December 11, 2009
School Celebrates Upgrades, New Early Learning Centre

CHILLIWACK - MLAs John Les and Barry Penner were joined by students, staff, trustees and administrators to celebrate the completion of $5.4-million seismic upgrades, and the official opening of one of the province's newest StrongStart BC early learning centres, at Central Elementary Community School today.

"These upgrades will ensure that one of our district's landmark schools continues to provide a safe and healthy place for staff, community members, and students for years to come," said Les. "The new StrongStart BC early learning centre will provide our youngest learners the chance to grow through play and develop the skills they will need to be successful in school."

Central Elementary Community School was built in 1929 and the district took great care during the seismic upgrade to preserve the historic character of the building. While the interior was renewed, the exterior of the school retains much of its original appearance. Upgrades to Central include reinforced concrete walls, new concrete strip footing, wood-frame classroom
partitions and corridor walls, and reinforced roofs, floors and wall connections. The Province invested $5.4 million to upgrade Central as part of the Seismic Mitigation Program.

"Seismic upgrades make our schools safer and provide a boost to the economy by creating jobs for B.C. workers," said Penner. "This project supported approximately 34 jobs as part of the B.C. Government's $1.5-billion Seismic Mitigation Program."

Central Elementary also celebrated the official opening of their new StrongStart BC early learning centre at the ceremony. StrongStart BC is a free early learning program for preschool-aged children accompanied by a parent or caregiver. A qualified early childhood educator leads activities, including stories, music, and arts, to help children grow linguistically, emotionally and socially, and become comfortable in a school-like setting.

"The Central StrongStartBC centre is a free early learning program for preschool-aged children to help increase literacy, promote community and give our children a safe and nurturing environment in which to thrive," said Corinne McCabe, superintendant of the Chilliwack school district. "Central has a long history as a community hub, providing support to our students and their families, and this seismic project has created a rejuvenated learning and working environment that will be an ideal home to our new StrongStart BC program."

The Chilliwack school district has received $50,000 for the Central Elementary Community StrongStart BC centre. This includes $20,000 to prepare in-school space, including renovations and the purchase of new equipment and learning materials and $30,000 to fund this year's operating costs, including staff, professional development, supplies and healthy snacks.

The Province is investing $43 million to expand the StrongStart BC program to all of B.C.'s 60 school districts, which have been offered the opportunity to participate. StrongStart BC programs help fulfil government's commitment to use underutilized school district space to deliver early learning services. Other early learning investments include $15 million for the kindergarten readiness program Ready, Set, Learn, $2.7 million for LEAP BC and a $151 million commitment to implement optional full day kindergarten
for all five-year-olds in B.C. Full day kindergarten will be available for up to 50 per cent of kindergarten students in 2010 and for every five-year-old starting school in 2011.

The Central seismic upgrade is the first of four projects in the Chilliwack school district to reach completion. Other seismic projects that have been announced in the district include the replacement of Chilliwack Secondary, the consolidation of Rosedale Elementary and Rosedale Middle schools, and the replacement of Yarrow Community School. Since 2001, the Province has invested more than $46 million in the Chilliwack school district to complete eight capital and seismic projects including replacement of Greendale Elementary and the new G.W. Graham Middle-Secondary School.