Full Day Kindergarten
Full Day Kindergarten

Kindergarten Teacher With Student

The province recently announced that it will be providing full day Junior and Senior Kindergarten. This is part of the Ministry of Education’s plan to build a stronger school system and a well-educated workforce. They indicate that this program will be phased-in over time, beginning in September 2010, with full implementation completed by the 2015 – 2016 school year.

Student WorkingFor the first phase of the program, the province is funding spaces for approximately 35,000, or 15% of young students across Ontario. For our Board, this means we will be able to offer full-time Junior and Senior Kindergarten to 338 students in 13 classes.

Board staff is currently working with the Ministry of Education, the Simcoe County District School Board, the Trillium Lakelands District School Board, municipalities and local child care partners to determine which schools will be part of the first phase of full day Kindergarten.

As part of this decision-making process, there are several things that must be considered, including availability of space in schools, student achievement levels, community need and ensuring there is minimal impact on existing local child care and early years programs.

Our Board staff is currently working on a tentative list of proposed schools which must be submitted to the Ministry of Education by November 30, 2009. This proposed list will be shared with our school communities once it has been reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Education on January 30, 2010. 

In 2011 – 2012, our Board would be able to offer an additional six classes for approximately 156 students. Once the final list of schools is confirmed for each phase, we look forward to informing all of our Catholic school communities about this important program that will enrich the learning of all children we serve.