Ready for the 2019-20 school year

Island students welcomed back by more staff and new resources

When students head back to school on Thursday, they may notice some improvements to their learning environments.

New teachers, curriculum, technology and space have been added to Island schools for the 2019-2020 school year.

Students will see many new faces as well with the addition of 32 new teacher and 42 new educational assistant positions.

“Teachers and staff are the primary drivers of student learning,” said Education and Lifelong Learning Minister Brad Trivers. “Government is very pleased to provide them with more resources to help students and address class composition challenges.”

Another 21 new staff are being added to support students on three new well-being teams in the Three Oaks, Kensington-Kinkora and Charlottetown Rural families of schools.

Well-being team members are student health experts who help to empower students and their families. Family support workers are being added to some teams to help parents support their child’s success. A psychologist will also join the program this fall to help with complex cases.

In English programs, a new language arts curriculum is being implemented in Grades 7 to 9, as well as new high school chemistry, leadership and computer science courses.

New health and physical education curriculums are being piloted this year in Grades 1 to 3 and Grades 7 to 9.

New core French curriculum will be implemented in Grades 10 to 12.

French first-language students will have new law and environmental curriculum and French Immersion students will have new language arts curriculum in Grades 1 to 3 and Grades 10 to 12.

Student learning will be enhanced with 4,500 new laptops and chromebooks, purchased at a cost of $2 million.

Student safety will be further supported through the purchase of 42 new school buses which include a second stop arm, premium undercoating and a new rooftop strobe light that makes it easier to see a bus in from a distance and in rain, fog and snow.

A new 14-classroom addition will be ready for students when they arrive at Stratford Elementary, and a new 10-classroom addition will open in October at L.M. Montgomery Elementary.

Students and staff will also see changes and updates to their schools after summer repairs such as the replacement of roofs, oil tanks, windows, HVAC systems, boilers and paving.

For more information visit https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/backto-school.