Nature Kindergarten – Registration Day Update – February 6th

 

Please see attached media release regarding the registration process that took place this morning.  Registration is still open.

NatureKindergartenRegistration~6Feb2012[1]

Nature Kindergarten Registration Day Guidelines

Please follow the link for an update on registration day guidelines.  Applications for Nature Kindergarten will be accepted at the Sooke School District Board Office beginning 8 am Monday, February 6th.

Nature Kindergarten Registration Day Guidelines

February Planning Meeting – Feb. 20, 3:15 pm

Our next planning meeting is on Monday, February 20th at 3:15 pm at Royal Roads University, Room 228.

More Research from Dr. Frances Kuo

More research regarding the benefits of being outdoors.  This is a 48-page summary entitled Parks and other Green Environments:  Essential Components of a Healthy Human Habitat.

Ming (Kuo) Reserach Paper-Final-150dpi

Visit to the Ministry of Education

Last week, Enid Elliott, Jim Cambridge, Toni Hoyland, Bev Smith and I had a chance to present the Nature Kindergarten project to staff at the Ministry of Education.  Thank you to Carolyn Henson for making this presentation possible!  We met Connie Cirkony, who works at the Ministry of Education, at the meeting.  The links below are to the Green Schools Newsletter that Connie produces.  The Nature Kindergarten project is highlighted in both editions.

GSN December 2011

GSN February 2012

Funding received from Royal Bank of Canada

We are very pleased to announce a donation of $20,000 over two years from the RBC Foundation.  Thank you so much for your support!

Benefits of Outdoor Learning – Research

Several people at the parent information sessions expressed an interest in articles related to the benefits of Nature Kindergarten and outdoor learning.  Please see links below for more information on the research supporting this model of learning …

articleblanchet-cohen

C&NNEducationBenefits2012

CNNHealthBenefits2012

CNNRsrchVol_05

BC Kindergarten Program Links

Thank you to everyone who came out to the parent information sessions!  Here are the BC Kindergarten program links that were mentioned at the session.

Kindergarten curriculum

http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/welcome.php

Ready, Set, Learn

http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/early_learning/rsl/

Full Day Kindergarten

http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/early_learning/fdk/

Parent Information Session – Thurs. Jan. 19

Tonight’s Nature K Parent Information Session will be taking place at Sangster Elementary School from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.

January Planning Meeting – January 23rd

The next Nature Kindergarten planning meeting will be held on Monday, January 23rd at 3:15 pm at Royal Roads University.