Early Learning Programs in Powell River
Ready, Set, LearnReady, Set, Learn (RSL) is a school readiness initiative sponsored by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Ministry of Children and Family Development and the Ministry of Health. This initiative provides opportunities for elementary schools to influence school readiness in children through school based community events. It is also intended to facilitate partnerships between schools and local community agencies and early childhood service providers, and is designed to encourage positive connections between families and the school system as well as the participating community agencies. In Powell River each elementary school in School District #47 sponsors a RSL open-house designed for 3-5 year olds. Each participating family receives a free kit containing an age appropriate book for the child, booklets/papers containing information for supporting preschool learning and development and information about community services. Ready, Set, Learn events in Powell River take place in the spring. Ages And StagesSchool District #47 contributes to "Ages and Stages"- an interactive preschool fun day that takes place at the Powell River Recreation Complex. It is a collaborative effort of the Building Blocks Committee 0-5; members are from agencies and services that serve the preschool population. Theme centres are set up on the top floor of the Complex. Preschoolers and their parents/caregivers enter and register for the event. At registration the family gets a book bag, a developmental questionnaire appropriate for the age of the child, and a map of the upper level of the complex showing where each centre is. Preschoolers and their parent/caregiver can choose the order they visit each centre. Centre themes include: Health/Hand-washing, Hearing/Vision/Dental, Communication, Social-Emotional/ Reading-Relaxation, Fine Motor/Problem-solving, Gross-motor and Nutrition. This event usually takes place in the spring. Young Parent ProgramSchool District #47 offers a young parent program through Brooks Secondary School. This program is offered to young adults who have become parents before they have had the chance to complete their grade 12 education. A teacher and an outreach worker are available to help young parents plan the best approach to their education as well as set up the best arrangements for them as young parents. Daycare can be arranged at the Early Years Centre situated above Brooks. Roots and Wings Early Learning Centre runs daycare programs in the Early Years Centre. Orca BusORCA stands for "On the Road with Children's Activities"- a mobile preschool activity bus designed to bring exciting preschool learning and resources to remote areas of the community. School District #47 has been involved in planning this innovative project for approximately 4 years as members of the Success by 6 Council of Partners, and has donated a decommissioned school bus for the project. The ORCA Bus started programmed stops in rural areas around Powell River in February 2009. Up to date ORCA bus schedule can be found at the Success By 6 Website. StrongStart Centres In Powell River SchoolsSchool District #47 is excited to continue building its StrongStart programs in Powell River schools. StrongStart BC is government initiated program offered in public schools throughout the province of BC. This initiative supports smooth and successful transitions for children and families into kindergarten, supports families as the primary educators of their children, and makes school facilities and resources available to the preschool population. This free program runs as a drop-in for children birth to pre-kindergarten entry who are accompanied by their parent/caregiver. All young children in a family are welcome to attend with one adult. StrongStart also encourages the development of support between families, so encourages families to bring one unrelated child in addition to immediate family. As of September 2008 three Powell River elementary schools offered programs: Henderson Elementary School, James Thomson Elementary School and, new in the 2008/09 school year, Kelly Creek Community School. Each of these three centres are open for three hours per day Monday through Friday. Each centre is facilitated by a certified Early Childhood Educator (ECE). Programs and activities are adapted to suit the age of participating children. Each child participating in StrongStart is registered with the Ministry of Education after completing the StrongStart registration form. To complete the registration process parents are asked to bring an official piece of identification (birth certificate, permanent residence card, certificate of citizenship, aboriginal status card, passport/visa). Registration information is used by the province to evaluate, plan and develop preschool programs provincially. For questions, comments or to check schedules at each centre, contact Rita John EDIEDI stand for "Early Development Instrument" and is a questionnaire designed to measure children's school readiness. Kindergarten teachers participate by administering the EDI to current kindergarten students. The 5 domains addressed in the instrument include:
The EDI provides information that can be interpreted both backwards and forwards in time. The primary direction of interpretation for the purpose of early child development is backwards. That is, the results of the EDI are interpreted to represent the outcome of the cumulative early experience that children in a given geographical area have had from birth to kindergarten. The EDI can also be interpreted prospectively, in that the results frame the challenges that families, schools, communities and governments will face in supporting their children's development from kindergarten onward. In that vein, the results of the EDI act as an invaluable tool for the community and agencies in providing data to guide and support planning for children 0-6. Roots Of Empathy (ROE)ROE is a program offered in School District #47 classrooms. This evidence-based program has shown dramatic effect in reducing levels of aggression among children while raising social and emotional competence and increasing empathy. The program is designed for preschoolers through Grade 8. In School District #47, in the 2008/09 school year ROE has been offered in all kindergarten, and is being piloted in one grade 7 class. At the heart of the program is a neighborhood infant and parent, who visit the classroom once a month during the school year. Trained Roots of Empathy Instructors, in 27 classroom visits (pre-baby visit, baby visit and post-baby visit), coach children to observe the baby's behaviours. They learn the names for the emotions the baby exhibits; they learn to recognize the needs of the baby, and how to meet those needs. The children learn to reflect and identify similar feelings in their own experiences. Self knowledge serves as a bridge to understanding and respecting the feeling of others (empathy). As levels of empathy rise, bullying, aggression and violence decreases. The learning that occurs- whether it is students' learning about parenting, about themselves, or about how others feel- all springboard from these visits with the baby. |
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