Saskatoon Public Schools offering full-day kindergarten and prekindergarten programs this fall
Saskatoon Public Schools (SPS) will be offer some full-day programs for Kindergarten and pre-Kindergarten students starting in September.
Full-day pre-Kindergarten will be offered at 13 schools from Monday to Thursday, while Monday-to-Thursday Kindergarten will be offered at 14 schools.
SPS said in a news release that pre-Kindergarten classes can help children with language and communication, problem-solving skills, learning to cooperate with others and preparing for the school environment.
“More time for students to explore, to wonder, to play. When I say play, there really is a lot of learning that can happen when children are playing. It allows for social development,” said Trish Reeve, superintendent of education with Saskatoon Public Schools in an interview.
Reeve said that this is a five year program launched with the help of the Saskatoon Public Schools Foundation.
Five different schools tested out full-day learning this school year and they were thrilled with the results and feedback.
“When we talked to principals, we talked to teachers, we’ve talked to families. They’re really excited about the growth they’ve seen in students and the peer engagement as well,” Reeve said.
Amanda Brindley has a daughter who is just finishing Kindergarten and was in one of those five schools that tested out the full-day learning this year.
She said when they were told about the change to her daughter’s schooling, she was initially a bit concerned with how things would play out.
Going from two or three days a week to full on all day every day is a big change for a little person, but she did really well. It is a great option, especially for people who have to pay for child care,” Brindley said.
“It’s huge, especially the cost of child care being so high. Having two extra days full time, for me it was a life saver. I run my own business, so not having to have my daughter with me I could be way more productive.”
Brindley said all the extra time at school has helped her daughter get a leg up on her education, and she is reading at a Grade 2 level now as she prepares to enter Grade 1.
Schools offering full-day learning programs for both Kindergarten and pre-Kindergarten include: Caroline Robins, Caswell, Fairhaven, Howard Coad, Kind George, Lester B. Pearson, Mayfair, Pleasant Hill, Princess Alexandra, Sutherland, Vincent Massey, wâhkôhtowin (formerly Confederation Park), and W.P. Bate.
Full-day Kindergarten will also be available at North Park Wilson School.
A full-day pre-Kindergarten class supported by Métis Nation–Saskatchewan is offered at Westmount Community School.
Families wanting to register should contact the individual school.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.