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Page 24 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, March 26, 1997 Section Two Areas Identified As Concerns will Be Addressed Should the Program Continue To be Offered emotional and physical needs. The new program came into being when the province announced its decision to cut grants for junior kindergarten last year. Trustees with the local public school board agreed to move the program < / to the new schedule for one year and, at the same time, decided continuing the program program beyond June 1997 would depend on finding alternative ways to fund it. The decision to move to the full-day, every-othcr-day program for junior and senior kindergarten means no noon- hour busing is required for an annual savings of about $800,000. Cancelling the program program last year would have cost the board about $586,000. Lum says, "Last year, parent surveys and presentations presentations to the board's budget budget committee showed very strong support to have the junior kindergarten program continue." In response to the survey, the program department will promote ways kindergarten teachers can network and share ideas. They will, among other things, provide teachers with more professional development development focusing on literacy, mathematics, music, and movement. < / The Northumberland- Clarington Board of Education is proposing to continue its full-day, alternate day kindergarten program, launched this past September, based on the results of a survey survey of parents with children currently in the new program, and of kindergarten teachers, and principals. The decision was approved at a recent education committee committee meeting and was presented presented to trustees at last night's budget meeting. It now heads to the regular board meeting scheduled for April 10. "The overall survey results indicate that the implementation implementation of the program has been a success," says Trudy Lum, superintendent of program. "Areas identified as concerns will be addressed should the program continue to be offered." The board's program department conducted the survey in January and February and over 50 per cent of parents with children currently currently in the programs - about 1700 people - responded. According to the survey results, a significant majority of parents felt their child "was able to cope with the full day of school" from the start or after a few months in school. Most of the parents who responded to the survey said the program was meeting their child's academic, social, Public School The Northumberland and Clarington School Board's 1997 budget could be completed completed by mid April said Ron Sudds, superintendent of business. Sudds told trustees the 1997 school board grants have "been cleared by Ministry (of Education) officials officials and are now in the Minister's office." He said this year the Ministry of Education is expecting school boards to complete their budget talks by mid-April rather than the usual May 1 date, in part to accommodate municipalities who send out the tax requisi- ' lions. "I'm anticipating there will be a standard (provincial) (provincial) mill rate increase" contained contained in this year's grant information. Last year, the board's bud-. get was $146,223,300, an average local mill rate increase of 2.1 per cent. In 1996, the board lost about $2.5 million in provincial government grants and faced an enrolment increase. The proposed budget for 1997 currently is $148.9 million. million. > v ':>Wx Annual Easter Egg Hunt f Every year at this time the x Garden Gallery Bunny hides K chocolate eggs throughout the Garden Centre for kids to find. Join the fun! The Great Easter Egg Hunt starts at 9am sharp on Friday, . . March 28th. A contribution of a non-perishable food item for Food Share would be appreciated. All children under 8 years are |i . welcome. Gathering bags m will be supplied. Prices in effect from March 26 to April 1 ^ rnct -'b in errect iront iviarcn zo to Our Annual Easter w:.' Easter Lilies A beautiful and popular Easter gift. 100's to choose from. 6" pot. Priced from... each Beautiful Mums Beautiful spring colour for your home. Many colours to choose from. 6" pot. Assorted Bulbs Choose from Tulip, Daffodil or Hyacinth. Enjoy indoors now and plant outside later. 6" pot. Martha Washington Géraniums Choose from an exciting selection of these beautiful geraniums, ready for your window box or patio planter. 62 99 each 99 each Potted Hydrangea This enchanting flower is a favourite at Easter. Choose from, blue or pink. 6" pot. Priced from... Oriental Lilies Perennial Becoming very popular because of their artistic beauty. 6" pot. 99 each 99 each Easter Baskets Each are specially created for you. Choose from an excellent selection and a price range sure to please. Priced from.. i99 Rekker's ©j.p. â -- .tu, u --^ HWY #2 ! ■ REKKER'S N 3 u B o u u i K i BLOOR ST. s X 2 HWY. 401 2258 HWY. #2, R.R. #6, BOWMANVILLE Open Year Round 6 Days a Week Easter Weekend Hours Good Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. CLOSED SUNDAY Easter Monday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. TEL. 623-2300 FAX 623-6130