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Cornwall committee recognized for easing transition of students into kindergarten
A joint committee dedicated to ensur- ing parent involvement in preparing chil- dren for success in kindergarten has been honoured with a national award from The Learning Partnership. The Cornwall and Area Welcome to Kinder- garten/FACES Steering Committee, which includes representatives from Upper Canada District School Board elementary schools, was recognized with a Welcome to Kinder- garten Award for Partnership Excellence. The committee was cited for a program that builds on the successful Welcome to Kindergarten initiative by encouraging greater parental involvement in preparing children for a successful start to kindergar- ten. The program allows preschoolers and their parents to visit the kindergarten class- room they will attend in the weeks leading up to their first school year. It also provides resources parents can use to ready their children for their first day of school. Sheila MacIntyre, a program resource teacher with the Upper Canada District School Board and co-chair of the commit- tee, was elated with the award. “I think it is
just awesome for the steering committee to receive this recognition; however, it would not have been possible without the en- ergy and commitment of the kindergarten teams from our participating schools,” said MacIntyre. “It is quite an honour.” The committee’s work is an extension of the Welcome to Kindergarten Program in the Cornwall area. The program encourages additional school visits by a parent and their child – the number varies depending on the school – in the weeks and months leading up to the child’s first day of kindergarten. There is also a follow-up visit that takes place between September and November. Parents visit the school with their pre- school child and learn how to do every- thing from making healthy snacks to boost- ing numeracy skills. The program has also developed “Family Fun Kits” – packages families can take home that encourage parents to cultivate basic skills in their chil- dren through play-based learning. The kits provide everything from finger puppets for storytelling to a set of dice to develop early math skills.
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The Riverside Artists Co-Op’s first show will take place on Saturday fro m 10a. m . to 4 p. m . at the St Lawrence Power Develop m ent Centre at the Ontario Power Generation station at the end of Second Street West. Pictured. front fro m left, are Karen Boots and Mai Liis Renaud. In back fro m left are Marc Carrière, Ro x anne Delage, Ki m berly Ca m eron, and Julia Lucio.
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