Early Learning Open Houses April 13th

Northern Lights elementary schools will be hosting Early Learning Open Houses on Friday, April 13 to give parents and children an opportunity to learn more about our preschool and Kindergarten programs.

“This is an exciting time of year for our elementary schools as they get ready to meet all of the young children in our communities and show them how much fun they will have learning in our preschool and Kindergarten programs,” said Board Chair Arlene Hrynyk. “We invite everyone with preschool-aged children to come meet our staff, learn about our programs, and become part of our school communities.”

Some schools are also hosting events on Thursday, April 12. Dates and times for events at each location are listed at the end of this news release. (Please note École Plamondon will not be holding an open house on April 13.)

This year, Northern Lights is also introducing a new online registration process for new preschool students and for existing preschool students who are registering for Kindergarten. Information will be available at the Early Learning Open House events and will be posted on our websites once details have been finalized. Preschool registration starts Monday, April 23.

“As part of our focus on improved communication and parent engagement, we want to make registration as easy as possible for parents,” explained Hrynyk. “The new registration process will allow parents to complete registration forms at their convenience.”

Last year, Northern Lights introduced online fee payment for preschool parents and that will continue this year, using the division’s online payment portal, School Cash Online. Instructions are available on the division’s website and from our schools.

The Northern Lights Care to Learn Preschool program is located in eight Northern Lights schools – Ardmore School, Cold Lake Elementary, Duclos School, Glendon School, Iron River School, North Star Elementary School, Vera M. Welsh Elementary School and Wandering River School.

All Care to Learn Preschool locations offer a three-hour (half-day) program. Some locations offer AM or PM classes, as well as options to attend two or three days per week. Duclos School in Bonnyville also offers a full-day option where children can attend preschool five days a week.

Care to Learn Preschool is a developmental preschool, providing learning, growth and play opportunities for children aged three and four through music, arts and crafts, games, physical activity, early math and literacy centres, and more.

All of our elementary schools offer a full-day Kindergarten program that operates five days a week. The full-day program allows us to enhance the provincial curriculum in all areas so students receive additional instruction in literacy and numeracy (a priority area for the school division), as well as more time learning through play, which is a critical component of early learning.

Children who turned four as of March 1 (born between March 2, 2013 and March 1, 2014) may register in Kindergarten for the 2018-2019 school year.

More information about Care to Learn Preschool, our Enhanced Kindergarten Experience, and how to register, is available on our website – www.nlsd.ab.ca.