Back to school

Teachers at Ogden Community Public School and St. Elizabeth School gave their best first impressions for kindergarten students starting their first full day.

Parents were busy shuttling children back into classrooms for the first day of school Wednesday. But for some students this year meant the start of an entire day of kindergarten.

Both schools were busy getting ready for the first day of the Early Learning Kindergarten program and had renovations done over the summer to accommodate the new students.
St. Elizabeth Elementary School teacher Robin Sandberg put the final touches on her classroom before the senior kindergarten students arrived. 

She said she worked hard to ensure the new classroom was ready for the students to spend an entire there.

“I’m very excited and the children are very excited,” Sandberg said. “They are getting to know us and we’re getting to know them and there are getting to know their brand new classroom.  The children are very lucky. They are going to learn so much this year. We’re going to learn together, grow together, play together, pray together and have lots of fun.”

The school’s principal, Pepe Garieri said there were many changes to the school from the all-day kindergarten programs to the new computers. He said the early learning and the upgraded technology will help give students a head start with their education.

“The full-day kindergarten program is really going to improve reading, writing and math scores,” Garieri said. “It also gives families a chance to make sure students are consistently in school and make that transition to Grade 1 fantastic.”
He added 31 students enrolled in the junior kindergarten program and 21 in the SK program.

Over at Ogden public school, junior kindergarten students were settling in their new classroom. The school previously offered an SK program but decided to add a JK program as well.

Donica Leblanc, principal of Ogden public school, said it was exciting to be able to offer both full-time programs at the school as well as welcoming the 38 junior kindergarten students.

“We’re really looking to work as a team in our kindergarten classes,” Leblanc said. “We started the year off with a gentle entry. We have eight students coming each day until Sept. 15 when all the JKs come together. It is just a way for the students to know the teacher in a smaller group situation.”

Sherri-Lynne Pharand, superintendent of education with Lakehead Public Schools, said early development is important to ensure children have successful futures.

“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to help (students) learn and discover through play full-time at four and five years old,” Pharand said.

But the JK class wasn’t the only change. The school board also started its healthy foods initiative.

Pharand said they will focus on offering and promoting fresh fruits and vegetables and less on high in sugar foods such as cookies.

That doesn’t mean that favorite foods such as French fries and pizza won’t be on the menu.

The school board made changes to the meals to make them healthier. Those alterations included baking the fries and using whole-wheat dough, she said.

She added students could still bring whatever they like from home except those foods previously banned such as peanuts.