Rainy River Playschool offers preschoolers a head start on school

Ken Johnston
Editor

There is a school in Rainy River that some folks may not be aware of.
The Rainy River Play School (RRPS), located at the Rainy River Toy Library, holds activities every Monday and Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
RRPS President Dianne McCormack said that they are a licensed play school for kids 2.5 to 5 years of age and can accommodate 15 children per day.
With the big push by the provincial government to focus on even more early years educational development of children, McCormack sees the play school as being extremely beneficial to kids.
It offers both unstructured and structured activities. Each day, under the guidance of Nicole Blakeney, the first hour is spent with the kids playing and interacting with one another on their own. That is followed by a snack and social time. Often a craft is incorporated into the first hour as well.
In hour two the kids gather in a learning circle where they will sing, play games, participate in creative movement activities and have group story time; all lead by Blakeney.
Blakeney has ten years experience and has a degree in Early Childhood Education.
McCormack said that there are still numerous spots open for area kids and even though registration sessions have passed, “Anyone can register any time throughout the year.” Since there is no pass or fail, missing one day or any others does not mean a child can not join the play school anytime from Sept. to the end of May.
The costs are $28 per month for one day per week or $56 for two days per week.
Kids that are attending junior and senior kindergarten on one of the two days are more than welcome to attend the other day.
McCormack noted that if there are parents who can not afford the monthly fees there is funding available to assist them. People wanting more information on the programs offered by the RRPS or the funding assistance can call the toy library at 852-3362. McCormack said people should leave a message if no one is there and that the funding assistance program is completely confidential.