VERNON – Minister of Children and Family Development Tom
Christensen joined Vernon school board chair Bill Turanski, district staff, parents and caregivers today for the official opening of the Province’s StrongStart BC early learning centre at Harwood elementary. “Our government is working with the school district and the community to help every preschool child start school ready to succeed,” said Christensen. “This StrongStart BC centre will help parents support their preschoolers, providing them with every opportunity to enter kindergarten prepared and confident of success.”The Harwood StrongStart BC centre offers a free drop-in program for parents or caregivers and their children. A qualified early childhood educator leads activities, including stories, music, and art, to help children grow linguistically, physically and socially, and become comfortable in a school-like setting.Like the School Community Connections program that provides community access to existing underutilized school space, StrongStart BC centres use the excess school space to deliver valuable early learning services. The Vernon school district is receiving $70,000 to operate the Harwood elementary StrongStart BC centre. This includes $40,000 to prepare its in-school space, including renovations and the purchase of equipment and fund this year’s operating costs, including staff, supplies and healthy snacks. It also includes $30,000 for its second year of operation.
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