SD10 Early Learning

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Welcome to School District 10’s Early Learning page. With a focus on learners from StrongStart through Grade 3, the purpose of this site is to celebrate our children and the adults who work to support and nurture their learning.

Focus on Early Learning

A focus on Early Learning (0-8 years old) is key to our children’s success. We invest in early learning before children enter school through Strong Start  and Ready, Set Learn programs, support early learners and their families once they enter school, and provide strong early learning programs throughout their primary school years. This approach is aligned with the Ministry of Education’s Early Learning Framework.

In SD 10, we work closely with our pre-school education programs and with our Strong Start Centres, ensuring that young children have smooth and successful transitions from pre-K into their Kindergarten years. At the primary level, Grades K-3, our talented early learning educators, do all they can to support children’s social-emotional, intellectual, physical and developmental needs.

In order to meet the diverse needs of our learners, we recognize the importance of partnering with families and caregivers to play our part in the provision of early learning experiences to our future learners during their 0-5 years.  We recognize and support early learning through play-based activities that support young children’s capacity for learning, their natural curiosity and their desire to learn and embed many Reggio Emilia Approach principles in our early learning programs.

Early Years Plan

Early childhood launches the journey of lifelong learning.  Current research refers to the first 8 years of life as formative years when children are particularly receptive to environmental and biological factors.  These factors create the neural connections and pathways that affect their physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and creative capacities over their lifetimes.  Rich early learning experiences in homes, schools, and communities set the very foundation of children’s health and well-being, sense of community and social life, secure sense of self, healthy spirit of adventure, respectful relationships and character as a learner.  Ensuring success in the early years is a research proven way to pave the way to success throughout an individual’s life .

Vision

A district wherein children learn in the spirit of wonder and joy, and are celebrated for their uniqueness and potential.

Mission

To provide rich early learning experiences and environments, which stimulate children’s thinking, creativity and engagement, contributing to their development as citizens of the world. We do this through supporting the professional growth of our educators and connecting with the greater school community.

Guiding Principles

  • Families are the first and most powerful influence on their child’s learning, development, health and well-being.
  • Learning is holistic, reflexive, reflective, experiential, and relational (focused on connectedness, on reciprocal relationships and a sense of place).
  • Children are curious, competent, capable of complex thinking, and recognized as citizens who contribute to society.
  • Play is integral to well-being and learning.
  • Providing opportunities and supports for all children to have access to, and contribute to, a rich learning experience with their peers.
  • Inclusive and engaging environments and experiences foster playful inquiry, children’s well-being, holistic learning, and development.

Creating Rich Early Learning Experiences that extend throughout a students’ learning journey

Goal 1

Continue to support meaningful and innovative educational practices from 0 – 8 years and beyond.

Objective 1
Expand and support professional learning opportunities and nurture pedagogical leadership around playful inquiry in the early years.

Action

  • Create and support opportunities for innovation around Early Learning practice
  • Ensure continuity of learning and alignment of pedagogy across the early years.
  • Create and expand communities of practice through opportunities such as Reggio Study Tour, Opal Study Tour, documentation network, Changing Results 4 Young Children, Pedagogy of Play BC Network, POPEY (Provincial Outreach Program Early Years) Workshops, Story Workshop, and Story Studios.
  • Provide multi-modal entry points for professional learning, such as online courses and webcast series.

Objective 2
Provide open-ended and culturally responsive materials and experiences to create environments for experimentation and transformation.

Action

  • Develop a list of recommended open-ended and culturally responsive materials and resources for Kindergarten to grade 3.
  • Create pop-up experiences for educators to engage in playful exploration of materials.

Objective 3
Support the implementation of the BC Early Learning Framework through professional learning and collaborative inquiry.

Action

  • Engage in critically reflective dialogue through learning teams that include Early Childhood Educators (CR4YC, inquiries/projects).
  • Develop an Early Years Professional Learning Series.
  • Teacher/District team to introduce the BC EL Framework to staff.

Nurturing Our Relationship with Families as Partners

Goal 2

Engage with Families in their Child’s Learning and Well-being

Objective 1
Continue to support the transition from early care to school.

Action

  • Expand “Welcome to Our School” Kindergarten initiative.
  • Support meaningful and innovative gradual entry practices.
  • Expand on our relationship with GAP Interagency Committee and community partners to include the early years

Objective 2
Communicate student’s learning through authentic practices that reflect a holistic cross-curricular perspective.

Action

  • Make learning visible through practices, such as pedagogical narration and documentation. 
  • Continue to develop ways to communicate student learning in the early years with families in an authentic and meaningful way

Early Learning Programs

Strong Start Centres

A drop-in program for children age 0-5 and their parent or caregiver, StrongStart programs serve the needs of children and families in Nakusp, New Denver, Burton, Fauquier and Edgewood.  Nakusp and New Denver StrongStart centres are open five days per week and operate with the regular school calendar. Burton, Fauquier, and Edgewood Strong Start Centres operate in each location one day per week for a total of three days per week .

Daily schedules include free play, arts and crafts, clean up, snack, gym, circle time, and good byes!

New Denver Strong Start Hours
Monday, Wednesday and Friday :  9:00am – 12:00 pm
Tuesday and Thursday:  2:00pm – 5:00 pm

Nakusp Strong Start Hours
Monday, Wednesday and Friday :  8:45am – 11:45am
Tuesday and Thursday:  12:30pm – 3:30 pm

* For Nakusp StrongStart You can also follow news and upcoming events by requesting to join the Nakusp Early Years Group Facebook Page: Nakusp Early Years Facebook Group – Strong Start

Burton, Fauquier, Edgewood Strong Start Hours
Burton: Tuesday 11:00am – 2:00pm
Edgewood: Wednesday 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Fauquier: Thursday 8:30am – 11:30am

Edgewood School Website: Edgewood Elementary School – Strong Start, Early Learning

Getting Ready for Kindergarten

Starting Kindergarten is an exciting milestone, and it can also create anxiety for children and their parents. For more information, and tips on transitioning to Kindergarten, please download a school brochure below.

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Our District

School District 10 Arrow Lakes serves the communities of north Slocan Lake and the Arrow Lakes with schools and programs in Nakusp, Edgewood, Burton and New Denver.

Our innovative approach to learning and the beautiful mountain settings that surround these communities, provide our students with unique learning experiences that gain praise in our province and beyond. We are well-recognized for innovation in place-conscious learning, environmental education, and for creatively personalizing learning experiences for our students.

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