Pre-Kindergarten programming is now being offered at Arcola School. Last year, the Ministry of Education announced that Â鶹ÊÓƵ East Cornerstone Public School Division would be receiving funding for the start of two additional Pre-Kindergarten programs in the division for the 2011/2012 year.
Therefore, an assessment of the schools and communities in the division occurred in order to determine which school and area would be most benefitted from the program. As a result, Arcola School and Oxbow School were selected to offer the program children in their area.
The program in Arcola is available for three and four-year-olds and is offered Monday to Thursday during the mornings. Friday mornings are reserved for family functions or home visits by the Pre-Kindergarten teacher, Karla Beatty, and the Pre-Kindergarten teacher assistant, Billie Roluss. The programs popularity is obvious as seen in its enrollment numbers.
Currently, the school is at its capacity with 12 students. Principle Kevin Hengen said, "We will increase this number to 16, but space is currently limited at the school, so we received approval to only have 12 spots. Over the course of this school year, a new, re-locatable classroom will be built on to the north side of the school, just east of the gym. This new classroom will house the Pre-Kindergarten classroom and offer more than enough space for 16 students."
According to the Ministry of Education, the program "incorporates a comprehensive range of effective educational practices to support young children's total development and to lay the foundation for school success and lifelong learning."
"The learning program is holistic, responsive, developmentally and culturally appropriate and caring. The focus is on the healthy development of the whole child: social-emotional, physical, intellectual and spiritual. Family members and caregivers are active participants in the children's development and area provided with parenting skill development opportunities and social and health supports. Development and support for Pre-Kindergarten is the shared responsibility of the school division, community agencies, family members and the province."
Hengen said the program will have an impact on Arcola School and its students. "I believe that the program will help prepare our students better for their education, especially vulnerable students who might have struggled in the past with schooling. This program will help to address their needs at a very early age and hopefully, prepare the way for success in their future."
The program, driven by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education, is based on a number of principles including: being a developmentally appropriate educational program that is founded on early childhood research and practice, being active with learning centered around play, and being a comprehensive and integrated program within a prepared environment. The program is a child-centred, self-directed program that focuses on developing the child as a whole including social, emotional and physical factors. The program aims to be both intellectual and spiritual and promotes the engagement of family, the development of community partnerships and integration of health, social services and educational supports. The program is to be culturally responsive for all, is to occur in mixed age groupings and is based on intensive exposure with a minimum of 12 hours per week. Additionally, the program is to be led by professional teaching staff with a focus in early childhood education.
The addition of this program has been an important component of the school programming. "It is important because it allows our students an opportunity to become better prepared for school," said Hengen. "It is my hope that those students that are entered into the program will be well on their way to a successful school career for years to come."
As of the 2011/2012 school year, Â鶹ÊÓƵ East Cornerstone School Division offers this programming to Carlyle Elementary School in Carlyle, Haig School in Weyburn, Westview School in Estevan, MacLeod Elementary School in Moosomin, and Oxbow Prairie Horizons School in addition to Arcola School.
The program does require that an application be filled out for those children wishing to participate in the program. Applications for the 2012-13 school year will be available in the spring. For those interested in learning more about the program, they are encouraged to contact the school.
