THUNDER BAY, ON - January 12, 2010 - Local children and their families will benefit from an integrated day of learning and play when full-day early learning comes to Thunder Bay-Atikokan this September.

Full-day early learning for four- and five-year-olds will be available at the following schools within the riding:

St. Vincent School, Thunder Bay
McKellar Park School, Thunder Bay
Sherbrooke School, Thunder Bay
Westmount School, Thunder Bay
St. Patrick’s School, Atikokan
North Star Community School, Atikokan

Parents who are interested in registration for full-day learning classes, including the before- and after-school program, should contact their local school or school board.

In full-day learning classrooms, teachers and registered early childhood educators will work together to help children learn and develop emotional, social and academic skills that are crucial for healthy development.  Schools will also offer extended day programs led by early childhood educators.  Parents may enroll their child in these integrated programs for a reasonable fee, giving children even more opportunities to learn, play and grow.

Ontario is investing in the education of our youngest students to better prepare them for future success. The goal is for all schools to offer full-day learning by 2015-16.

"Early learning has been established as one of the best things that can be done by government to give our children the best possible start in life.  Today's announcement once again demonstrates our government’s ongoing commitment to education in our province, in spite of the difficult economic cycle in which we find ourselves." 

-- Bill Mauro, MPP Thunder Bay-Atikokan

“Through our experience with Full Day Learning at Lakehead Public Schools, we know that this program will be extremely valuable for students, as it will build strong foundations for learning that will have profound influence on future student success.  We have experienced great success through a similar model that clearly demonstrates the working partnerships between Early Childhood Educators and Teachers.”

-- Cathi Siemieniuk, Director of Education, Lakehead Public Schools

“Our Government is to be applauded for this bold and most progressive step in investing in our future. The research and the data clearly indicate that early learning will have a positive long-term impact on improving achievement for the youngest of our learners.”

-- John De Faveri, Director of Education, Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board

"The Rainy River District School Board has been providing all day Senior Kindergarten since September 2005 and has seen the benefits of all day programming. We welcome the move to include the Junior Kindergarten students in all day programming and recognize the value that the Early Learning initiative brings to education."

-- Jack McMaster, Director of Education, Rainy River District School Board

“By giving our four- and five-year-olds a stronger start in school, we’re giving them a stronger start in life. Full-day early learning will help more children, their families and Ontario’s communities thrive.”

-- Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Education

Up to 35,000 four- and five-year-olds in nearly 600 Ontario schools will attend full-day early learning in September.

The full list of schools is available at  http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/earlylearning

As part of the full-day learning initiative, parents can choose to enroll their child in integrated before- and after-school programs for a reasonable fee. Subsidies will be available for some families, based on financial need.

Full-day early learning will help students with their reading, writing and math skills, provide a smoother transition to Grade 1, help more students achieve success at school, and help create a stronger economy for the future.

See how full-day learning is part of Ontario’s plan to reduce poverty. 
Find out more about full-day learning.