Early education
Early Years Centres open in three locations across province.
SYDNEY MINES — Classes are full at the Early Years Centre at Jubilee Elementary in Sydney Mines.
Geoff MacLellan, MLA for Glace Bay and the provincial minister of transportation and infrastructure renewal, was on hand Monday for the official opening of the centre, one of three opened across the province.
“It’s an amazing thing to be here, it feels like home,” said MacLellan, who has a three-year-old and a six-monthold. “For me as a parent, it really is about the next generation. This is a very crucial age for children and their development. This is about the children, but also the parents and the families that look after these children. “
He added that it is important to help kids grow and get stronger as they enter their school years.
“As we see here today, the children are having fun, they are learning and are well supported.”
He said Monday’s official opening is an important first step, adding that there is lots of work to do.
“This is a good start for sure, the children are playing and learning in a safe environment with kids their own age.”
The Early Years Centres are located in or near schools, which make them accessible, convenient and familiar places for families in their communities. Each centre is tailored to meet the needs of its community by partnering with local organizations to offer programs and services such as early learning programs for four-year-olds, early intervention, before- and after-school programs, regulated child care and parent education.
Doug and Theresa Hooper have an older daughter who attends Jubilee Elementary.
“Our four-year-old daughter Haley has been coming to the Early Years Centre since February,” said Theresa. “Her development has really come along, she was a little slow when it came to talking, but her speech has really improved.”
Early years Centre staff Laura Lee Fraser and Michelle Dawson each have 26 years experience working with children.
“This is a great move and one that was much needed,” said Dawson. “We have a group in the morning and a second in the afternoon. The children are learning through play, it’s pretty openended.”
She noted some of the children have never been in a school setting.
“They may have only one sibling to share with at home, so here they learn social skills and how to get along with their peers,” she said. “The children are in the building where most will attend school, and they will be with children they already know. This should help make the transition to Grade Primary that much easier.”
Jubilee principal Jack Humphries is delighted with the addition of the Early Years Centre.
“This allows the community to come in to the school, it’s community resources and educators working together,” Humphries said. “And it isn’t just for our school, it’s for both Jubilee and St. Joseph’s Elementary . . . it’s for Sydney Mines.”
Humphries said the playbased program is wonderful in that the children are actively involved in sharing and co-operation.
“It builds communication and play skills, and for our school it’s a big bonus,” he said. “It is also a real blessing for Sydney Mines, it brings everyone together under one roof. The youngsters were part of our winter carnival, they are included in everything. They are using the gym, it’s just a wonderful program on every level.”
Cathy MacNeil, the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board’s co-ordinator of program services for Grade Primary to Grade 6 said the centre connects the community to the school and with community partners and service providers.
“There is a high level of comfort, and parents and families believe they belong to this centre and to the school,” MacNeil said. “This is about a playbased approach for these children to develop the attributes they should develop as four-year-olds.”
MacNeil said it is about oral language development, learning to play together and understanding their emotions.
“These are the skills that are so important for children as they start school.”
JoAnna LaTulippe-Rochon, executive director of the Cape Breton Family Place Resource Centre, said it about service providers taking on the role of making it easier for parents with young children to access programs and services.
“There are lots of community-based organizations and government departments that are so excited about the community space we have here,” she said. “It’s so nice that parents are such a key part, making the school their school.”
She added that sometimes it isn’t the problem of not having the service, but that the person who is in need doesn’t know how to access or who delivers the service.