INSIDE

How to get a good start in life

Point Roberts parents and teachers want families with young children to know just how special the local school is.

“Point Roberts primary school provides an incredibly unique academic start for the children of our community,” said Parent Teacher Organization president Danelle Aurillio, adding “The low student to teacher ratio combined with exceptional parent and community involvement fosters the highest level of academic, creative, and social learning.”

Kindergarten registration is coming up and the PTO and the school district are encouraging all families of young children to visit the school.

“The children in our school get such a tremendous amount of personal attention,” said teacher Mary Edgley. During this academic year, between teacher’s aide, teacher and student teacher the student staff ratio was often four to one in the small school, which combines kindergarten, first and second grades.
“Because kids are there three years they get that benefit of learning from the older kids and they tend to reach up,” Edgley said. The small size of the school also allows teachers to customize the curriculum to the individual student. “We teach each kid where they are and gear the curriculum to that child’s individual needs.” The result, she said, is confident, academically strong students as they move off to third grade.

Strong community and parent involvement gives children at the local school advantages other kids don’t have, Edgley said. “Our kids learn art from real working artists, sports skills from professional athletes, music from established recording artists.”

The bottom line though, according to Edgley, is that “the kids at the Point Roberts primary school tend to be really happy. They love to come to school. They’re like a family.” Add that to door-to-door bus service and she can’t see why anyone would choose to send their children anywhere else to start their school career.

Kindergarten registration for the 2010/2011 academic registration is April 22 at 1 p.m.