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NEWS RELEASE
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For Immediate Release November 13, 2009 |
Ministry of Education
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PENTICTON STRONGSTART BC CENTRE OPEN FOR PRESCHOOLERS
PENTICTON – Penticton MLA Bill Barisoff joined Okanagan Skaha board of education chair Larry Little, parents, caregivers and district staff today at the official opening of the StrongStart BC early learning centre at Columbia Elementary school.
“More Penticton children will be prepared for school after attending this new StrongStart BC centre,” said Barisoff. “These centres ensure that children and their families can receive support and build the early literacy skills that are so essential to life-long success.”
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 Columbia 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.
“StrongStart BC centres play an important role in a child’s development in the early years,” said Little. “Through this co-operation between districts and the government we are helping equip our children with the tools they will need to create a strong foundation for continued 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:
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Ministry of Education 250 356-5963 |
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