StrongStart program will continue at 23 sites for the 2024-25 school year

Surrey Schools is pleased to share that we have identified a viable short-term solution that will allow our district to continue offering the StrongStart program at 23 of our sites for the upcoming school year. This decision underscores our commitment to early childhood education and its critical role in the developmental stages of young children.

We also recognize the importance of securing long-term funding for the StrongStart program. To this end, we will continue our work with the Ministry of Education and Child Care to advocate for sustainable, long-term funding solutions.

Currently, the program operates across 25 locations in our district. In response to the rising student enrolment, we have had to make the difficult yet necessary decision to repurpose classrooms at Georges Vanier Elementary and James Ardiel Elementary for kindergarten through Grade 7 students. This strategic adjustment ensures that we can effectively manage the growing demand for education while continuing to uphold our promise of quality K-12 education across the district.

We recognize the impact of these closures on families attending these two sites and are committed to ensuring a smooth and supportive transition to nearby StrongStart locations. Both affected sites have neighbouring schools where StrongStart programs will continue to be offered. We will make this adjustment as seamless as possible for families, minimizing disruption and maintaining the high standards of care and education families have come to expect from us.

Details on these changes have been shared with families currently participating in the program.

For more information on StrongStart, please visit the program webpage.