Header
StrongStart

Contact Information:
Early Years Coordinator

Elizabeth Pennell
250-740-3516
epennell@sd68.bc.ca

SCHOOLS
Bayview Elementary 250 754-3231

Fairview Community 250 753-3418

Georgia Avenue Community
250 753-1044

Ladysmith Primary
250 245-3912

McGirr Elementary 
250 758-8946

Quarterway Elementary
250 754-6845

Rutherford Elementary
250 758-5331

Woodbank Primary
250 722-3644

Thanks to the financial support from the Ministry of Education, School District 68 is supporting families to become involved in early learning and providing opportunities where they can spend time learning through play with their children.

Early Development Instrument (EDI) Community Summary

Early Years

 |Programs for Children and Families | Community Partnerships
| SD68 Home page
| Early Years Home page

StrongStart Early Learning Centres

StrongStart Early Learning Centres provide a free drop-in program for children 5 and under and their parent, grandparent, or caregiver. 

School District 68 has eight StrongStart Centres.  The hours of operation vary - see below for times at each centre.

Birth certificates must be provided when registering your child.

Bayview Elementary School - Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 12 noon

Fairview Community School - Monday to Friday 8:45 to 11:45 a.m.

Georgia Avenue Community School - Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 12 noon

Ladysmith Primary - Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 12 noon

McGirr Elementary School - Monday to Friday 8:45 to 11:45 a.m.

Quarterway Elementary School - Monday to Friday 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Rutherford Elementary School - Monday to Friday 8:45 to 11:45 a.m.

Woodbank Primary School - Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Please note StrongStart Centres will be closed on the following days, unless otherwise advised:
September 23 (Quarterway only)September 28
October 10 & 11
October 21
October 26
November 11
November 23
December 14
January 11
February 8
February 20 & 21
March 7
April 23 & 24
May 21
June 13

 

 

 

You and your child will

  • Explore with sand and water
  • Explore art through a variety of activities
  • Develop all the senses
  • Learn songs, enjoy music
  • Learn fingerplays
  • Listen to stories
  • Play dress-up
  • Climb and slide
  • Build with blocks
  • Pretend play with toy animals, puppets, trucks, and dolls
  • Play with natural and real materials

 

Support Early Learning

• Work in partnership with parents, their children, an Early Childhood Educator, and community partners 

• Promote language, physical and social-emotional development of children

• Families and caregivers will be supported to interact with their children to support early learning

• Intended for parents and their children; parents must remain with their child during the session

• Parents and caregivers (grandparents, aunts, uncles, and adult age siblings) may attend with the children in their care

• If you are a paid child care provider, you are welcome to attend but we ask that you bring no more than two children