Dear Dalhousie families,

I am writing to share an important update regarding our kindergarten program at Dalhousie for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. This decision comes after careful consideration of the feedback we received from the survey sent to our current and last year’s kindergarten families.

As many of you shared with us, there was strong support within our community to maintain a full-day kindergarten program. However, due to the recent changes in grade configuration and class sizes, as well as the potential need to have double classes and shared spaces in kindergarten and grade 1 classes, we have made the decision to transition to a half-day kindergarten program for the next school year. We understand this is a significant change and want to ensure you have all the necessary information about this decision and the support available to families.

We believe there are many benefits to a half-day kindergarten program, supported by educational research and our observations. Studies have shown that shorter, focused sessions can be highly effective in fostering young children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development. Half-day programs often allow for less fatigue for young learners, which can lead to greater engagement and retention of new concepts. Additionally, attending school daily, even for a shorter period, establishes consistent routines that are crucial for young children, especially those learning a new language. This daily exposure helps reinforce dual language skills and builds a solid foundation for future learning.

We have also taken into account feedback from families who expressed concerns about the challenges associated with our current full-day program. Many parents shared that their children struggled with missing several Fridays of school, not being part of school activities that occurred on those days, and, at times, being away from school for more than five consecutive days due to our school calendar. A half-day program will ensure that kindergarten students are engaged in learning every day and fully integrated into the school’s daily schedule alongside their peers.

While we recognize the initial adjustment may be challenging for some families, we are confident that this change will provide a more balanced and enriching experience for our youngest learners. We remain committed to supporting all students and families through this transition.

Thank you for your understanding and continued partnership in fostering a nurturing and effective learning environment for our students. If you have any questions or concerns about this change, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Regards,

Sebastien Fournier,

Principal