October 9, 2009
Osoyoos Strongstart BC Centre Open for Preschoolers

OSOYOOS - Boundary-Similkameen MLA John Slater joined Okanagan-Similkameen board of education chair June Harrington, parents, caregivers and district staff today at the official opening of the Province's StrongStart BC early learning centre at Osoyoos Elementary school.

"This centre will provide families with a stimulating and supportive place where children can discover the joy of learning," said Slater. "And where better for a StrongStart BC program than Osoyoos Elementary, where the school motto is 'Everything we do today will make a difference in our world tomorrow'."

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 over 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.

"This new StrongStart BC centre provides a place where children can gain the social and pre-literacy skills they will need to succeed in school and later in life," said Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid. "StrongStart BC centres also offer parents and caregivers the opportunity to gain valuable insight and new strategies on how to prepare their children for kindergarten and beyond."

The Okanagan-Similkameen school district has received $59,000 for the Osoyoos StrongStart BC centre. This includes $20,000 to prepare the Osoyoos Elementary school in- school space, including renovations and the purchase of new equipment and learning materials and $39,000 to fund operating costs from April, 2009 to June 2010, including staff, professional development, supplies and healthy snacks.

"We are now very fortunate to have four StrongStart BC early learning centres up and running in our district," said June Harrington, chair of the Okanagan-Similkameen school district. "I know, first hand, from attending with my own grandchildren, the wonderful benefits the StrongStart BC program provides to families in Okanagan Falls, Oliver and Cawston. Our new centre in Osoyoos is building on that success."

Since 2001, the Province has invested more than $155 million in new literacy 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 is committing $151 million over two years for optional full-day kindergarten for up to 50 per cent of children starting school in 2010, and for every five-year-old in British Columbia by the 2011-12 school year.

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