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The Ministry of Education has mandated the implementation of Full Day Kindergarten (FDK) in British Columbia, with the intention that the new program will be available for up to half of B.C.'s eligible students in September 2010, and for all eligible students in September 2011.  While FDK must be offered in all districts and all schools in 2011, there is no specific target for a school district and no requirement for any particular school in 2010.  As of November 18th, the District has not been advised which schools the Ministry will approve for full-day Kindergarten in the 2010/2011 school year.

In a letter sent to all school districts on September 30, the Ministry asked all school districts in British Columbia to submit a proposal by November 1, 2009, identifying how they would implement year one of FDK starting in September 2010. The plan identified schools based on clearly-defined criteria provided by the Ministry. Criteria to be considered include:

  • Recruitment of Kindergarten teachers for September 2010;
  • Using available space for FDK program expansion;
  • Reaching children from neighbourhoods with high levels of child vulnerability first;
  • Ensuring that expanded kindergarten addresses overall child development, based on the existing prescribed learning outcomes for Kindergarten;
  • Maintaining Strong Start Early Learning Programs and existing Child Care Services in schools;
  • Offering childcare before and after full day K;
  • The understanding that no capital funding will be provided to build or purchase new classrooms for year one, and that a government-sponsored analysis of capital needed for full implementation is underway for year two and beyond.
This list of proposed School District #38 (Richmond) schools has been submitted and will be reviewed by the Ministry of Education.  We hope to receive back from the Ministry an approved list of sites by the end of December, 2009. At that point, we will inform the schools, and will put in place a communication plan for parents and staff.

General Parent Information Evenings for those parents who will be registering their children for Kindergarten beginning in September 2010 have been scheduled for:

Tuesday, January 12, 2010 7:00 - 8:00 pm: Lord Byng Elementary School, 3711 Georgia St., Richmond, BC
Wednesday, January 13, 2010 7:00 - 8:00 pm: Talmey Elementary School, 9500 Kilby Drive, Richmond, BC

Program specific meetings:

Kindergarten Information Evening for Parents of Students with Special Needs:

Wednesday, January 20, 2010 7:00 - 8:00 pm: Ferris Elementary School, 7520 Sunnymede Cres., Richmond, BC

Early French Immersion Kindergarten Parent Information Evening:

Wednesday, January 27, 2010 7:00 - 8:00 pm: Mitchell Elementary School, 12091 Cambie Road, Richmond, BC

Montessori Kindergarten Parent Information Evening:

Thursday, February 4, 2010 7:00 - 8:00 pm: Garden City Elementary School, 8311 Garden City Road, Richmond, BC

For more information on the Full Day Kindergarten program, visit: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/early_learning/full_day_kindergarten.htm