FULL-DAY LEARNING COMING TO 3 SCHOOLS IN MISSISSAUGA-BRAMPTON SOUTH

Full-day learning for four- and five-year-olds will be coming to 3 local schools in September 2010:

• St Valentine Elementary School -  Mississauga Dufferin-Peel Catholic DSB
• St. Pio of Pietrelcina – Mississauga - Dufferin-Peel Catholic DSB
• Cooksville Creek P.S. – Mississauga - Peel DSB

This marks phase one of Ontario’s new full-day learning program, which is part of the province's plan to build a stronger school system and a well-educated workforce.

Teachers and early childhood educators will work together to help children learn and grow during the regular school day. Schools will also offer integrated extended day programs – before and after regular school hours – led by registered early childhood educators. There will be a reasonable fee for these programs, and subsidies will be available for some families, based on financial need.

In fact, up to 35,000 four- and five-year-olds in nearly 600 schools will attend the first phase of full-day early learning in September 2010, including students here in Mississauga-Brampton South. The program will be expanded in stages and our goal is to have it fully implemented by 2015-16.

Ontario is investing in the education of our youngest students to better prepare them for future success. Full-day early learning will improve their reading, writing and math skills, provide a smoother transition to Grade 1, help more students achieve success at school, and help create a stronger economy for the future.

For more information about this government initiative, including questions and answers for parents, visit www.Ontario.ca/earlylearning or contact your local school or school board.