Full-Day Kindergarten Starts Today In London

 
 

September 7, 2010 10:30 AM

McGuinty Government Helping More Than 800 London Kids Learn Skills To Succeed

Education Minister Leona Dombrowsky visited with students and teachers at Cleardale Public School today to help kick off the school year.

Full-day kindergarten begins today in nearly 600 schools. It will be phased in over time, and all publicly funded elementary schools should have it in place by 2015-16.  In London, the program is being offered at:

  • Blessed Kateri Separate School
  • St. Catherine of Siena Separate School
  • St. Robert Separate School
  • Northridge Public School
  • Stoney Creek Public School
  • Stoneybrook Public School
  • Cleardale Public School
  • Evelyn Harrison Public School
  • Lord Nelson Public School
  • A.E. Duffield Public School
  • École élémentaire Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc

Education is an important part of the Open Ontario Plan. Since 2003, the McGuinty government has increased total education funding by almost $6 billion. This has helped make significant improvements to publicly funded education including, higher test scores in Grades 3, 6  and 9, smaller class sizes in primary grades, 400 new schools built or underway and 17,000 renovations and upgrades completed or underway, and no labour disruptions.

The next part of the Open Ontario Plan is introducing full-day kindergarten so that our kids get off to a better start in reading, writing and math. Students who achieve early success in school are more likely to go on to postsecondary education and get a good job. This will help Ontario have the skilled workforce needed to compete in the global economy.

QUICK FACTS

 
  • This September about 35,000 four- and five-year-olds will be in full-day kindergarten at almost 600 schools.
  • The Centre for Spatial Economics says full-day learning will provide a greater economic benefit than any other sector of the Ontario economy.
  • Local boards have received over $11 million in capital funding to build new classrooms and renovate and equip existing ones to support full-day kindergarten.

CONTACTS

  • Frank Clarke
    Minister's Office
    416-212-5911
    frank.clarke@nullontario.ca
  • Patricia MacNeil
    Communications Branch
    416-325-2676
    patricia.macneil@nullontario.ca



Ministry of Education
ontario.ca/education


 

"I always look forward to the first day of school and this year, I'm especially excited about the start of full-day kindergarten. It will help prepare our children for a stronger future and help meet the needs of Ontario families. This is the next step in our education plan; a plan that is already working, lowering class sizes, increasing test scores and providing stability in our schools."

 – Leona Dombrowsky
Minister of Education

"Today, over 800 London children will enter their full-day kindergarten classrooms for the first time. Throughout the year, they'll learn new skills and have enriching experiences that will help prepare them academically and socially for Grade 1 and get them on track for future success."

 – Chris Bentley, MPP London West

"Full-day kindergarten is going to make a positive difference in the lives of London children and families. It's a key part of our government's plan to help our kids get a better education and to prepare them for future success."

 – Khalil Ramal, MPP London-Fanshawe

"I'm very pleased that Cleardale Public School is one of the first schools in the area to offer full-day kindergarten. We're looking forward to the year ahead and the opportunities it will bring for our children, their families, our staff and whole school community."

 – Cindy Mann, principal, Cleardale Public School

 
 
 
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