see text below
EXCERPTS
...
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board has added two for a total of 52 classes, while the Ottawa Catholic School Board has added at least seven for a total of 29 classes.
Both boards have hired the necessary staff, ordered new equipment and have plans in place to conduct classroom renovations over the summer.
"We'll be in good shape come September," said Julian Hanlon, the deputy director of education for the Catholic board.
The boards have also revealed which schools will offer before- and after-school programs this fall as part of the province's new full-day kindergarten initiative.
Once the program is in place, parents can drop their children off at 7 a.m. The before-school program, led by early childhood educators employed by the school boards, will last until the school day begins. At the end of the formal school day, the afternoon program will run until parents pick their children up by 6 p.m.
...
Programs currently in place at schools that aren't getting full-day programs are expected to continue.
The new programs are designed to cover the boards' costs and be affordable for families.
The public board will charge a daily rate of $23.30, which works out to $116.50 a week, while the Ottawa Catholic School Board will charge a daily rate of $19.25, or $96.25 a week.
Barrie Hammond, the man shepherding the full-day program for the public board, said it conducted a pre-registration this spring to gauge interest.
The board will confirm those registrations over the next few weeks and put the offer out to all parents in the eight schools to register if they haven't yet.
...
Many school boards weren't able to set their fees until well into the spring, leaving some parents to make child-care arrangements elsewhere.
But, Hammond added, the program will likely grow as more parents become familiar with it.
One element of the program he is pleased with is that, as much as possible, the early-childhood educators leading the before-school programs will be part of the classroom team, creating a smooth transition for many students.
"They'll be a close connection between the before- and after-programs and the actual core program," he said. "I think parents, over time, will find that concept attractive."
-reprinted from the Ottawa Citizen