The Board of Education is continuing their support of Early Learning and Childcare services in the Cowichan Valley with new investments in child care facilities, expanded before and out of school care programs, and personnel.
New childcare centres are being readied for early learners at Khowhemun Elementary, Cowichan Valley Open Learning (CVOLC), Chemainus Elementary, and Palsson Elementary. These new centres will be operated by non-profit partners and will be open for September, 2022. The new centres will begin serving the community next year, while one additional centre will be built alongside the new Cowichan Secondary School and is scheduled to open spring of 2023.
The Board is also expanding the out of school care programs to select school sites. This year, the Board launched an immensely popular trial program of out of school care at Bench Elementary. With this success, the Board voted to expand the programs at interested elementary schools for the 2022/23 school year.
Finally, to help the district navigate the transition to childcare providers under the new Ministry mandate, the Board has created a position for an Early Learning and Care Manager. This new position will help provide a seamless transition as the Board navigates these new responsibilities.
“We know that we can greatly help our community, and provide exceptional opportunities for our children to learn by continuing to strongly invest in early learning and childcare,” said Candace Spilsbury, Chair of the Board of Education for the Cowichan Valley School District. “We know that providing for our community goes beyond education, and we’re investing to ensure that we can continue to provide these opportunities.”
More information on the childcare facilities and the out of school care will be released in the coming months.