Registration for the 2023/2024 school year is set to open for both Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten at Red Deer Public Schools on Jan. 16 at 8 a.m. Parents are encouraged to register online.

Red Deer Public Schools offers Kindergarten programming to help ensure that kids have a great start to the next 13 years of school and to make sure kids come to school ready to learn.

Kindergarten also marks a big decision for parents, and some parents may experience mixed emotions, but in Red Deer Public Schools, Kindergarten is a happy and safe environment where children can thrive.

Red Deer Public Schools offers full day and half day programs in English, French and Spanish.

“Our programs focus on the whole child with a strong emphasis on communication skills, early literacy and numeracy development,” said Susan Parkins, Early Learning Coordinator with Red Deer Public Schools. “The children learn independence skills, how to get along with one another and they get to explore their own way to learn. We have wonderful teachers. We love children, we love learning and we love diversity.”

Meanwhile, Pre-Kindergarten is for children aged three and four and helps them understand the basics of a routine. It gives them the opportunity to know how to sit at a table, how to sit at carpet, discover the magic of books and stories, learn pre-printing skills and to just be a good friend.

A Pre-Kindergarten classroom includes children who need extra speech therapy, and children who need extra assistance with fine motor skills, gross motor skills or social skills. These classrooms also provide programming for children who are gifted and talented.

Red Deer Public Schools wants to ensure every child comes to school ready to learn. Those early supports are key to a child’s success.

For more information, or to register for Kindergarten, please visit http://www.rdpsd.ab.ca/Kindergarten.php. For more information, or to complete the application for Pre-Kindergarten, please visit https://www.rdpsd.ab.ca/page/366/early-learning.