Several modifications have been made and we appreciate your participation in helping keep our staff and other participants safe. 

• Preschool staff will follow all provincial and Strathcona County guidelines to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and are trained in new protocols around cleaning and guest safety. 

• Stay home if you are sick, experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 or have been directed to self-isolate.

• Classes are being offered at reduced sizes, in accordance with provincial guidelines in place. 

• A pre-screen of participants will take place upon arrival at each program.

• Activities have been modified to maintain physical distancing. Participants will keep at least 2 metres (6 feet) distance from people outside of their household.
   
• Hand sanitizer is available – participants are asked to use it when entering and leaving the program space.
   
• Individuals 2 years of age and older are required to wear a mask in all Strathcona County indoor facilities, this includes during class time and outdoor play.
   
• We ask that all participants (including grown-ups) registered in an outdoor program wear a mask for the duration of the program time. Preschool staff will wear a mask at all times.
   
• Please leave non-essential items at home (toys, blankets, etc.) and only bring a backpack with extra clothes and masks, a water bottle, a small snack for 3-hour programs and a lunch for all day programs.
   
• Drop-off / pick-up routine – some locations have outdoor meeting points for drop-off and pick-up. Specific details will be emailed prior to the first class.
   
• If you need to speak to your child's teacher, please do so while practicing physical distancing.
   
• Enhanced cleaning protocols are in place – tables, chairs, toys and equipment will be sanitized after each class. High-touch surfaces will be cleaned throughout the program time. Hard to clean items and plush toys have been removed from the program.

We are constantly learning and adapting to changes and new best practices. If you have questions or concerns about your child's experience – please connect with us via email at preschoolprograms@strathcona.ca

Know before you go

Kindergarten Readiness (Pre-K), Kindergarten Kids, Preschool Play-cation, STEAM Squad and Forest Adventures

Children registered in unparented programs should be toilet trained. Please note: parents/guardians will be contacted by phone to attend to any changing needs. 

What to bring to class:

• Please leave all non-essential items at home (toys, blankets, etc.), and ensure that all items outlined below are clearly labelled with your child’s name. 

• A backpack with indoor shoes, extra clothes and masks. 

• Snack/lunch items that your child can easily open and close on their own. Half day (3 hours) – a water bottle and a small, nut-free snack. Full day (6 hours) – a water bottle, a small, nut-free snack and lunch. 

• Sunscreen and bug spray. Please apply before class begins. 

Outdoor pop-up preschool, Outdoor Explorers

Dress for the season/weather: 

• Layers are important for outdoor play. Dressing in layers allows for regulation of body temperature. 

• Choose a hat that covers the whole head, including the ears. 

• Appropriate footwear such as running shoes, rain boots, or winter boots. Open-toed shoes such as sandals are not recommended. 

• Wear pants that are warm and waterproof. Snow pants are recommended for winter play and rain pants are recommended for the warmer months. 

• Mittens are better than gloves for keeping children’s hands warm, as fingers generate more heat when they are not separated. 

• Apply sunscreen and bug spray before class starts. 

• Registrants in outdoor programs should use the washroom prior to attending class; access to facility washrooms may be limited due to ongoing restrictions. 

• Classes will be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather conditions including, but not limited to: extreme temperatures (-20 C or colder with the wind chill factor), poor air quality or severe storms. Participants will be notified via email regarding class cancellations a minimum of 2 hours before the program start time. 

Our Philosophy - Our preschool programs reflect the understanding of the importance of play in a child’s healthy development. Through intentional teaching, purposefully-designed learning environments, and enriched activities, our play-based recreation programs offer children opportunities to expand their skills and knowledge in a fun and safe environment.
 

Our program plans use an inquiry-based approach to learning that is centered on the children's interests. These interests are developed into activities planned by the instructors. This provides opportunities to explore topics that are important to the children, keeping them engaged. 

We offer several different types of registered programs for multiple ages, including parented, unparented and virtual options. Parented and unparented programs run between 4 to 11 weeks and kindergarten readiness programs run for up to 11 weeks during the fall, winter and spring sessions. Registration for kindergarten readiness is available for 11 weeks or all 33 weeks September through June. We also offer week-long summer programs available for children ages 3 to 7 years old.

For up to date offerings of all of our preschool and kindergarten readiness programs, check out Recreation Online.

Registered Programs

Parented - For parents or caregivers that want to spend time with their child in a registered program that is led by an instructor.

Un-Parented - Your child will discover and learn in our inquiry-based programs. Our focus is to facilitate the children’s play and provide learning opportunities while they get comfortable with being away from home. Our preschool rooms are equipped with exciting play centres for your child to experience. Programs are offered at various locations, one or two days a week and range from 2 to 3 hours in length. Registered programs have access to facility amenities such as the Preschool Playground, Edutainment Centre, Love to Play room or mini-gym spaces. Children will also have outdoor playtime.

Kindergarten Readiness (Pre-K) - This is a preschool program for children who are four years old and will be attending kindergarten the following year. We offer half-day, twice a week or full-day programs at various locations. Kindergarten Readiness focuses on social skills and building confidence while away from home. We provide foundational learning opportunities in language and literacy, pre-math, physical movement skills, and social and emotional development. Our preschool spaces are equipped with engaging play centres to ensure that your child is exposed to unique learning activities. Kindergarten Readiness, or Pre-K, programs have access to facility amenities such as the Preschool Playground, Edutainment Centre, Love to Play room or mini-gym spaces. Children will also have outdoor playtime.

Preschool is based out of two rural and three Sherwood Park locations, each with unique features. Preschool rooms are equipped with numerous learning centres: art, blocks, dramatic play, sand and water, nature and science, math and manipulatives, and literacy which are vital to the hands-on experiences you can find in our preschool programs. All our locations have indoor gyms and outdoor spaces for your active preschooler.

For facility locations see the Strathcona County recreation facilities map.

Each day is specifically balanced to provide group and individual hands-on exploration. Children will find success as they develop physically, intellectually, socially, and emotionally. A rich learning environment is developed in the classroom as children and teachers engage in meaningful conversations, stories, singing, creative activities and play that engages the whole child. 

Instructors are certified in Standard First Aid and CPR-C, (NCCP) National Coaching Certification Program-Fundamental Movement Skills and High Five Principles of Healthy Child Development. In addition, instructors take part in professional development opportunities that keep their skills and knowledge current in the fields of recreation and early childhood education. 

Preschool classes are currently offered at Kinsmen Leisure Centre and the Ardrossan Recreation Complex. We also run programs in outdoor spaces by Glen Allan Recreation Complex and Emerald Hills Sports Pavilion.

For your child’s best experience, we suggest they are fully toilet trained and familiar with toileting routines before starting unparented programs. For extra reassurance, parents can send their little one wearing pull-ups. Please note, parents will be contacted by telephone to promptly attend to any changing needs.

Please send children with a small, nut free snack and water bottle for half day programs. For full-day programs, children need a small, nut free snack, water bottle and lunch.  

Parents are not required to volunteer. Due to restrictions in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, visitors are not permitted in the program spaces at this time.

Comfortable clothing that is washable and shoes for running in. Please remember when choosing clothes for your child to wear that they will be painting, gluing, and participating in gym time or outdoor play. Remember to include a change of clothing in case of a spill or accident.  

On the first day, instructors will greet you and your child in the designated drop-off area. Our instructors will walk you through the check-in process and answer any questions you may have. From there, the instructor will take your child to the program space where activities will be set up, inviting them to play. 

On the first day of your program parents will be asked to fill out an information form for their child, this can also be done ahead of time: 
Participant Information Form and Severe Allergy Form. Leave the completed form(s) with your child’s instructor.

Doreen Paradis, Preschool Programmer or Brittany Mulligan, Assistant Preschool Programmer
preschoolprograms@strathcona.ca