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Getting a head start

New preschool program unveiled this week

Christine Kay
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Sep 09/02) - Pre-schoolers will be getting a jump start thanks to a new program in Iqaluit called Hand in Hand.

The program is set to start this week.

It will be held in English on Monday and Wednesday. Inuktitut preschool will be on Tuesday and Thursday.

Each program can handle up to 14 three- and four-year-olds.

"We will be holding an ongoing registration as long as there are spaces available," said Hand in Hand's executive director, Norma Jean Johnson.

Parents will have the choice of deciding between the English and the Inuktitut program.

The centre, however, suggests choosing the same language the child will be learning in primary school.

Johnson said she hopes to rent out a hall sometime this year to get everyone together.

She even plans to invite Iqaluit's French preschool to the event as well.

Johnson hopes the kids from each language group will have a chance to get to know each other and have a little fun at the same time.

"It's amazing how much children can learn and how much they are eager to learn is you make it fun and active," said Johnson.

The preschool's schedule is dominated by activities geared toward learning and if Johnson is correct it will soon be full of eager kids.

"The teachers have 20 minutes of the morning to introduce new things to the children," said Johnson.

But the rest of the time, the children will be expected to make their own play plans.

Some may decide to build a house out of blocks, others may decide to make a puzzle.

Once they are done, they will have to clean up and review what they learned.

Although parents are not required to stay during the programming, they are asked to get involved.

"Parents are the first and most important teachers" said Johnson.

With this in mind, the preschool is equipped with a lending library made up of books, toys and videotapes. Parents can take these home and learn with their children.

The preschool program is part of a new Community Family Resource Centre. It will provide parents with information on prenatal nutrition, cooking class, and even with home visits.

The services from this centre are generally geared toward parents from the beginning of a mother's pregnancy until the child reaches one year of age.

The preschool and the Family Resource Centre are both at building 659A.

All of the services offered at the Family Resource Centre, including the preschool, will be free.