StrongStart: Giving Children the Best for their Education and Future

The parent is the first and most important teacher in a child's life. Campbell River School District is proud to support parents in this important role by providing a free, drop-in, early learning program for young children from birth to Kindergarten and their parents or caregivers.

The district has four StrongStart Centres at Georgia Park, Cedar, and Sayward Elementary Schools, as well as a centre located half time at Sandowne Elementary School and half time out of the Robron 300 Housing Complex.

Under the direction of licensed early childhood educators, parents and children participate in early learning activities, such as story time, music, singing, art, and puzzles.

Children gain problem-solving skills, and build self-esteem and the social skills that will help them when they enter school. Parents learn activities that they can do at home to further support their child's learning; nutrition; and make valuable connections with other parents or caregivers.

StrongStart is a free, drop-in program open to all children and their parents and caregivers from birth to Kindergarten. However, parents need to complete a registration form at the program of their choice so that such items as emergency contact information is on file. Please bring your child's birth certificate with you to register.

Cedar Elementary StrongStart Centre
Cedar StrongStart will be closed for summer vacation from Tuesday June 29 and reopening Tuesday September 7, 2010 at 8:45am. Cedar Elementary is at 261 Cedar Street, telephone number: (250) 287-8335. For fall program hours, call the school after September 7.

Georgia Park Elementary StrongStart Centre
The Georgia Park StrongStart program will run Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. and Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from noon to 2:45 p.m. Parents dropping off older children at school are welcome to come with their younger children right at 8:30 a.m. - coffee will be on. Parents interested in attending the afternoon sessions are welcome to bring their lunches to eat at the centre. Georgia Park Elementary is at 678 Hudson Street, telephone number: (250) 923-0735.

Sandowne Elementary & Gathering Place StrongStart
For program hours and locations for the Sandowne Elementary and Gathering Place StrongStart program, visit the Sandowne Elementary School office. Sandowne Elementary is at 699 Sandowne Drive, telephone number: (250) 923-4248.

Sayward Elementary StrongStart Centre
The Sayward StrongStart program runs Mondays to Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Sayward Elementary is located at 690 Kelsey Way, telephone number: (250) 282-3314.

For more information on the StrongStart program in School District 72, contact Jim Ansell, assistant superintendent at (250) 830-2324