Danielle Chatelain says the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE) will be keeping a close eye on how its new pilot program is received before a wider launch.
The board announced last week that it’ll be offering an opt-in four day school week program at two Ottawa elementary schools next fall.
Chatelain, the board’s Superintendent of Education, says her team will be communicating with parents that opt into the program weekly for feedback and suggestions.
“We’re implementing this pilot project in schools which are very highly rated right now, and have a high success rate,” she explains. “So, we’re going to be documenting it, for sure.”
She says the board’s goal is to do a formal study of the program with the help of a university before committing to introducing the program to other schools, like those the board runs in Leeds and Grenville.
“We’d also take a look at how it could be put into place in high schools, as well,” Chatelain adds. “So, these are possibilities, but definitely, we will start with baby steps and look at how this will unfold in our two elementary schools.”
The program will allow families to sign their kids up for four-day school weeks, where they get every Friday off and spend a bit longer at school each day.
You can learn more about the program and the CECCE on the board’s website.