Children under the age of six and their families are being welcomed back to the Marie Sharpe Strong Start Centre after closing for some weeks due to staffing issues.
"We know everyone will be excited to return, and we certainly are looking forward to having them back,” said Wendell Hiltz, director of instruction at School District 27.
Hiltz said the centre closed after the Christmas break but is ready to start up again on Thursday, Feb. 27 with a new StrongStart educator, Ms. Apryl Soichuk.
"We are so excited to welcome families back," he said.
StrongStart is a free early learning drop-in program for children under the age of six and their families, providing a comfortable, supportive environment for children to grow and prepare for school. It empowers families in their role as the first and most important space of learning in a child’s life and helps spark social and problem-solving skills as well as self-esteem building practices in children.
The school district is now getting ready for the annual StrongStart Shipwrecked event which will take place in June, an opportunity for anyone with preschoolers to play outside and search for treasure in exchange for prizes. Community service providers will also be present to connect with families over crafts, games and snacks.
Along with the centre at Marie Sharpe Elementary School, there are nine other StrongStart centres in the district, including two in Williams Lake. Across B.C. there are 329 StrongStart locations.
Parents who are bringing their child to StrongStart for the first time are asked to bring their child’s birth certificate and care card for registration.
