Many of the most important lessons we learn in life happen when we are very young — long before we even realize it. Setting a foundation for early learning and giving children equal opportunity to develop their skills and nurture their brains is a priority. 

At the CUPS Child Development Centre (CDC), children between the ages of three and six from low-income families are learning in an environment where they can get the support they need to build resilience and be successful as they start school. 

And it starts with finishing Kindergarten. 

Last month, 18 of our young community members officially graduated from CUPS Kindergarten and are ready to head to school in their neighbourhoods this September. That’s 18 young minds nurtured and supported with the basics they need to start their education off on the right foot. 

Diverse activities fill the year

Kindergarten is about more than learning A, B, C’s and practicing counting. At CUPS, there’s a significant focus in expanding their minds to the world around them.

Whether it is a family tree growing, sound and sentence mastering, learning about volcano eruptions, piano playing or learning about numbers and letters; the kids get hands-on learning experience.

The credit for this learning environment goes to the learning team that builds engaging lessons, imaginative worlds and spaces with routine, consistency and regulation at the forefront.

The lessons were not limited to the classroom and included adventures to Fish Creek Park as part of its outdoor/nature school.  

These experiences, created by CUPS’ Karen Allen, allowed the kids to get an abundance of fresh air and challenge themselves by trudging through the tall grass, climbing a tree, stump or rock hopping.  

It’s about encouraging kids to be kids and explore their world through their own eyes.

One of the program's unique parts is how it incorporates Indigenous learning into the classrooms.

Elders Randy Bottle and Ruby Eaglechild join Wade Maude, CUPS’ Indigenization Strategy Coordinator, every week at the CDC for circle time with the kids and engage them in a smudge and prayer. 

Maude says they will remember this for the rest of their lives. 

“When they look back at pre-school and kindergarten, they’ll remember the person who came in and played drums, sang songs and told stories,” says Maude. 

Additional support for those who need it

On top of the kindergarten program, the Child Development Centre also offers: 

• Full-day preschool 

• Breakfast, Lunch and snacks 

• Health care

• Occupational therapy

• Speech Therapy

• Physiotherapy

• Transportation

CUPS credits the success of this program to the joint efforts of the educators, consultants, support staff and the integrated supports offered through the CUPS Family Development Centre and other CUPS departments.  

Because of these consultants, the eighteen kids who graduated last month have the tools they need to carve out successful lives for themselves.