Phone Number: Our school’s phone number is 410-0940.
Important Dates
** Open house/Registration pick up is on Aug.25** Please let
us know if you are unable to attend and we can make arrangements for
you to pick up your package!
**School begins the week of Sept.7**-it will be staggered entry
and full classes commence the following week
Sept. 8 Staggered entry begins this week for all classes
Sept. 14 Full classes begin (four year olds)
Sept. 15 Full classes begin (three year olds)
Oct. 12 Thanksgiving Day (no school)
Nov. 9-13 Fall Break (no school)
Nov. 11 Remembrance Day (no school)
Dec. 19 Start of Christmas break
Jan. 4 School reopens
Jan. 29 Sherwood Park Schools Closure (no school)
Feb.4/5 Teacher’s Convention (no school)
Feb. 15 Family Day
March 27 Start of spring break
April 6 School reopens
April 2 Good Friday (no school)
April 5 Easter Monday (no school)
May 21 Sherwood Park Schools Closure (no school)
May 24 Victoria Day (no school)
June 17/18 Last day of school
Staggered Entry
During the first two days of attendance, only half of each class
will attend during a shortened class time to help the students learn
routines, discover the classroom and to help the teacher get to know
the students. We also schedule two sharing day parents in our
3-year-old classes for the first six weeks (transition period) since
experience has shown that it often takes the children and their
parents about that time to adjust to playschool. Please feel free to
stay with your child on your staggered entry day to help them feel
comfortable. The schedule for staggered entry is included on the
volunteer schedule. Three year old class times for staggered entry
classes are as follows: 9:00-10:30 am or 12:30-2:00 pm. Four year
old class times are 9:30-11:30 am or 12:30-2:30pm.
Fees
The fee schedule is outlined in this information package. Please
provide post-dated cheques for the school year to your child’s
teacher in September. Due to an increase in our rent and operating
costs our fees will be increasing effective October 2009. The cost
of the four year old program will be $135/month and the cost of the
three year old program will be $115/month.
Things to bring and do everyday
There are a number of items that parents should bring for their
child each day. In addition there will be a sign-in and sign-out
routine which parents are asked to observe.
1. Your child will be assigned a coat hook at the entrance of the
classroom. Please remove all outdoor footwear upstairs (adults and
children) at the entrance of the church. Please place your child’s
backpack and outerwear on their assigned hook. Please ensure your
child changes into rubber-soled shoes.
2. Please bring in a snack pack and place it in the bin outside the
classroom. It should have a bottle of water or juice and a healthy
snack. Please make sure to label the outside of the snack pack and
any reusable containers with your child’s name.
3. Check your child's mailbox for crafts, newsletters etc.
4. Take home crafts, water bottle, clothing and back pack.
Regular Class Times
Three year old classes: 9:00-11:15am or 12:30-2:45pm
Four year old classes: 9:15-11:45am or 12:30-3:00pm
Themes & Monthly Newsletter
Each month we will be focusing on different themes. We will provide
an outline of our monthly and daily activities in a calendar that
will be attached to our monthly newsletter.
Parties
On party days (i.e. Halloween, Christmas, Valentines, Easter)
preschool hours are shortened to two hours. Three year old classes
will start at 9:00am or 12:30pm and pick-up time is 11:00am or
2:30pm. Four year old classes will start at 9:15am or 12:30pm and
pick-up time will be 11:15am or 2:30pm.
Birthdays
On your child’s birthday please feel free to bring something
special. Some suggestions include store bought cookies, ice cream,
donuts, popsicles (Tropicana and Del Monte have no peanut warning).
Please do not send cakes or cupcakes. Prohibited foods/allergens
include nuts and seeds, peanut butter or peanuts of any kind, nut
oils in baking, hard candies, caramels, toffees, chewing gum,
popcorn, jelly beans, snacks made with skewers or toothpicks. The
Health Unit prohibits any homemade items be brought into the
preschool. “Dare” products and some ice cream brands are known to
contain peanuts. Please read all ingredients that are in what you
are bringing for snack.
We will do some fun birthday activities with your child that day at
school. Please feel free to join the class if you wish.
Arrival and Pick-up
Make sure your child gets the most out of the school day by helping
him/her to arrive at school on time, in good health and properly
dressed. Arriving five minutes early for class allows your child
time to prepare for the day: hang up their coats & knapsacks, put on
their indoor shoes & name tags, and greet their classmates. We will
unlock the doors 5 minutes before classes begin and 5 minutes before
classes end to ensure children’s safety and security. A boot rack
has been conveniently located in the entrance of the building to
place soiled or wet footwear (both yours and your child’s).
At the end of the day, your child will be excited to see you and
tell you about the events of the day. Parents are asked to wait
patiently until the doors are unlocked and class is over prior to
entering the room. The teacher will wait with the child until the
parent is there before letting the child leave her care. If any
person other than the expected parent/caregiver is to pick up the
child, please inform the teacher.
Snack Policy
Parents are solely responsible for preparing their child’s snack
including a drink. Taking into consideration allergies and dietary
restrictions some children may have, it is more prudent that each
parent provide a nutritious snack for their child. In compliance
with Public Health and Licensing Policies this snack should provide
one serving each from two or more of the basic food groups. PLEASE
remember that we are a NUT-FREE environment. During parties and
birthdays when snack is shared, all snacks must be store bought. Due
to Health Regulations foods CANNOT be prepared at families homes.
Sharing Day Parents
Parents are an integral component of The Learning Safari Preschool.
Their support and interest in the well being of their child and the
school is invaluable. Parents take an active role in the classroom
by assisting the teacher in carrying out the daily activities. They
are also asked to stay behind an extra 15 minutes to ensure the
children are discharged safely and the room is clean for the next
playschool session. One sharing day parent will be present each day.
Please make arrangements for siblings during your volunteer day.
There are many benefits to being a helper in the classroom. First
and foremost, your child is given special recognition. For example,
they can bring in a show-and-tell item (please limit it to one
item), they are asked to be a special helper to the teacher, and
they are first in line to go outside. Your child can also share
experiences with you throughout the day. As a parent, you can
observe first hand how your child performs at school and interacts
with their classmates and teacher. As well, you are able to
personally share your enthusiasm, expertise and skills with the
class. Moreover, you have an opportunity to meet your child’s
classmates and the other parents, work with the teacher and build
relationships with them all. It is a partnership that will prove
invaluable to you, your child and the community at large.
We have provided a Volunteer Schedule for September and October. If
you cannot make the scheduled day, it is your responsibility to
switch with another helper parent, or send a substitute person (who
must be 18 years of age or over) such as the other parent or a
grandparent. Please be sure to keep the teachers and other parents
informed of any changes by marking them on the master roster copy
posted outside the classroom.
We appreciate your support. Each parent may also choose a volunteer
job to assist with the ongoing operation of the preschool. Please
fill in the Parent Volunteer form and return it to your child’s
teacher if you are interested in any of the volunteer jobs.
The benefits of parental involvement far outweigh the time
commitment required. Many parents have found the cooperative
experience to be very rewarding. It’s important to remember that the
time you spend here is an investment in your child’s education.
Fieldtrips
We plan on taking several fieldtrips throughout the school year that
relate to and expand on themes we are learning about in the
classroom. Some of our fieldtrips will be within Sherwood Park. On
Sherwood Park fieldtrip days, please drop your child off at the
designated fieldtrip site. We will charter a bus for any fieldtrips
outside of Sherwood Park. We will let you know in advance if class
times will be shortened on these days.
We also plan to bring fieldtrips into our classroom through guest
speakers, traveling zoos, nature presentations, art activities etc.
Probationary Period
Each student will be subject to a six-week probationary period to
determine if the program is meeting the child's needs and abilities.
This period will begin on the first day the child attends preschool.
A student’s continuation in the program is at the discretion of the
teachers. Families wishing to withdraw their child from the
preschool must tender their withdrawal in writing to the teacher and
will be charged one month’s fee.
Teacher-Parent Communication
If you have concerns or worries, please bring them to the teacher's
attention either by appointment or when the children are not around
so that the teacher can devote her full attention to the problems
and solutions. The teachers would also appreciate knowing if your
child has been sick or if any joy or trauma has occurred at home
which may affect his/her behavior at preschool. This information
will help the teacher in handling a situation and in finding a
suitable activity should your child appear uncomfortable in any way.
Sick Children / Medication
Sick children should be kept at home. Children are too sick to be at
preschool if they have any of the following symptoms:
* Fever of 38 degrees C, or higher
* Diarrhea
* Vomiting
* An undiagnosed rash or skin condition
* A communicable disease such as chicken pox
* An obviously infected lesion with a thick or colored discharge
(green or reddish brown)
* Persistent pain or persistent cough
The teachers have the right to refuse a child’s admittance to class
when in doubt about the child’s health. They also have the authority
to request a written statement from the child’s doctor indicating a
clean bill of health before the child returns to preschool.
Please notify the preschool if your child contracts a communicable
disease. Whooping cough, red measles and scarlet fever must also be
reported to your local health unit.
Medication will only be administered to children in the case of
allergies. The preschool requires a signed form indicating the type
of medication to be administered, required dosage and action to be
taken in the event of an emergency possible hazards or side effects.
The preschool is not responsible for any complications in this
regard. Forms are available from the teachers and must be done each
year. Any other medical conditions need to be dealt with by the
teacher on a one to one basis.
Late Pick Up Policy
It is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to ensure the child is
picked up after class. The teachers are not responsible for the
children after class. If 10 minutes after class, no one authorized
has arrived to pick up your child the following actions will be
taken:
1. The following people will be contacted from the child’s
registration form in the following order until someone is reached to
come and pick up the child.
a. Parents
b. Authorized persons to whom the child may be released
c. Emergency contacts
DO NOT BE LATE. The teachers are detained until all children are
picked up. There is a $25.00 fee if you are unreasonably late in
picking up your child.
In the case of an emergency, you may be late picking up your child.
Please call the teachers to inform them why you will not be there
and your expected arrival or what other arrangements you have made
for your child’s pick up. (PH: 410-0940)
Extreme Weather
In the event of extreme weather, parents should check to see if the
Elk Island school buses are running. If they are not running, we
will be
closed that day. Parents can receive verification by calling the
school at 410-0940.
Scholastic Book Orders
The playschool will be providing you the opportunity to order from
different catalogues throughout the school year. This is not a
fundraiser, however, the playschool is rewarded for the orders we
place. The playschool can earn several free books as well as several
dollars in coupons the teachers can use to order items for the
classroom. Your child and playschool can both benefit from this
opportunity. Please note that this is an option to you. You do not
have to place an order.
Arts and Crafts Policy
Most of the Arts and Crafts the children do will be described as
“open ended” because the result is a creative expression of the
individual child. The artwork or craft may not look like anything to
you but what is important is the process and act of doing. The
finished product must only meet the approval and satisfaction of the
child, done at their own level of interest and ability. Please allow
them this freedom; avoid insisting that a project look a certain
way. This is tempting for us to do especially with your own child.
If you do the work for them, then it will be your picture not
theirs.
The Learning Safari Preschool
2 Primrose Boulevard (basement of the Good News Moravian
Church)
Sherwood Park, Alberta
Phone: (780) 410-0940
Email:
teachers@thelearningsafari.com
