Changing demographics has resulted in Regal School running out of space to accommodate the growing student population. And now with the implementation of the all-day kindergarten it is bursting at the seems... A casualty of that is the loss of ‘The Parenting and Family Literacy Centre’, a kindergarten readiness program, which has been an integral part of the Regal Road School Community for 36 years!
It is 'kindergarten readiness', but more than that, as well as an introduction to rules and routines, it is an immersion into diversity and community, and the children's first experience with a 'teacher'; Preparing our children in a way we cannot recreate at home.
We need to speak up and tell the PFLC Senior Managers that we want to retain this valuable resource in our neighbourhood for future generations. There are schools in our local area with vacant space. We want them to look at the options within our area rather than boxing up our centre and moving it to Scarborough. Please add your 'voice' to let them know (even if we aren't in a position to make use of it personally.) that our community wants to retain this resource.
Updates
June 17, 2014
Seeing this momentum grow proves that our neighborhood recognizes the deep value of the center. I am overwhelmed by the commitment you have all shown to save this space for our children. We are finally being heard by the people who have the power to keep these doors open.
18 Comments
It's been almost three decades since I benefitted from the Parenting Resource Centre for each of my 3 children. We owe it to future generations to maintain such a treasure in our neighbourhood.
The Parenting Centre provides one of the first opportunities for parents, caregivers and children to become acquainted, form friendships and ties to the community. It is a shame that it can no longer be accommodated at Regal Road but would be a true loss to the neighbourhood if it were to be relocated outside of our area. My children are much older now but still have fond memories of Carmel and benefited from this fun start to learning and gentle introduction to routines and gettling along with their peers. It also helped in establishing a new base of volunteers that have served the school and community so well over the years.
This is a program that is open to ALL children. It strengthens language development through the reading of stories, through singing and the chanting of poetry. It gives toddlers and preschoolers who may not have the chance to be in a paid program to be exposed to the richness of language and literature which is integral to language development. This program offers a place of social interaction for children and parents and caregivers of ALL backgrounds. It a place of connection within our community. This is the type of program that we do not want to lose because of the richness it provides EVERYBODY. Please sign.
For me the parenting and literacy centre was a saving grace. Sometimes parenting can be very isolating. The centre gave me a place where I could connect with other parents and share ideas. My son has benefitted immensely from this program.
This center serves so many children who come not only with parents, but also caregivers and nannies. So many young children benefit from this program. There is no other program like it in the area and certainly nothing in walking distance to the families it serves.
Great comments Linda, you got it 'spot on'. We shouldn't be having to fight to retain this source of 'social cohesion' in our community! Why should it be taken away from us? The answer is it shouldn't, but sadly, one of the Parenting Centre bosses lives right in Regal Heights, and she isn't voicing any support for keeping it here... what chance do WE have!
Parenting centres should not be about a school's "scores".
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Changing demographics has resulted in Regal School running out of space to accommodate the growing student population. And now with the implementation of the all-day kindergarten it is bursting at the seems... A casualty of that is the loss of ‘The Parenting and Family Literacy Centre’, a kindergarten readiness program, which has been an integral part of the Regal Road School Community for 36 years!
It is 'kindergarten readiness', but more than that, as well as an introduction to rules and routines, it is an immersion into diversity and community, and the children's first experience with a 'teacher'; Preparing our children in a way we cannot recreate at home.
We need to speak up and tell the PFLC Senior Managers that we want to retain this valuable resource in our neighbourhood for future generations. There are schools in our local area with vacant space. We want them to look at the options within our area rather than boxing up our centre and moving it to Scarborough. Please add your 'voice' to let them know (even if we aren't in a position to make use of it personally.) that our community wants to retain this resource.
Updates
June 17, 2014
Seeing this momentum grow proves that our neighborhood recognizes the deep value of the center. I am overwhelmed by the commitment you have all shown to save this space for our children. We are finally being heard by the people who have the power to keep these doors open.
18 Comments
My previous comment was inadvertently cut short. Parenting centres should not be tied to a school's scores. Since they can't be in every school, they should be seen as a community resource, in the broadest sense. Twenty-eight years ago, I walked from outside of the school area to attend the Regal Road parenting centre. One of the first mothers I got to know was a recent arrival from South America. Parenting centres are important to child development ; but they are also important in reducing the social isolation of care-givers and in promoting social cohesion in diverse communities.
It's been almost three decades since I benefitted from the Parenting Resource Centre for each of my 3 children. We owe it to future generations to maintain such a treasure in our neighbourhood.
The Parenting Centre provides one of the first opportunities for parents, caregivers and children to become acquainted, form friendships and ties to the community. It is a shame that it can no longer be accommodated at Regal Road but would be a true loss to the neighbourhood if it were to be relocated outside of our area. My children are much older now but still have fond memories of Carmel and benefited from this fun start to learning and gentle introduction to routines and gettling along with their peers. It also helped in establishing a new base of volunteers that have served the school and community so well over the years.
This is a program that is open to ALL children. It strengthens language development through the reading of stories, through singing and the chanting of poetry. It gives toddlers and preschoolers who may not have the chance to be in a paid program to be exposed to the richness of language and literature which is integral to language development. This program offers a place of social interaction for children and parents and caregivers of ALL backgrounds. It a place of connection within our community. This is the type of program that we do not want to lose because of the richness it provides EVERYBODY. Please sign.
For me the parenting and literacy centre was a saving grace. Sometimes parenting can be very isolating. The centre gave me a place where I could connect with other parents and share ideas. My son has benefitted immensely from this program.
This center serves so many children who come not only with parents, but also caregivers and nannies. So many young children benefit from this program. There is no other program like it in the area and certainly nothing in walking distance to the families it serves.
Great comments Linda, you got it 'spot on'. We shouldn't be having to fight to retain this source of 'social cohesion' in our community! Why should it be taken away from us? The answer is it shouldn't, but sadly, one of the Parenting Centre bosses lives right in Regal Heights, and she isn't voicing any support for keeping it here... what chance do WE have!
Parenting centres should not be about a school's "scores".
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My previous comment was inadvertently cut short. Parenting centres should not be tied to a school's scores. Since they can't be in every school, they should be seen as a community resource, in the broadest sense. Twenty-eight years ago, I walked from outside of the school area to attend the Regal Road parenting centre. One of the first mothers I got to know was a recent arrival from South America. Parenting centres are important to child development ; but they are also important in reducing the social isolation of care-givers and in promoting social cohesion in diverse communities.