The Red Deer Catholic Regional School Board has approved the continuation of a pilot project that sees students in three schools attend full day, every day kindergarten.The project is in place for the current school year. However, overwhelming support for the program has prompted the board to extend the project into the 2014 school year.St. Teresa of Avila School in Red Deer, St. Marguerite Bourgeoys School in Innisfail, and Holy Trinity Catholic School in Olds are the schools involved.Rori-Lynn Daniel, coordinator of inclusive learning with the Red Deer Catholic Regional School Division, introduced the pilot project to the board and is pleased with its success. “The board has been extremely supportive and we are going to extend the pilot as long as funds and financial ability remain the same,” Daniel says. “At this time, it is approved and it is our intent to go ahead with the project for the 2013/2014 school year.”In Alberta, approximately 13 per cent of kindergarten children are attending full day, every day kindergarten.Board superintendent Paul Mason says that prior to the project, the division was receiving an increasing number of calls from parents asking for full-time kindergarten.“This initiative will greatly enhance the learning opportunities for all children and in particular those who are at risk. Just as importantly, it will help families that are experiencing difficulties in providing quality early learning and care with a seamless and integrated day. This meets the needs of the 21st century family,” says Mason.Jeanne Davis, communications director with the division, says the kindergarten program is another way for the board to reach out to families.“We are offering this to our families because we believe our families will benefit from it. It's a way for us to address current parents and families,” said Davis.Students enrolled in the full day, every day kindergarten benefit in various areas of their education, she says.Full day, every day kindergarten provides more time for children to engage in developmentally and culturally appropriate experiences that foster their learning and development in all areas, she says.It also allows students to learn through exploration and play, indoors and outdoors, and experience opportunities that foster their social-emotional learning, self-regulation, and positive relationships with teachers and peers, she says.The program will be optional to parents and if teachers find an individual child is experiencing difficulties, they will work with the parent to accommodate the individual child's transition plan to best meet their needs, she says.“The teacher will honour parent choice and will work with them to help prepare their child for Grade 1 in a manner that best meets the needs of the child. Perhaps the parent will consider implementing a fourth day halfway through the school year,” she says.In Canada, several provinces are moving towards full-time kindergarten schedules including New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.Approximately 12.8 per cent of kindergarten children in Alberta attend full day, every day kindergarten.Programming options are available in Edmonton, Calgary, Medicine Hat, and Fort McMurray, with other school jurisdictions across the province exploring options.
