Richmond’s Strong Start program for pre-school aged toddlers celebrate its 10th year May 22 at Mitchell elementary.
Strong Start is a free, province-wide program aimed at familiarizing parents and children with the elementary school system. In Richmond, it exists at five schools: Mitchell, Woodward, Grauer, Errington and Thompson.
Richmond School District assistant superintendent Lynn Archer welcomed dozens of families to the tea and cake party.
“We have a responsibility as a society to come together for our children and ensure children are as successful as they can be in life,” said Archer.
The district’s early childhood education consultant Marie Thom said about 1,000 children visit Strong Start each year and about 200 attend the two-and-a-half hour sessions on a routine basis at any given time.
Here, toddlers play games and read stories with their parents or guardians and amidst other children.
Maryam Sadiq told the Richmond News her two pre-Kindergarten children have benefitted greatly from the program at Mitchell.
“I see him learning. That’s the most important thing for me. My son wasn’t very social so he socialized more here,” said Sadiq.
Strong Start teacher Irina Naverniouk said, due to space, not every school can accommodate a morning and/or afternoon session for the toddlers.
Plus, “sometimes we’re loud, sometimes we’re messy,” quipped Naverniouk, one of many certified early childhood educators at Strong Start.
“But we feel part of the school family,” she said.
Parents are always welcome to bring their children to the drop-in program, which requires parental supervision.
“I have some complicated puzzles for parents!” quipped Naverniouk.
More information at: SD38.bc.ca/Programs/Early-Learning-Programs.
