May 23rd, 2014

Extended Day Programs Expanding in the WRDSB

Kitchener, ON: The Waterloo Region District School Board is pleased to announce that 80 schools will offer Extended Day Programs for the 2014-15 school year. Over 95% of the board’s Junior Kindergarten to Grade 2 population will have access to high quality, and affordable child care in their school.

In addition, 48 schools will operate Youth Development programs for grades 3-6. This program supports development through programming that combines student interests and activities, including creative arts, physical activity, and social and emotional development.

Quick Facts

  • The 2014-15 school year is the final year of the five year roll-out of the Full Day Early Learning Program
  • Full Day Kindergarten Teams consist of a full time Kindergarten teacher and a Designated Early Childhood Educator. The team works together to plan, deliver, assess, and communicate about student learning.
  • Based on Dr. Charles Pascal’s report, With our Best Futures in Mind, Full Day Kindergarten and Extended Day Programs provides children with high quality, seamless programming that help build cognitive, social and emotional skills through play-based learning
  • Before the implementation of Extended Day Programs, only 9.1% of children in Junior Kindergarten – Grade 2 had access to licensed child care programs in their school.

Quotes

“We are pleased to have progressed towards reaching our goals of providing equitable access to high quality and affordable child care supportive of children and families, setting the stage for student achievement and well-being. The Waterloo Region District School Board is proud of all of the staff, trustees, families, and community partners who have assisted us in the implementation of Full Day Kindergarten and our Extended Day programs.”

-Mary Lou Mackie, executive superintendent of education

 

Related Information
For more information and resources on Full Day Kindergarten and Extended Day Programs in the Waterloo Region District School Board, visit us at www.wrdsb.ca/earlylearning and www.wrdsb.ca/beforeafter