With both Grade 1 students and kindergarten students entering the system for the first time, it is important to make sure we have the safety of all students in mind when we start this new school year, said Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, Doug Currie.
“To ensure the safety of all students starting school this year, the department, in consultation with school boards and teachers, has set September 9 as the start date for kindergarten classes across the province,” said Minister Currie. “This two-day grace period will allow schools to welcome one new group of students at a time and will make sure that the first day of school runs as smoothly as possible.”
This coming September will be unique for elementary schools across the province with the arrival of two different groups of new students entering the system for the first time. In order to ensure the safety of every student, kindergarten children will begin school two days later on September 9, 2010.
“The first day of school can be exciting and challenging for children, parents and educators,” said Minister Currie. “Each year, bus drivers, teachers, principals and staff do a wonderful job to ensure the safe arrival and dismissal of first-time students. Having both new grades coming in on the same day would increase the chances of someone getting on the wrong bus or getting off at the wrong stop and that is a chance we do not want to take.”
The delay in the start date for kindergarten students is for this year only, as this will be the only time a double cohort of students will occur.