The Head Start program at Sunchild School supports preschool-aged children from the Sunchild First Nation community. Our experienced educators ingrain confidence, values, and readiness for kindergarten and beyond in your child at an early age. The program mainly focuses on preschool development, independence, and social growth through learning based on play, routine, and cultural connection.
Our Head Start program is led by Shirley Ann Lagrelle, a long-standing and deeply trusted Early Childhood Educator with 20 years at Sunchild School. She is a member of Sunchild First Nation, has formal Early Childhood Education training, and strong experience working with Indigenous children and families.
Our Head Start program focuses on the spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and physical growth of Cree community children and supports parents and guardians as their child’s first teachers. It respects and incorporates the child’s heritage, building a strong sense of identity and belonging. The program also provides health screenings and nutritious food, promoting your child’s well-being.
Head Start and preschool programs together encourage holistic child development, aligning their educational goals and helping children adjust from home routines into a structured learning environment.
The Head Start Preschool prepares your child for kindergarten by focusing on language and literacy, social and emotional skills, cognition, and physical development. The structured routines and play-based activities teach them foundational academic skills like counting, letter recognition, sharing, and problem-solving.
Children learn to manage self-care tasks and independently complete activities as they build the self-reliance and self-esteem needed in a larger, more independent school environment.
Our school’s Head Start program is a preschool experience for Indigenous children between ages three and four, with some younger learners accepted if developmentally ready.
We understand that children come from a home environment and need to get used to our program’s rules and structure. At beginning of each day, students start with a ‘grounding’ time that might include books, colouring or other quiet activities.
Alphabet, colours and simple Cree words are some of the group or individual academic learning activities that occur. The Head Start space also has learning toys that children engage with until the skills are mastered.
Our Head Start program actively engages parents as primary partners in their child’s education, offering support and resources to Cree families. The early education program is guided by experienced Early Childhood Educators who understand both child development and community values.
Thoughtfully curated daily routines support independence, while caring guidance helps children adjust to school expectations. Children also benefit from smooth transitions into K4 and K5 classrooms within the same school environment, making the move to formal schooling feel familiar and comfortable.
Professional childhood educators know that children are always absorbing their surroundings. It is important for children to learn how to share, how to get along, and how other children behave.
Your children will learn responsibilities such as using the washroom, handwashing, and clearing up after themselves.
The answer is no. Headstart is more than a daycare. Teachers have structured activities that teach skills, including social skills, and the lessons are chosen to build on each other and complete a learning objective. During the day Headstart children are provided a quiet time of approximately one hour when some may choose to rest or sleep. This one hour period is the only time when our small TV is turned on for appropriate programs.
The program gets children used to going to school everyday so the future Kindergarten program will be
a seamless transition. Headstart parents also have the benefit of having a half day of adult time
for adult tasks.
Please make sure to tell us your child's name, gender, date of birth, and if they are completely toilet trained, or partly toilet trained.
