List of selected schools forwarded to Ministry of Education for approval

As part of the December 2, 2009 Board agenda, Halton District School Board trustees reviewed and discussed the Board’s implementation plan for the first year of full-day Kindergarten for 4 and 5 year olds.

The Early Learning Program (ELP) will be implemented during the next five years, with 15% of Junior and Senior Kindergarten students participating in the program in the first year. In Halton, this will involve 36 classes, for a total of 936 students.

In selecting school sites for Year One of the ELP implementation, the Ministry of Education required the Halton District School Board to work collaboratively with the Halton Catholic District School Board and the Region of Halton, and consider the following criteria:

• available space within the school;
• availability of purpose built kindergarten rooms;
• community factors, including demographics and local needs;
• impact on co-terminus Board and regional child care, and
• identified needs in Board Improvement Plan.

It is important to note there is no capital funding available in the first year of implementation. 

The following schools have been selected for Year One of the Early Learning Program in the Halton District School Board:

North Area
P.L. Robertson Public School (Milton) – 6 classes projected
Escarpment View Public School (Milton) – 6 classes projected

East Area (Oakville)
Clearview elementary school (new) – 2 classes projected
Palermo elementary school (new) – 4 classes projected
W.H. Morden Public School – 1 class projected
Abbey Lane Public School – 3 classes projected
Oakwood Public School – 2 classes projected

West Area (Burlington)
Kings Road Public School – 3 classes projected
Mohawk Gardens Public School – 5 classes projected
Tom Thomson Public School – 2 classes projected
Lakeshore Public School – 2 classes projected

The list of school sites was submitted to the Ministry in accordance with its deadline of November 30, 2009. Confirmation of these sites is subject to Ministry approval. Once confirmed, this information will be communicated to the affected schools and their communities.

Selection of Year Two sites is currently under consideration and will be dependent on direction from the Ministry and the availability of capital and operating funding.

Parents are advised to check the Halton District School Board website (www.hdsb.ca) for more information regarding the 5-year implementation of the Early Learning Program.

For additional information, contact:
W. Joudrie, Director of Education
Halton District School Board 
(905) 335-3663, (905) 842-3014, (905) 878-8451