Registration opens Jan. 8 for Outdoor Land-Based Learning Program coming to Hall’s Prairie Elementary
A new Outdoor Land-Based Learning Program is coming to the reopening Hall's Prairie Elementary in the 2024-25 school year. (Image via iStock)
After three years, Hall’s Prairie Elementary is set to reopen, hosting a new Outdoor Land-Based Learning Program for the 2024-25 school year.
For families with elementary students who would like to apply for the program for September 2024, the online registration system for all grades K-7 opens Monday, Jan. 8, at 9 a.m. (click here for more information).
Kindergarten Registration Fact Sheets
The district has prepared fact sheets in multiple languages for families on kindergarten registration, including for Programs of Choice such as the Hall’s Prairie Outdoor Learning program:
The district is also hosting an online parent information meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m. to share more about the full-time program, which will offer daily outdoor land-based learning experiences for kindergarten to Grade 7 students.
“When Hall’s Prairie closed in 2021, we looked at potential options for the school, and we received overwhelming response from families interested in an outdoor learning program,” said Laurie Larsen, Chair of the Surrey Board of Education. “We know how important outdoor education is from our EKOLogy program at East Kensington, and we are proud to provide these learning opportunities to more students at Hall’s Prairie and with support from the Semiahmoo First Nation.
“Additionally, as our student population continues to grow rapidly year after year, reopening Hall’s Prairie will help ease overcrowding at nearby schools heading into the next school year.”
The Outdoor Land-Based Learning Program integrates the provincial curriculum with outdoor classrooms, fostering play-based and experiential learning for elementary students. The program is designed to develop students’ core competencies, inspire creativity, critical thinking and effective communication, and promote personal, social and environmental awareness.
The program is rooted in Indigenous Coast Salish culture, traditions and history as stewards of the land, and is aligned with the First Peoples Principles of Learning.
“This program has been in the making for some time, and we’re so excited to get it up and running and offer it as a Program of Choice,” said Raj Puri, District Principal of Settlement Services. “Reopening Hall’s Prairie will offer more chances for elementary students from across the district to participate in outdoor learning and engage with the natural environment.”
The district has appointed current École K.B. Woodward Elementary vice-principal Kristy Crnkovich as the new principal for Hall’s Prairie.
Online registration for the Hall’s Prairie Outdoor Land-Based Learning Program opens Monday, Jan. 8 at 9 a.m. and closes Monday, Jan. 22 at 4 p.m. For more information, click here.
For more information on the online parent information meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m., click here.
