School District 47 (SD47) Ready, Set, Learn events will begin April 26. This program is targeted toward families with children ages three to five years old.
“We want participants to have an opportunity to come to a school with their parent and have a taste of school in a fun and engaging way,” said Raun Rainbow, SD47 vice principal of early learning and child care, and VP of Westview Elementary School.
The idea is to prepare and help everyone start school at a similar level. The program focuses on encouraging children to practice fine motor skills, such as cutting with scissors and gripping a pencil or crayon, at home.
The registered event aims to have children “meet the principal, visit a kindergarten class, play in the gym, and hear a story,” said Rainbow. “At the end families receive a book and a bag of resources to spark the imagination.”
Every elementary school in the district will offer this program, which invites children and their families to visit a school for a one or two hour visit.
“We are hoping the children can connect with the space and take home resources, so they can practice simple skills in a fun way,” said Rainbow. “Then when they come into kindergarten they already have those skills.
“We want to relieve any anxiety about what school might look like, and this opportunity might let [new students] feel more comfortable when they enter kindergarten.”
To find out more, go to sd47.bc.ca.
