2,000 more Primary students, compulsory phys-ed, more co-op, highlight new school year

Schools across Nova Scotia are welcoming the largest group of Primary students in almost a decade as the 2008-09 school year gets underway this week.

Almost 134,000 public school students – including more than 10,000 Primary-age students – begin school on Wednesday, Sept. 3, or Thursday, Sept. 4, depending on what part of the province in which they live. "I am pleased to welcome all of our students back to school for what I know will be another school year filled with many wonderful learning opportunities," said Education Minister Karen Casey. "I especially want to welcome all our new Primary students who for the first time will now experience the wonder and excitement of school."

About 2,100 four year olds are eligible to attend public school now that children who have their fifth birthday on, or before, Dec. 31 can enter Primary.

The date change puts Nova Scotia in line with the majority of Canadian provinces and allows more young students to benefit from an earlier start to their formal education.

To prepare for expanded Primary, teachers participated in professional learning and training sessions to address the particular learning needs of younger students. New resources and teaching methods have also been introduced to add more play-based approaches to the Primary curriculum.

Also new this fall, thousands more students will be hitting gym mats, tossing stability balls and breaking a sweat inside and outside gym walls as the province continues to emphasize student health and fitness. "Government has moved forward on its commitment to make physical education compulsory at the high school level," said Casey. "Investing in a strong physical education program, delivered by qualified teachers, is all part of our effort to provide our students with a healthy, physically active school experience from Primary right through to graduation."

Three new physical education courses are being introduced to give high school students more opportunities to earn the mandatory physical education credit.

Students entering Grade 10 will be required to have a high school physical education credit to graduate in 2011. Physical education is compulsory from Primary to Grade 9.

The new courses for the English first-language schools include Physical Education 10, Physically Active Living 11 and Fitness Leadership 11. A fourth physical education course, Physical Education Leadership 12 will be piloted next September and implemented in September 2010. Éducation physique 10 à 12 will be offered in French first-language schools

Other new or expanded programs this year include: •Co-op education programs in 33 high schools for more hands-on learning opportunities through neighbourhood employers; •10 additional schools offering the Options and Opportunities O2 program, to bring the total to 44; •Skilled trades education delivered in Skilled Trades Centres at 11 schools, beginning next semester; •Expanding the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program to a 13th school, Ecole du Carrefour, the first for the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial, the province's French-language school board; •A new Exploring Technology 10 curriculum and materials to offer students a wide range of hands-on activities and introduce them to a broad spectrum of technological concepts, including robotics, "green" technology and engineering. It will be offered in 75 high schools. French first-language schools will pilot the new Technologie 8 & 9 and the Technologie 11 courses; •A new hands-on science curriculum and textbooks for Grade 6 for English first language schools. This program was launched in francophone schools in 2006; •A new geometry curriculum and materials for Grade 8 in both English and French first-language schools; •New advanced courses in grades 11 and 12 for English, Chemistry, Music and Visual Arts in English first-language schools; and •Schools Plus pilots offering students at risk quick access to professional services and support.