www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, January 20, 2010 · 12 Registrations begin this month for full-day kindergarten By Tim Foran and Tina Depko OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Halton's Catholic and public school boards will begin registration for full-day kindergarten this month, but they haven't determined how much it will cost if parents also wish to enrol their children in the before and after-school programs led by early childhood educators. Halton Catholic School Board "The regular school day portion of the fullday early learning program (ELP) for four and five year olds will be part of Ontario's publicly funded school system," stated a press release from the Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB). "There will be no cost for this part of the child's day." The extended before and after-school programs, however, are not free. "It is anticipated that the fee will be calculated based on the interest in the extended programs and the registration numbers for the early learning program," the HCDSB stated. "Subsidies will be available through the Ministry (of Education) for some families, based on financial need." The fee will be the same in all four of Halton's municipalities, said Rick MacDonald, superintendent of education for curriculum services at the HCDSB. He added the extended program is designed to be revenue neutral. Parents won't have to sign up children for both before and after school programs every weekday, MacDonald added. If they choose, they can select either mornings or afternoons on selected weekdays. For the first year of the phased implementation of ELP, the HCDSB expects to offer 19 classes to 494 students at seven schools. The Oakville schools are St. Luke and St. James. As school is not mandatory in Ontario until age six, full day-ELP is optional, even for kindergarten-aged children living in the catchment area of one of the seven schools. "Parents who choose to opt out of the fullday early learning program can make a cross boundary application to any elementary HCDSB school that provides a half-day program," the HCDSB explained. "Transportation will then be a parent responsibility." Parents who wish to register their children in the full-day ELP at a Catholic school, but who live outside the catchment area for one of the seven schools, should first register their child for the kindergarten program at their designated school. In April or May, the Catholic board will announce which ELP schools have additional spaces, at which point parents could then file a cross-boundary application to get their children into the ELP school. Advanced registration for kindergarten programs at all HCDSB schools, including the ELP schools, takes place on Tues., Jan. 26 and Wed., Jan. 27 from 9 a.m.-noon and 1:30-5:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.hcdsb.org/earlylearning. Halton Public School Board The Halton District School Board (HDSB) is offering full-day, early learning at 11 school sites, including five schools in Oakville, beginning in Sept. 2010. The program will be implemented in all schools over the next five years. The HDSB was allocated 36 classes across Halton for the first year of implementation, providing full-day early learning for 936 students, which is approximately 15 per cent of four and five-year old students. The school sites in Oakville are Abbey Lane Public School and Oakwood Public School, as well as the new schools currently under construction in the Clearview and Palermo neighbourhoods. Beginning in mid-January, the HDSB will accept registrations for junior and senior kindergarten for Sept. 2010. Parents are asked to drop by or call their designated elementary school to find out which dates have been established for kindergarten registration. The registration deadline is Monday, Feb. 8. An HDSB spokesperson said that it is too early to determine the fees for extended care through the ELP program. A subsidy will be available for some families, based on financial need. The HDSB spokesperson said that new information will be posted regularly on the board's site at www.hdsb.ca. Information on Kindergarten registration is on the website under the Parent Info link. Take the Chill Out of Winter! SIDEWALK SALE HOPEDALE MALL QEW 3rd Line 4th Line N.E. CORNER OF REBECCA ST. & 3RD LINE 9 0 5 . 8 2 7 . 7 1 4 6 w w w. hopedalemall. on. ca S H O P R I G H T. Rebecca St. Lakeshore Rd. IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. Dorval M Y C O M M U N I T Y, M Y M A L L Bronte Rd.