StrongStart

Our StrongStart programs have enjoyed seeing returning faces and welcoming new families to the centres the past couple of months. We have to delay the opening of the Skwo:wech Strong Start program until mid November. We have just hired the Early Childhood Educator for this location and there will be a training period which prevents us from opening the centre when we initially anticipated. We are looking forward to introducing you to the new facilitator for the centre later this month and will update this page once we have a firm date to open the centre.

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 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.

StrongStart sessions are offered at the below locations

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

Skwo:wech Elementary School
Monday to Friday … 9:15 – 11:45

Queensborough Middle School
Monday to Friday … 9:00 – 11:30 and Monday to Thursday… 12:30pm – 2:30pm

Here are important things to know about this program

  • The programs are free.
  • Families can sign-up for up to two sessions per week.
  • One adult per family booking.
  • Families will need to sign-up for a space ahead of time*:
    *Please note bookings will only be available 14 days in advance (i.e October 14th will open for booking on October 1st). https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/StrongStartProgram@sd40.bc.ca/bookings/
  • While we can not take waitlists, sometimes we do have cancellations, so feel free to check back from time to time.

2022 – 2023 StrongStart Calendar – View here

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 can complete the registration form when you attend your first session. Or you can complete the form ahead of time.

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.

Having trouble finding available StrongStart dates? 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 book up fast. So, we wanted to also provide some connection to other great local options available.

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/