All Schools To Make Switch in September, 2008

Kitchener – The Waterloo Catholic District School Board today announced that full implementation of an “all day – alternate day” Kindergarten program in all 47 of Waterloo Region’s Catholic elementary schools will be completed in September, 2008.

The project is currently being piloted in nine schools.

While 41 schools were originally scheduled to permanently make the switch to “all day – alternate day” Kindergarten in September, 2008 -- and six schools planned to remain on half day schedules -- the remaining six schools will now make a permanent switch as well. The six remaining schools are:

Blessed Sacrament (Kitchener);

Christ The King (Cambridge);

Holy Rosary (Waterloo);

St. Gregory (Cambridge);

St. John (Kitchener);

St. Patrick (Kitchener).

Bringing the JK/SK programs at the final six schools into line with the rest of the school system will position the Board to make an easier transition when the Ontario Government begins implementing full day Senior Kindergarten in 2010. The move also allows the Board to more effectively manage student transportation costs by removing the last remaining need for noon hour bus transportation.

Given the inevitability of the coming provincial all day learning model, creating consistency across the system immediately will allow better training and program supports for Kindergarten teachers going forward. The move will also ensure the many new JK and SK students who register in Waterloo Region’s Catholic Schools or transfer between schools during the year will from now on have the same programs and structures regardless of location.