Children First Centre prepares for challenges
More staff changes announced at East Three School
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Thursday, May 25, 2017
INUVIK
With the introduction of junior kindergarten at East Three School next fall, the Children First Centre is preparing for ways it might have to adapt its programming.
Madison Francis, left, and Sierra McDonald practise their roles in How Tulugaq the Raven Stole the Sun, which students from East Three School will be performing this weekend. Show times are 7 p.m. Friday, May 26; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, May 28. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo
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"It's really hard to tell what the true impact will be until junior kindergarten starts and the families start making decisions regarding their children and what they want for them," said Patricia Davison, executive director of the centre.
An estimated 60 students will be entering the junior kindergarten system next year.
The school is planning to run two half-day classes, with about 15 students in each, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Davison said the Children First board has been discussing strategies about what the centre should do depending on how junior kindergarten rolls out.
The centre already has half-time programs for three- and four-year-olds, so it's prepared to handle the split schedule with East Three School, should parents have their children involved in both institutions.
Asked if junior kindergarten means competition for the Children First Centre, Davison said she sees the school as a partner.
"Both East three and ourselves are working under the umbrella of (the Department of) Education, Culture and Employment to better meet the needs of children and their families," she said. "I see them as a partner and we've been in lots of discussions with them and we'll continue to be, I'm sure."
The Children First Centre offers a wide range of programs for children from newborn to 12 years of age.
East Three School Principal Deborah Reid said the school has received funding for resources for junior kindergarten, some of which will be going to the installation of a bathroom in one of the classrooms.
Both Reid and East Three Secondary School Vice-Principal Lorne Guy will be leaving Inuvik at the end of the school year.
Guy is headed to a position in Nova Scotia, after 15 years in town, and Reid will
be moving to a position in Hay River.
At the Inuvik District Education Authority meeting last week, it was announced that former teacher Gene Jenks will be back in a principal role on the secondary side of the school next fall.
Genks, in an e-mail to the Inuvik Drum, said he's excited to head back to the school but would like the actions of the school to do the talking.
East Three will have a principal for each side of the school, secondary and elementary, next year, instead of the current system, which has Reid oversee the entire school with separate vice-principals.
Also at the DEA meeting, Reid said the school has had ongoing challenges in getting enough substitute teachers, and chair Lesa Semmler said the board has had little information on junior kindergarten.
"We officially haven't gotten anything as (the) DEA in writing, nothing," said Semmler about junior kindergarten information from the GNWT.
