June 10, 2010
Nelson Strongstart BC Centre Celebrates Preschoolers

Aussi disponible en français:http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/news/docs/2010/nr_EcoledesSentiers_Nelson_Feb2010_French.pdf

NELSON - One of the province's newest StrongStart BC Outreach programs had its' official inauguration at École des Sentiers-Alpins, a Conseil scolaire francophone (CSF) school in Nelson, Minister of Education Margaret MacDiarmid announced today.

"The École des Sentiers-Alpins Franc départ centre is a great addition to our StrongStart BC programs which help prepare pre-school aged children for school by providing fun, interactive learning environments," said MacDiarmid. "I am excited that francophone children in Nelson will now have the same opportunity as other children to prepare for school in a rich learning environment to develop strong early literacy skills."

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 StrongStart BC, with more than 310 programs now operating across the province. StrongStart BC programs help fulfil government's commitment to use underutilized school district space to deliver early learning services.

"This new Franc départ for the Nelson area will help children as they prepare to begin their education," said Conseil scolaire francophone board of education chair Marie Bourgeois. "This recognizes the vitality of Francophone schools in British Columbia and the fact that CSF enrolment has continued to grow since its creation in 1995, thanks to the attention given to kindergarten and preschool programs such as Franc départ."

The CSF received $100,000 in funding for two StrongStart BC Outreach programs operating at four locations around the province. This money assists in preparing in-school space, including renovations and the purchase of new equipment and learning materials and for operating costs, including staff, professional development, supplies and healthy snacks.

Conseil Scolaire francophone (SD 93) is a public school district that covers all of B.C. Since its inception in 1995, the CSF has offered programs and educational services enhancing the full development and cultural identity of Francophone learners in the province.

In addition to the StrongStart BC Outreach program at École des Sentiers-Alpins, there are three additional StrongStart BC early learning programs serving the wider community in Nelson.

Since 2001, the Province has invested $1.4 billion in literacy and literacy- related initiatives, such as StrongStart BC early learning programs, almost $18 million to operate the kindergarten-readiness program Ready, Set, Learn and $2.7 million for LEAP BC resources that encourage literacy, physical activity and healthy eating in preschool-aged children.

Government has committed $280 million over three years to implement full day kindergarten for all five-year-olds in B.C. Full day kindergarten will be available for 50 per cent of kindergarten students in 2010 and for every five-year-old starting school in 2011.

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