Kindergarten Gradual Entry and StrongStart in SD83

Do you have a child starting Kindergarten this year?

In SD83, Kindergarten children are welcomed into their new school at the beginning of September by their classroom teacher and other key staff members, including our StrongStart educators, using the Gradual Entry model. Students will attend in small groups and/or for shorter periods of time. The gradual entry process helps support a smooth and successful transition into Kindergarten.

Gradual entry will take place from Thursday, September 5th to Friday, September 13th. Schools will be reaching out to Kindergarten families with their school-specific gradual entry schedule prior to school start-up.

Teachers will be introducing children to classroom routines and procedures and helping the students adjust to the new social and emotional realities of school.

During gradual entry, the smaller groups enable teachers to get to know each individual child and establish warm, supportive and responsive relationships, which are the foundation for positive mental health and learning.

Our StrongStart educators also support within the classrooms during gradual entry.  Many of our Kindergarten students attended StrongStart programs with their families, and seeing a familiar face in their new classroom helps smooth transitions. Having an additional educator with the skills and knowledge to support our early learners is also invaluable as children learn new routines and adjust to the new social and emotional context of school.

Having StrongStart educators support during gradual entry supports the goals in our strategic plan, specifically, Human and Social Development, as seeing a familiar adult helps the children feel welcome, safe, and connected to adults in their school.

After helping with the transition to Kindergarten, our StrongStart educators will then kick off the new school year for our youngest learners with programs such as StrongStart, which are available at the District Education Support Centre (DESC) in Salmon Arm, South Broadview, Falkland, Highland Park, North Shuswap, M.V. Beattie, and Parkview elementary schools.

Do you have, or know someone, with young children? SD83 offers early learning opportunities for youngsters from newborn to five years of age. StrongStart is a free school-based program that provides play-based early learning opportunities for children and their parents or caregivers. For the first couple weeks of September, our StrongStart educators help support students with the transition to Kindergarten and then they head back to their own programs for the new school year. All StrongStart programs will be open to welcome families starting on Monday, September16th or Tuesday, September 17th (North Shuswap).
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