Junior Kindergarten students at 20 Bluewater District schools can have free vision pretesting and hearing assessments completed.
The School Board is teaming up with the Lions Club for a pilot project to educate parents about the importance of vision, and hearing to learning.
Trained Lions volunteers will complete the testing at each of the schools throughout May.
Findings will be shared with parents.
Any child needing glasses will receive one free pair, thanks to the partnership with the Ontario Association of Optometrists' Eye See...Eye Learn program.
Parents of a child with a possible hearing impairment will be directed to a professional for a full assessment.
“We are excited to partner with the Lions club and the Eye See...Eye Learn® program to implement this pilot in more of our schools, so that early vision pretesting and hearing assessments are available to an increased number of our youngest learners,” says Superintendent of Education Alana Murray.
The 20 schools offering the pilot are as follows:
Alexandra Community School (Owen Sound)
Hillcrest Elementary School (Owen Sound)
Bayview Public School (Owen Sound)
Keppel-Sarawak Elementary School (Owen Sound)
Beavercrest Community School (Markdale)
Macphail Memorial Elementary School (Flesherton)
Chesley District Community School
Meaford Community School
Dawnview Public School (Hanover)
Northport Elementary School (Port Elgin)
Derby Public School (Kilsyth)
Peninsula Shores District School (Wiarton)
Dufferin Elementary School (Owen Sound)
Spruce Ridge Community School (Durham)
G.C. Huston Public School (Southampton)
St. Vincent-Euphrasia Elementary School (Meaford)
Hanover Heights Community School Sullivan Community School (Desboro)
Hepworth Central Public School
Walkerton District Community School