NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release 2009EDUC0027-000583 November 6, 2009

Ministry of Education

 

PENTICTON STRONGSTART BC CENTRE OPEN FOR PRESCHOOLERS

 

PENTICTON – One of the province’s newest StrongStart BC centres has officially opened at Carmi Elementary school in the Okanagan Skaha school district, Penticton MLA Bill Barisoff announced today.

 

“The StrongStart BC program continues to provide opportunities for children and their families right across the province,” said Barisoff. “We are helping children gain the skills they need to be ready for success in school and in life.”

 

StrongStart BC is a free 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 more than 100 new StrongStart BC centres will be opening this year. StrongStart BC centres help fulfil government’s commitment to use underutilized school district space to deliver early learning services.

 

The Okanagan Skaha school district has received $50,000 for the Carmi Elementary 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 new StrongStart BC centre at Carmi Elementary is a significant school-based early learning program for parents and children in Penticton,” said Okanagan Skaha board of education chair Larry Little. “We are pleased to work with the government on giving our children the tools they need for success in school.”

 

Since 2001, the Province has invested $1.2 billion in literacy and literacy-related initiatives, including pre-literacy and early learning programs such as StrongStart BC Early Learning Centres, 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 optional full day kindergarten for all five-year-olds in B.C. Full day kindergarten will be available to 50 per cent of kindergarten students in 2010 and for every five-year-old starting school in 2011.

 

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Contact:

Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Education 250 356-5963

 

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