Three schools at the Near North District School Board (NNDSB), in the Almaguin Highlands area, will be offering new childcare spaces.
They include: Sundridge Centennial Public School, Magnetawan Central Public School and Land of Lakes Public School in Burk’s Falls.
The initiative involves both NNDSB and the Parry Sound District Social Services Administration Board (PSDSSAB).
In a release, the board says children experience a fun and safe place to build friendships at these childcare centres, engage in a variety of activities, and take part in a program that places a specific focus on outdoor recreation.
Each program is licensed for a minimum of 15 children between the ages of 3.8 and 12 years of age.
All PSDSSAB educators are trained in first aid and CPR.
“Parents in this region of NNDSB will be extremely pleased that the PSDSSAB is offering after-school programs at Land of Lakes, Magnetawan, and Sundridge Centennial (Sundridge is also offering a before school program),” said Gay Smylie, NNDSB Superintendent of Education. “For years parents in this region have hoped that we would be able to host before and after school programs. We are grateful to the PSDSSAB for working alongside our Early Years team to make this a reality for the families in this area.”
“We are pleased to announce the expansion of our school-age program this September, which will now provide more options in more schools for before and after school care for families with children from Kindergarten to age 12,” said Brenda Wiltshire, Manager of Directly Operated Child Care Programs at the PSDSSAB. “This expansion comes in response to the feedback received through the Child Care Needs Survey distributed earlier this year, which helped us better understand the need for childcare for school-age children throughout the district. We are grateful for the ongoing collaboration with the Near North District School Board, a partnership that has helped make these programs possible.”
These additional programs bring NNDSB’s total to 16 schools offering either before and/or after-school childcare programs.
