THE MARGARET AND WALLACE MCCAIN FAMILY FOUNDATION | Smart Start provides promising beginnings for PEI’s children

CHARLOTTETOWN, Dec. 4 /CNW Telbec/ – An innovative new children's program got its official launch here today in a school gym packed full with kids and parents and government, education, health and community officials.

Called "Smart Start", the program is a unique partnership between the Eastern School District, Prince Street School, Public Health Nursing, Holland College, the University of PEI and CHANCES, a non-profit community agency. Operating out of two inner city locations, the program reaches out to local families offering a full day/full year child and family program that includes pre-and post natal resources, nutrition counselling, an early development program for infants and toddlers, school-based pre-school for two to four year olds, and child/parent activities, resources and information.

Jamie Gill's son Hudson attends the preschool program at Prince Street School. "The fact that the program is in our local school is wonderful because our older son attends the same school," she says.

"At Smart Start we meet other parents and the staff are always there with helpful parenting tips," adds dad Wendell Burke.

Terry MacIsaac, the principal at Prince St School welcomes preschoolers and their families into his school: " It gives us an opportunity to expose our children and their parents to the school culture and climate and vice-versa. We believe that the relationship that results is essential to the academic, social, and emotional development of the children. This approach holds enormous promise for all our students."

The Smart Start partnership is the tenth program in Atlantic Canada to receive support from the Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation. A three-year grant of $300,000 helps support start up costs and funds research into the model.

via www.cnw.ca