Community Programs

Strong Start:

Strong Start BC programs provide rich learning environments designed for early learning development – language, physical, cognitive, social, and emotional. Qualified early childhood educators lead learning activities where children aged birth to five find opportunities to make friends and interact with others of similar ages. We currently offer Strong Start programs at Squamish Elementary, Valleycliffe Elementary, and Signal Hill Elementary.

Supporting Parents Along the Road to Kindergarten:

S.P.A.R.K (Supporting Parents Along the Road to Kindergarten) is a program funded by British

Columbia Ministry of Children and Family Development and Sea to Sky School District #48 and is for caregivers whose children are newborn to age 5. Caregivers learn important strategies and fun activities that offer vital support to their child's early learning in a 90-minute live Zoom session every fall, winter, and spring until their child enters kindergarten. Families are provided with materials and toys when they participate in the program.

Seamless Day:

The Seamless Day program for primary aged children is currently being piloted at Brackendale Elementary. Certified early childhood educators provide before and after school care at the school and work alongside the kindergarten teacher during the school day to provide a seamless day for the children and families enrolled in the program.

Roots of Empathy:

The Roots of Empathy program allows students to connect with the vulnerability and humanity of a baby who visits their classroom throughout the school year with their parent(s), along with a trained Roots of Empathy Instructor using a specialized curriculum. Children are given opportunities to discuss their feelings and listen to the feelings of others, deepening the development of emotional literacy (affective empathy) and perspective taking skills (cognitive empathy).

Language Development:

Indigenous language development programs