Find out when your school will make the transition

 

FDK Roll Out - List of Schools

Questions?

If you want to discuss this issue with your child's school or your local MPP, but aren't sure what questions to ask, check out the list of questions that we've compiled. 

Questions to ask. 

 

If you have additional questions or want to share your concerns, email:

elpandme@owlchildcare.org

Media Coverage

Click here to view various articles, editorials and letters to the editor concerning the implementation of full day kindergarten's extended day program in Waterloo Region.

Media Coverage

Key Contacts  

MPPs 

Trustees

 

 

What you should know about changes coming to Before  & After School Care for 4-7 year olds

 

Plus: What it means for families with infants, toddlers, preschoolers and children 8-12 years of age

 

Full-day kindergarten is coming to Ontario schools. In September 2012, John Sweeney, Pope John Paul II and St. Luke will begin offering this program. St. Nicholas will follow in 2013 and then St. Matthew and Our Lady of Fatima in 2014.

 

Owl is diligently working on your behalf to maintain quality care. We are evaluating and will apply cost saving measures within the current funding framework. Ultimately, we are concerned that this funding model coupled with the early learning program won’t work.

To this end, Owl is a member of the Waterloo Region Early Learning Coalition - a group of six child care operators who are working together to inform parents and identify how the extended day program will impact the child care delivery system.

 

 

As a taxpayer, you have a say. Your voice, as a parent whose family is impacted by the new extended day program, is important. You can make a difference. 

The Facts

Waterloo Region Boards of Education are the only English-language Boards in the province that plan to provide board-run extended day programs for children in Jk to Grade 2. Parents, caregivers and the community have not had an opportunity to provide meaningful input. Consultations are required so that parents and caregivers can give feedback on what child care choices they prefer and to discuss the pros and cons of alternate delivery models.

Until recently, both Boards of Education have indicated that they would be the only providers of care for this age group. In theory, a board-run delivery model is wonderful. Unfortunately, there are many unintended negative consequences such as:

  • higher costs for before and after school care-up to $2,000 per child for 10 months of care
  • an increase in child care costs for younger children by as much as 30% 
  • uncertainty about programs for 8-12  year olds
  • licensed summer care that suits parents' work schedules will be unavailable
  • a loss of over 500 hundred licensed child care spaces in the Region

The school boards' position is not consistent with recent statements  by Premier Dalton McGuinty and Education Minister Laurel Broten who have both spoken in favour of the hybrid model (i.e., where third parties continue to operate the programs where they currently exist and the school board operates the program in schools where there is no on-site third party operator) for delivering before and after school care for 4 - 7 year olds.

WCDSB Update  - January 30, 2012

On January 30, 2012, the Waterloo Catholic District School Board informed Trustees, parents and child care operators via a News Release that they will offer a board-run extended day program in all FDK schools in 2012/2013. In addition, the WCDSB confirmed that child care operators (who are currently operating programs in these schools) may continue to do so - for the same age group, at the same time.

Having two programs running parallel to each other provides parents with the desired choice to decide what is best for their family. The WCDSB will ask parents to complete their viability survey in February and March. Viability of the board-run extended day program for JK-Grade 2 will be determined based on those registered as of March 9, 2012. A program requires 10 participants to be viable. The child care operators, such as Owl, will determine viability for their own programs based on their own enrolment and wait list processes.

What does this mean for my family?

The recent update from the Waterloo Catholic District School Board is good news for Owl families. That being said, there are still unanswered questions. Some things to consider:

  • Will there be space for two programs to run at the same time?
  • If the JKK room in the child care centre is transitioned for younger children, can Owl negotiate with the WCDSB to obtain more space in the school to acomodate JKK children after school in addition to the the current school-age program for Grades 1-5?
  • How do the two programs compare? Which is best for your family?

Our attention is now shifting to how we market our program and negotiating for suitable space for our programs for the 2012/2013 school year.

What's next?

At this point in time, we are planning to continue with our school-age before and after school programs for children in Grades 1-5. We are confident that we can work out the space requirements to also accomodate an after school program for children in JKK.

Parents should sign up for the program of their choice. Owl will conduct it's Summer/September enrolment as usual.


How can I get involved?

  1. Get involved with the local parent's groups who are advocating on behalf of all conerned parents. 
  2. Talk to your school Principal to learn more about how full-day kindergarten - including the extended day program - is being implemented at your school.
  3. Talk to your MPP or School Board Trustee.
    We can assist you with questions to ask, if you wish.