While it may be the last thing on many parents’ minds, preschool registration is just around the corner for the 2016-17 school year.
“Our 10-month licensed preschool has been growing onsite and we have been expanding into the community,” said West Shore Parks and Recreation manager of recreation, Sandy Clarke.
That expansion includes such initiatives as the KinderPrep preschool program. It’s based at Royal Bay secondary inside the Neighbourhood Learning Centre, a community facility operated by West Shore Parks and Recreation.
“We’re looking to make it a nature-based program,” Clarke said. This will see children experience daily outside time – rain or shine – and will help align the program with others offered in the school district, such as the nature-based kindergartens that are growing in popularity.
Registration for programs begins at 6 a.m. on Feb. 25. But on Feb. 20, open houses are planned to answer any questions parents might have.
Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre, Royal Bay secondary and the Centennial Centre (2805 Carlow Road) in Langford will host information events from 10 a.m. to noon. Each open house will be tailored to programs being offered at that location, with the Nature Preschool program being addressed at Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre.
Another program for children that is gaining a lot of attention, with classes starting now and into the spring, is the aspiring artists program.
“We’ve always had the aspiring artist program in some form,” Clarke said. “Right now, we’re trying to increase the participation.”
She noted they are increasing options for people to participate by adding a number of mediums for children to work in, and by also offering classes outside of typical times.
Clarke attributes the growing success of the program to instructor Heather Hyslop.
“She has a way of really instilling this wonderful interest in art … She makes it more than just sitting down and learning about an art project.”
For more information go to westshorerecreation.ca or aspiringartistsartstudio.weebly.com.
katie@goldstreamgazette.com