Students in four Foothills School Division schools will be able to take part in a full time kindergarten program.

They'll be run at Spitzee Elementary in High River, at Dr. Morris Gibson School and Big Rock Elementary in Okotoks and at C. Ian McLaren in Black Diamond.

The Director of Student Learning from Junior Kindergarten to Grade Six, Miriam Ramzy says it's fully subscribed now and there's even a wait list.

"From the very beginning we heard from community members and parents and teachers, all of our stakeholders that this was something they were looking for so we had high hopes we would be able to run all four (schools) and are really grateful and so excited that we are moving forward with the four programs next September," she says.

She says it'll use the current kindergarten curriculum but spread it out more to give students more time with it.

"The focus is on the kindergarten curriculum so it's not an acceleration program, we are just taking more time and really deepening learning and experiences all through play, through that kindergarten curriculum for students," she says. "There's twice the opportunity double the time to really dig in and sustain that engagement on big ideas and concepts throughout the year, but again all through that kindergarten curriculum."

She says the division was accepting up to 25 students in each program and now have a waiting list and that'll be watched to see if there's an opportunity to expand the program further in the fall.

 

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