Brian Simmons and his daughter Kierra Sundin-Simmons, 4, attended the first day of school together at Westmont Public School, one of seven local schools running an all-day kindergarten program. The program, which will have Kierra attend full school days five-days a week, will help Simmons better sync his work schedule with his daughter’s school schedule.
"She was looking forward to school all summer," Simmons said. "I try to spend as much time with her as I can. I find this program very useful and even just having her here is special."
Cary Stokaluk, who teaches at Westmont Public School, met with all parents and outlined what the students were going to be doing on their first day of school. Working alongside an early childhood educator, Stokaluk said they will focus on developing the student’s speech and language skills as soon as possible.
"It’s been great so far," Stokaluk said. "The children have been playing and I’ve been talking to parents and everyone seems very excited."
Lakehead Public Schools offered the voluntary program at five of its schools while the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board started with two.
Corpus Christi School principal, Peter Prochilo, said preparations for the new full-day program began last year. He added that the school made sure the three classrooms offering senior kindergarten, junior kindergarten and a junior and senior kindergarten split class had all necessary supplies, including three new full-time teachers and early childhood educator.
About 90 students registered into the program at the Corpus Christi School. Prochilo said the children and parents were excited to start their first day of school.
"I think it’s an idea that’s been a long time coming," Prochilo said. "It’s great to have children come into the school at an earlier age and continue on from a full day. It gives us a better chance to really provide them with a literacy curriculum at an earlier age. "
Schools offering the full-time kindergarten include:
- St. Vincent School, Thunder Bay
- McKellar Park School, Thunder Bay
- Sherbrooke School, Thunder Bay
- Corpus Christi School, Thunder Bay
- Westmount School, Thunder Bay
- St. Patrick’s School, Atikokan
- North Star Community School, Atikokan
- Algonquin Avenue School, Thunder Bay
- Vance Chapman School, Thunder Bay
- Holy Saviour School, Marathon
