegar
By Contributor
Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid joined Kootenay-Columbia board of education chair Gordon Smith, parents, caregivers and district staff today at the official opening of the StrongStart BC early learning centre at Robson Community school.
“This new StrongStart BC centre in Robson will mean that more children and families can receive support as they build the early literacy skills that are so essential to life-long success,” said MacDiarmid. “By working together with the school district and community, our government is helping preschool-aged children start school with the skills they need to succeed.”
StrongStart BC is a free drop-in early learning program for preschool-aged children accompanied by a parent or caregiver. A qualified early childhood educator leads activities, including stories, music, and arts, to help children grow linguistically, emotionally and socially, and become comfortable in a school-like setting.
All of B.C.’s 60 school districts have been offered the opportunity to participate in the StrongStart BC program. The Province is investing $43 million to expand the program, and over 100 new StrongStart BC programs will open this year. StrongStart BC centres help fulfil government’s commitment to use underutilized school district space to deliver early learning services.
The Kootenay-Columbia school district has received $50,000 for the Robson Community school StrongStart BC centre. This includes $20,000 to prepare in-
school space, including renovations and the purchase of new equipment and learning materials and $30,000 to fund this year’s operating costs, including staff, professional development, supplies and healthy snacks.
“The primary goal at Robson Community school is to improve students’ ability to read well,” said Kootenay-Columbia school board chair Gordon Smith. “This centre, located right in the school, will help Robson achieve that goal by fostering stronger literacy skills in children before they even enter kindergarten.”
Since 2001, the Province has invested $1.2 billion in literacy and literacy-related initiatives, such as StrongStart BC early learning programs, almost $15 million to operate the kindergarten readiness program Ready, Set, Learn and $2.7 million for the LEAP BC program that encourages literacy, physical activity and healthy eating in preschool-aged children.
Government has committed $151 million over two years to implement full day kindergarten for all five-year-olds in B.C. Full day kindergarten will be available for more than 50 per cent of kindergarten students in 2010, and for every kindergarten-aged child starting school in 2011.
