All Cramahe gets all-day kindergarten

The Province of Ontario released its list of about 580 schools which will get all-day every-day kindergarten in 2010 - and both Cramahe Township schools are on the list. Colborne Public School and the new Northumberland Hills Public School were granted the new program.

Kawartha Pine Ridge District Board of Education has 77 elementary schools. Only 10 schools got the program which the provincial government is phasing in over the next six years. Five schools in he Peterborough Victoria Northumberland Catholic District School Board which oversees St. Mary's Separate School in Grafton will get the program. St Mary's is not one of them.

The provincial website states "Full-day learning is a key part of the government's plan to strengthen education in Ontario and create an even better-educated workforce. It will give our youngest students an integrated day of learning, provide a stronger start for kids and make life easier for busy parents.

This is the government's next step in its education plan, which has reduced class sizes, raised the graduation rate by nine percentage points and added about 100,000 students in universities and colleges."

It is not known why Cramahe came out the big winner in the kindergarten sweepstakes, but it did. It is unlikely that any other community in the province can claim to have all its students in full-time kindergarten next September.

Boards submitted lists of eligible schools to the ministry last month and the government said priority would be given to low-income neighbourhoods, as well as those that have available space.

In his January 12 press release, Northumberland-Quinte West MPP, Loou Rinaldi advised parents who are interested in registration for full-day learning classes, including the before and after-school program, to contact their local school or school board.

He stated, "In full-day learning classrooms, teachers and registered early childhood educators will work together to help children learn and develop emotional, social and academic skills that are crucial for healthy development. Schools will also offer extended day programs led by early childhood educators. Parents can enrol their child in these integrated programs for a reasonable fee, giving children even more opportunities to learn, play and grow."

Contacted after the announcement, Michele Adams, principal of South Cramahea and Castleton Public Schools was pleased with the news. Details of the new programs have yet to be worked out.

According to a CBC report, parents will pay extra if they want to enrol their child in an extended-day plan that provides before- and after-school programming for what the government says will be a "reasonable" fee.