Two Orléans schools will offer full-day kindergarten next fall, subject to approval from the Ontario Ministry of Education

The Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) has recommended that Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic School in Orléans be included to have full-day kindergarten for the 2010-2011 school year, while the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) has suggested that Convent Glen Elementary School offer the same program.

Stephen Blais, OCSB trustee for Orléans-Cumberland introduced the motion at a recent board meeting that would see 11 Catholic schools in Ottawa receive the Early Learning Program for the next school year.

"This is exciting news for families in Orléans," said Blais of Our Lady of Wisdom, which is situated in Queenswood Heights. "Full-day kindergarten will help families avoid some expensive childcare costs and will lead to greater students success."

The Early Learning Program is being phased out by the province over five years. The OCSB received enough funding for the next year to cover the 11 schools, and trustees felt it was important to have broad geographic representation in the schools.

The criteria set out by the province included community need, student achievement, readiness to implement the program and space availability.

The recommendations will still need to be approved by the Ministry of Education, and if it is approved, all 11 schools will have the program by the 2015-2016 school year.

Blais added that it is safe to say that all schools in Orléans would meet all the criteria with the exception of space availability. Our Lady of Wisdom has the space needed to have the program next school year without any capital additions to the school.

According to board statistics, children who attend full-day learning programs have improved academic performance and social success when they enter grade one.

As part of the program, four and five-year-olds will learn under the guidance of a teacher and an early childhood instructor.

"The most successful societies of the future will be the best educated," said Blais. "By investing in full-day learning, we are investing in the future success of our children and our nation."

Parents may also enrol their child for extended hours for a reasonable fee, before and after school hours.

"This is still being worked out," said Blais. "The province has indicated the program must operate on a cost recovery basis to maintain its affordability for parents. These details will come out as we move forward towards implementation and will depend a great deal on the interest of parents."

11 of the OCDSB's schools in Ottawa will implement the program over the next five years if approved by the province.

"Convent Glen ES is the perfect school to launch this exciting new program," said John Shea, OCDSB trustee for Orléans-Cumberland." It is a wonderful community school with a dedicated and highly professional staff. All day kindergarten will be a great complement to the school's thriving English and French Immersion programs."