Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023
Near North District School Board welcomes YMCA Child Care program to Parry Sound High School
Near North District School Board (NNDSB) is excited to welcome YMCA Child Care services to Parry Sound High School. The YMCA’s licensed preschool program, currently located at Smith Crescent, requires a new home to accommodate the upcoming construction of the West Parry Sound Aquatic and Recreation Centre. NNDSB is pleased to expand its existing partnership with the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka to provide the space needed within Parry Sound High School and allow this community organization to continue providing quality care to local families.
The YMCA remains committed to providing high-quality, early childhood education to the community of Parry Sound. This new, larger space will allow for the growth of the preschool program, from 16 preschool children to 24 children. Once the NNDSB K-12 school is built, the program will expand to include infants and toddlers.
“Near North District School Board is pleased to assist the YMCA Child Care Services by providing space in our high school for the preschool program. The partnership was not anticipated to get underway until the JK-12 new build was complete,” says Superintendent Gay Smylie, supervisor of Early Years and Parry Sound High School. “This is a bonus for everyone. With increased space for the preschool program, there is a possibility to serve more children. When it does come time to move into the new school, it will be a simple move on the same property into the brand new childcare space,” says Smylie.
“We are extremely thankful for the opportunity to relocate to the Parry Sound High School. Our childcare centres located in high schools have provided unique opportunities to work collaboratively with the school community, including co-op placements and volunteer opportunities,” says Fiona Cascagnette, vice-president, YMCA Child Care. Cascagnette adds, “The future expansion of our services to include infants and toddlers in the new JK-12 school will support even more families to access licensed childcare programs in Parry Sound.”
The YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka and NNDSB look forward to working closely together with the Ministry of Education to meet the licensing requirements for the centre over the coming weeks. The new childcare space at Parry Sound High School is expected to be operational in early April. Further updates to childcare and school families will be provided as the project gets underway.
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About the Near North District School Board:
Near North District School Board is an English-language public school board serving the North Bay – Parry Sound – Nipissing area. The board has approximately 10,000 students in 27 elementary schools, seven secondary/senior schools and various alternative learning centres. For more information, please visit nearnorthschools.ca and follow Near North District School Board on social media.
NNDSB Media Contact
Deb Bartlett
Communications Officer
Near North District School Board
- (705) 472-8170, extension 5010
- Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca
About the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka:
The YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka is a charity dedicated to building healthy communities. We are committed to nurturing the potential of children, youth and families, promoting healthy living and fostering social responsibility within the community. We serve 1 in 5 people throughout Simcoe County and the District of Parry Sound and Muskoka. In keeping with our commitment to inclusiveness and accessibility, the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka offers financial assistance to those unable to afford program fees, including thousands of children and youth who experience YMCA camps and programs each year. For more information, please visit www.ymcaofsimcoemuskoka.ca.
YMCA Media Contact
Shelby Wise
Manager of Marketing and Communications
249-288-6505
