Province's kindergarten plan will put pressure on schools: SD 60
Alaska Highway News
October 7, 2008
By: Tessa Holloway

If the province goes ahead with full-day kindergarten, it could reverse the space created by the reconfiguration of schools and push schools to the edge, school district officials warn.

School board trustees and district staff met with kindergarten teachers, principals and support staff Monday afternoon to discuss the benefits and challenges presented by the provincial government's decision to consider all-day kindergarten starting in September of next year.

…. But the proposed start date also coincides with the switch to a middle school model that was supposed to open up space in overcrowded city elementary schools.

Not anymore, said superintendent Larry Espe.

"We don't have empty schools that are looking to be filled," said Espe. "We're moving the Grade 7s out to create more space at the elementary schools that are already overfull, and this will negate that."

The district has had difficulty convincing the province of the need for more school space to be built in the past, and an expansion or new building to the high school isn't expected for several years, leaving Espe to consider changing timetables or adding to the district's 18 portables to fit students.

There will also be difficulties with staff, said Espe, as more teachers will be needed in every district of the province to meet the new requirements if enacted.

However, all participants in the discussion agreed that full-day kindergarten offered a unique opportunity to enhance the learning environment and school preparedness of young children, and give them more time in the day for interaction and play, as well as new challenges.

Doug Ouellette, a kindergarten teacher from Bert Ambrose Elementary, said the added time would make it easier for teachers to meet the provincial goal of 30 minutes of physical activity each day, while including more play and one-on-one time.

"It would give us the opportunity for children to actually spend more time playing instead of rushing through what we are trying to push through," he said.

However, many around the table also said parents need to have choice as to whether they want their child taking half-day or full-day kindergarten.

Duncan Cran kindergarten teacher Crystal Oakley said while working parents who use daycare might like full-day kindergarten, many stay-at-home parents are concerned they would lose quality time to teach their children themselves.

Also, some children just aren't ready for full day kindergarten at four or five years old, such as one little boy in her class recently.

"At 2:30 p.m. one little guy came up to me crying and I said what's wrong and he said "I just miss my dad," she said. "He'd only been there two and a half hours and I'm thinking next year, what could (a full day) look like?"….