New in-school program welcomes tots to teens

RICHIBUCTO, NB, Oct. 13 /CNW/ - La Boussole, Centre de la petite enfance et de la famille de Richibucto inc. officially opens Saturday, October 16, 10 a.m. to noon, in Soleil Levant School, making the school the first in the community to open its doors to children and families starting at birth.

La Boussole ("The Compass") offers a variety of programs to preschoolers 0 to 5 years old and their families including early learning and child care, parent drop-in and public health supports. Since La Boussole is based in a French school, it is reaching out to Acadian and Francophone families in Kent County as well as English speaking families who want their children to attend a French school. 

"Soleil Levant School is a natural location to serve as a community hub for children of all ages," says Michèle Doiron Campbell, Vice President of La Boussole and the mother of 2 preschoolers.  It is an "école communautaire" dedicated to creating partnerships between the school and the community and to developing a strong linguistic and cultural identity for the children and their families. By combining early childhood and schooling, families will be able to access the full range of child and family supports available in their community. The school location also helps facilitate the transition to school for children attending the centre.

La Boussole's grand opening offers a tour of the new facilities, an introduction to the community partners and an overview of the services offered. Roland Gauvin, a well known regional singer, will perform with his new companion Monsieur Crapaud who has joined him in creating a new CD for children, Roland et Monsieur Crapaud.

La Boussole is one of 10 sites in New Brunswick testing seamless programming for children and parents through effective integration of kindergarten, early learning and child care programs, parenting support services and community resources.

These efforts are made possible by a unique partnership between the Government of New Brunswick and the Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation that provides funding and guidance to the demonstration sites and supports an evaluation component. 

For further information:

Michèle Doiron Campbell. Phone [phone].
Email: [email protected].

Also www.mwmccain.ca and www.gnb.ca/0017/childcare/EarlyChildhoodDevelopmentCentresQA-e.pdf