StrongStart

StrongStart Early Learning Centres are free drop-in centres for pre-school children age 0 to 5, and for their parents or caregivers. Qualified early childhood educators facilitate learning activities such as story time, music and art – an introduction to learning through play. Through engaging with kids while they participate, parents and caregivers also have an opportunity to bring some of these ideas home with them.

New families who have not yet registered will need to either show up with a filled in form and the appropriate child ID (see below), or forms will be available at each site to complete on your first day.

StrongStart sessions are offered at the below locations

Our StrongStart programs are currently closed for the summer, but will return on Tuesday, September 19th, 2023. We look forward to welcoming you back then!

Connaught Heights Elementary School
Monday to Friday … 9:00 – 11:30

Skwo:wech Elementary School
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at Skwo:wech … 9:15 – 11:45

Thursdays: Explore Outdoors is back!
Every Thursday from 9:30 to 11:30 am, join our Skwo:wech StrongStart educators at Queens Park for a special outdoor version of learning through play! Enter the park near 1st Street and 5th Ave, to join us at the learning circle. 

Queensborough Middle School
Monday to Friday … 8:45 – 11:15

Here are important things to know about this program

  • The programs are free.
  • Families can attend up to two sessions per week.
  • There can only be a maximum of one adult per child attending.
  • We welcoming 20 children, and their respective adults (a max of one adult per child), to join us each day, on a first-come, first-serve basis. No booking ahead is required or available at this time. 
  • The centres are closed the last Friday of every month.

2023 – 2024 StrongStart Calendar

Things to know if you’re new

If it’s your first time at a centre or program, you will need to register your child. Registration forms are available at the centres or click here to download an electronic version. You will need to complete two forms before your first session. That can be done in advance, or staff also have copies of these at the centres:

Families registering for the first time will need to have one piece of ID for their child, such as a birth certificate or passport.

If you have any questions, please email StrongStart@sd40.bc.ca.

Finding that a StrongStart program is full? Need other options to take your kids to?

We’ve been working hard to support as many families as we can. But we know spaces can fill up and you may be looking for other options when we’re full. So, we wanted to also provide some connection to other great local offerings you may want to consider.

Check out this great calendar showing a variety of community events and activities available to support young families in New Westminster, with free options of things to do, most days of the week: http://kidsnewwest.ca/

Or see what New West Family Place has going on at the many locations they work across: https://www.newwestfamilies.ca/