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We hear from Education Commons' Drupal Developers, Jed Dela Cruz, and how he approaches challenges at work and on the running track.

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During Wellness Month, Education Commons are getting active! Find out how we are tackling the Wellness Challenge in our own way.

Excerpt: "The provincial government will partner with operators in 24 communities to create 603 designated early learning and child-care spaces. “We know there is a need for more high-quality, inclusive and affordable early learning and child-care spaces,” said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Bill Hogan. “Creating new designated spaces will make a difference for New Brunswick families. We look forward to continuing to work with our early learning and child-care sector on efforts to increase access to these critical services.” The new spaces include 231 for infants (birth to 24 months) and 372 for preschool children (ages 2-5). The breakdown is as follows: francophone spaces for infants: 66; francophone spaces for preschool children: 61; anglophone spaces for infants: 165; anglophone spaces for preschool children: 311."

Excerpt: "While it is less clear if subsidized child care will improve the short-term earnings profile of mothers following childbirth, it is likely to improve female labour participation based on experiences observed elsewhere. Assuming the objectives set out in this bilateral agreement between Ontario and the federal government are met, the FAO estimates that subsidized child care fees in Ontario could increase the core-age female labour force participation rate from 84 per cent in 2022 to between 85.6 and 87.1 per cent by 2027. This would add 50,900 to 98,600 more women to Ontario’s labour force. However, several key challenges to the $10 a day child care program in Ontario could limit the positive potential impacts on women’s labour market participation, including inadequate funding, a lack of child care spaces, a shortage of qualified early childhood educators and any future changes to parental leave benefits."

Excerpt: "This year, the PEP will provide $5 million toward 25 new school playgrounds across 25 school districts. The Province has increased the amount of funding that school districts will receive per playground to $195,000. Playgrounds are expected to be designed, built and installed over the next year. The program significantly reduces parent-led fundraising that was previously needed to help build playgrounds. Playgrounds promote physical activity, while encouraging students to share and develop conflict-resolution skills. They also provide students with opportunities to learn new things, reduce anxiety, improve focus, increase attention span, and enhance gross-motor, social, emotional and sensory development."

Cassie J. Brownell, Ph.D., was named a 2023 Early Career Awardee by the Early Education and Child Development Special Interest Group (SIG).

Excerpt: "Policy 713 sets down minimum standards to which schools must adhere in order to promote respect, dignity, and equality of LGBTQI2S+ students, on a par with the rights enjoyed by all other students, to foster among trans students a sense of belonging and connection with their school. The provisions of Policy 713 are aligned with fundamental rights enshrined in the UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the New Brunswick Human Rights Act. Under Articles 28 and 29 of the CRC, state parties must ensure that their education systems nurture respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and these systems allow each child to develop “his or her own cultural identity, language and values”. In June 2022, in its Periodic Report on Canada, the UN’s Committee on the Rights of the Child urged the Canadian government, including its provincial and territorial counterparts, to strengthen efforts to promote a culture of human rights in its education system, ensure the integration of human rights principles in school curricula, and develop educational materials to cultivate respect and appreciation of diversity in schools across the country."

Excerpt: "The Department of Education is piloting a project to test the feasibility of implementing a full-day kindergarten program in Nunavut. Nanook School (Apex), Victor Sammurtok School (Chesterfield Inlet), Qaqqalik School (Kimmirut), Jimmy Hikok Ilihakvik (Kugluktuk), and Inuglak School (Whale Cove) will be running a full-day kindergarten pilot starting this fall. These schools were chosen for the pilot based on the amount of capital renovations each would need to support the program and to represent each region."

Excerpt: "Seamless Day Kindergarten integrates before- and after-school care into the kindergarten classroom, delivered by certified early childhood educators (ECEs) who work alongside the classroom teacher. The program makes the best use of available school space, existing classrooms, outdoors, school gyms and libraries outside of school hours."

Excerpt: "In partnership with public post-secondary institutions, the Province is accelerating the expansion of early childhood education programs so more than 1,300 people will have the opportunity to access this education over the next three years, with public post-secondary spaces in B.C. expected to increase by approximately 50%."