Ochre Park School has PreK/Kindergarten Open House

Megan Suitor

Those interested in enrolling their children in the PreK or Kindergarten programs at Ochre Park School were invited to an open house on the evening of February 16.

The school’s principal, Mr. Calvin Anhorn, vice principal Jenaia Gingras and Sturgeon Public School Board Director of Learning Shelley Greenwood were on hand to answer questions and provide a face to a name for parents.

Mrs. Tarra Larson, the PreK teacher at the school, presented details about what the program entails and how to apply for your child to be part of the program.

“Screening is required for this program,” explained Mrs. Larson. “The district begins screening in March, and children must be accompanied by a legal guardian.”

Bookings for screening appointments can be made by calling the central office at 780-939-4341 ext. 1257. Children enter the program primarily because of a need for speech and language help or because of behavioural difficulties.

The PreK program is based on learning through play.

“We don’t do worksheets because that isn’t how a three-year-old’s brain works,” said Mrs. Larson. “We nurture strengths and curiosities, and our number one goal is to create a relationship with your kiddo.”

Children in the program have access to an array of specialists, including a speech and language practitioner, an occupational therapist, and an educational psychologist.

The kindergarten open house was presented by teacher Mrs. Geneva Fossen.

Children who attend kindergarten at Ochre Park are split into K1 and K2, with K1 attending on Mondays and Wednesdays and K2 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fridays alternate between the classes.

Similar to PreK, the program is structured to be child-centered and play-based, but Mrs. Fossen explained, “the new curriculum has quite a few skills that we have to expose the kids to.”

After registering, before school begins in the fall, students will attend a staggered entry that consists of a couple of students.

“It eases some of the anxiety because when the children come back for their first full day, they will at least know a couple of other students,” said Mrs. Fossen. Parents are notified of their child’s staggered entry day in August.

Bussing is available for all students for morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. There is, however, no midday bussing available for students in PreK who end their day at 11:20 a.m.

Children who were born in 2020 are eligible for junior PreK, while students born in 2019 can enter senior PreK. Those born in 2018 can enter kindergarten.