NOTE: This story was updated Oct. 8 with new details about the Richard McBride Elementary sessions.
StrongStart Early Learning Centres are up and running in New Westminster schools starting this week – but with a few new COVID-19 restrictions.
The free centres are aimed at preschool children from infancy up to age five, along with their parents and caregivers. They’re run by early childhood educators who lead activities for parents and kids – including stories, music and art – all aimed at learning through play.
The programs have been modified this year because of COVID-19 safety protocols.
While the centres used to be open on a drop-in basis and often packed to capacity, this year’s programs will require families to sign up ahead for a one-hour session, and a maximum of four families will be allowed at each session. Families (one adult and up to three children) can register for a maximum of two sessions a week.
As with schools, caregivers are required to perform a daily health check for themselves and the children in their care before attending a session, and on-site leaders will also ask health-check questions when families arrive.
Adults are required to wear masks; families can make their own personal choice about mask wearing for young children.
Starting today (Monday, Oct. 5), the StrongStart centre at Queensborough Middle School is open Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Connaught Heights Elementary School’s centre is open 9 to 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. to noon.
The centre at Richard McBride Elementary School is set to open Nov. 2, with one-hour sessions at 10:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. each weekday.
Anyone who hasn’t attended before needs to fill out a registration form and provide a piece of ID for the child (birth certificate or passport).
Sessions can be booked at the new online registration site at https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/[email protected]/bookings/
See all the info at the New West schools website here.
