Strong ‘Starts’ in the Early Years!

This September, many of our Kindergarten students noticed one more familiar face on their first day of school.

In addition to the warm welcome from Kindergarten teachers, principals, and school staff, a familiar face from StrongStart was there to greet them. Across the District, StrongStart facilitators and Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) started the year in classrooms, working alongside amazing teachers to welcome our new Kindergarten students. Kindergarten is a time of transition and marks the start of a child’s formal educational journey towards graduation. 

As with any transition, it can be a time of uncertainty and big feelings as children and families navigate new spaces, new routines, and new realities of Kindergarten. Seeing a familiar, safe, caring adult can make all the difference! It also means more skilled “hands on deck” to support, provide comfort, and engage in playful learning. Whether it was helping with shoes or backpacks, navigating recess and outside play, or helping children find their way to and from spaces in the school, the ECEs were there.

Our goal every September is that each student will feel welcome, safe, and to foster connection, a priority reflected in our District’s Strategic Plan (Human & Social Development ), and supported by the work of our ECEs and Kindergarten teachers.

After gradual entry, our StrongStart facilitators returned to their programs to welcome new and returning families and future generations of Kindergarten students.

Meanwhile, back in the Kindergarten class, the kids know the ECEs are still there.

As one child remarked when walking by the StrongStart room, “That’s my old teacher! That’s my old classroom!”.  We are grateful to be able to support this sense of connection and belonging (a District value) right from the start.