Playtime Preschool


General Guidelines for Parents

Last Update: January 12, 2008.

Playtime Preschool is located at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Anglican Church, in the lower floor of the parish hall (the preschool is not affiliated with the church). The address is:

Classroom:
    (250) 383-3101

Stephanie's Residence:
    (250) 381-7747

Email on any topic related to Playtime Preschool can be sent to the owner and director, Stephanie Hayes at: stephanie@playtimepreschool.com

Colour Code	Class	Length	Start Time	End Time
Red	Tue/Thu AM Short	2½ hours	9:00 AM	11:30 AM
	Tue/Thu AM Long	4 hours	7:30 AM	11:30 AM
Yellow	Tue/Thu PM Short	2½ hours	12:30 PM	3:00 PM
	Tue/Thu PM Long	4 hours	12:30 PM	4:30 PM
Blue	Mon/Wed/Fri AM Short	2½ hours	9:00 AM	11:30 AM
	Mon/Wed/Fri AM Long	4 hours	7:30 AM	11:30 AM
Green	Mon/Wed/Fri PM Short	2½ hours	12:30 PM	3:00 PM
	Mon/Wed/Fri PM Long	4 hours	12:30 PM	4:30 PM

To join preschool, children must be 30 months of age and must turn 3 by the end of the year they join.

See Arrival for Class and Pick-Up Time at End of Class for details on drop-off and pick-up.

Note that each of our four classes is assigned a colour code to make it easy to identify materials associated with that class.

Playtime Preschool follows the B.C. Ministry of Education standard school calendar, with the exceptions that the preschool year starts one day later and ends one week earlier than the public school year, and that we do not close for “Pro-D” days.

2 0 0 7
Wednesday, September 5	First day of Preschool
Monday, October 8	Closed for Thanksgiving
Monday, November 12	Closed for Remembrance Day
Friday, December 21	Last day of Preschool before Christmas holidays
December 24 - January 4	Closed for Christmas holidays
2 0 0 8
Monday, January 7	Preschool reopens after Christmas holidays
Friday, March 14	Last day of Preschool before Spring Break
March 17 - March 21	Closed for Spring Break
Monday, March 26	Preschool reopens after Spring Break
Friday, March 21	Closed for Good Friday
Monday, March 24	Closed for Easter Monday
Monday, May 19	Closed for Victoria Day
Friday, June 20	Last day of Preschool before summer vacation

See our Classes & Fees page for details on monthly fees.

• Fees are due on the first day of the month.

• On or before the first day of the preschool year, parents are required to bring post-dated cheques dated for the 1st day of each month from September (or whichever month your child starts preschool) to June.

• We prefer not to handle cash payments, but special arrangements for paying in cash can be made if necessary. Cash payments must be received in a sealed envelope labeled with the parent's name and the amount paid.

• Fees paid after the 15th of the month are subject to a $5 late fee.

• NSF cheques are subject to a $5 fee.

• You may be able to qualify for a government subsidy. Please contact us for details.

• Afternoon extended care can be purchased on a day-to-day basis for $10 per day instead of being purchased monthly.

Communication is a vital ingredient in the success of the preschool experience. For this reason, the teachers are available to answer your questions, to discuss your ideas or concerns, and to help you find solutions to problem situations involving your child either at home or at preschool.

This is not always possible at the beginning or the end of class as these are very busy times with all of the children arriving or leaving. We also try to avoid talking in front of the child. However, an appointment can be scheduled for a time that is convenient for both parents and teacher(s).

An open house will be held near the beginning of the school year to give parents a chance to see the preschool, to ask any questions about the program, and to get to know the teachers.

A newsletter is sent home each month providing you with a calendar of upcoming events and general news about the Preschool. Please read the newsletter carefully each month. Sometimes we may request that you bring something to school -- for example, toilet paper rolls for a craft project. Do not hesitate to call us for clarification of items in the newsletter.

A bulletin board is located on the wall to the right of the classroom door. Pertinent information will be on this board -- please check it daily. The bulletin board contains guidelines, a copy of the monthly calendar and newsletter, and other information pertinent to parenting young children.

Upon arriving at the preschool, bring your child downstairs and encourage them to take off their coat and to place their snack in their labeled cubby.

A teacher will greet you in the hallway or the entry to the classroom, or, in the afternoon class, at the playground gate. Please be certain that one of the teachers is aware that your child has arrived, and provide the teacher with any necessary information at this time.

Be sure to say good-bye to your child and to reassure them that you will be back in couple of hours to pick them up. We have a "waving window" at which you can wave to your child.

If you think your child may be a little anxious, you may go upstairs and relax on the couch and one of the teachers will come upstairs and let you know how your child is doing. Please feel free to phone ahead and come a little early to watch if you would like.

Morning classes: At the end of class, come to the playground gate. A teacher will open the gate and let your child come out to you. If it is an indoor day, collect your child from the teacher at the gym door.

Afternoon class: At the end of class, come to the gym door. A teacher will be there to release your child to you.

Take your child down to their cubby where they can pick up any art, newsletters, or other material, and their coat. We prefer to have the children do this themselves as it encourages responsibility and independence. It is very important to follow this routine for the sake of your child's learning and to provide closure for the day.

Please pick up your child promptly at the end of the session. Parents are required to pick up their children by 11:30 AM for morning classes, 3:00 PM for afternoon classes, and 4:30 PM for extended care. A child can become panicky if the other children have left and he or she is still waiting. Also, it gives the teachers a chance to prepare for the next class or to clean up at the end of the day.

In emergency situations, please call to let us know that you will be late.

Please note that for safety we teach the children not to touch the gate latch and that only the teachers may do this. We ask for your support in this regard.

If your child is sick or unable to come to preschool, please phone us and let us know that they will not be attending.

Please check the ingredients list of all packaged food products before sending them to preschool. A list of allergies is posted above the sink in the kitchen area of the classroom. All staff and substitute teachers are aware of the list.

There is an area on the registration form to enter allergy information. Please inform the staff if there are any changes to your child's allergy status.

Please send a small healthy snack in a bag or small lunch kit. Please do not send a drink, as water will be available for the children to learn how to pour!

In keeping with our allergy policy, please do not send nuts or products containing nuts. Depending on the allergies that the children have, we may also "ban" other substances, such as red food dye, during certain school years.

Birthdays are celebrated at Playtime. A teacher will assist your child in making a special birthday crown, and at snack time we all sing Happy Birthday to your child. If you would like to send some small cupcakes or cookies for your child to share with his/her friends, please let us know.

Near the end of the school year we have an "unbirthday" celebration for children who have a summer birthday.

Each month we have two different themes, a general theme, such as “winter” or “animals,” and a country theme. We invite parents to tell about their home country or a country they have visited. The month's themes are posted on the bulletin board and listed in the monthly newsletter.

Playtime is an inclusive center, and all children at Playtime are respected and supported. There are one or two spaces in each of our classes for children who require extra support.

We have a Support Educator who has additional training in special needs. The Support Educator also works with the other children as she is able.

Please let us know if you feel your child needs extra support and we will try to arrange the support according to the space available.

If you are interested in volunteering occasionally in the preschool, please let us know. We would be happy to have your help!

Occasionally we have special guests come in to share something interesting with the children. If you would like to share with the children about your work, your hobby, or any activity that you like to do, please let one of the teachers know and we will book a convenient time for you to come in and do this!

Occasionally, we have students who are working on their Early Childhood Education practicums.

"Let's Talk About Touching" (LTAT) is a basic sexual abuse prevention program for children four years of age and older. This is an optional program, although we hope that all four-year olds will participate. This program will be offered as part of circle time early in the new year.

There will be plenty of advance warning before the program is taught. Parents will be provided with printed information about the program, and an information session for parents will be held if there is enough interest.

Walking trips around the church and the community may take place later in the year when the children are more confident with the preschool and the teachers.

For safety reasons, we do not take field trips that require transport in automobiles.

Regular fire drills and periodic earthquake practice drills will be held. These are carried out in a calm manner. Please talk to your children at home about these practices. You may want to have your own family fire drills.

In the event of a serious earthquake, the children will be cared for by preschool staff until a parent, guardian, or other authorized person collects the child. The preschool has earthquake equipment and supplies located in the playground shed.

If you like, you can send an earthquake kit for your child, consisting of a note of assurance, a family picture, and a small toy; this kit is given to your child in the event of an earthquake.

Please leave toys at home as we have many toys for the children to play with at preschool. Toys are easily lost or broken if they are brought to preschool.

Show and tell items can be brought in any day and can be shown at the beginning of class. We ask that show and tell items be educational, such as books, science treasures, something the child has made, or an instrument. No toys please. We love to have items brought in for our science table too! Show and tell is held on the first Thursday and Friday of each month, starting in October.

• Snack. A small snack in a small bag or lunch kit for your child to eat. It is not necessary to send a drink as water is provided.

• Clothing. Children need to wear comfortable clothing that they can paint in and play in. Dress your child in clothes that are easy to pull down for the child to use the toilet. Provide hats and mittens for your child in cool weather and sunhats and sunscreen in warmer weather.

• Running shoes. We find that running shoes are safe and comfortable for play. They are safer for play in the gym and on climbing apparatus than other kinds of shoes.

• Boots. When the weather gets muddy we ask you bring a pair of boots or other shoes for your child to wear outside.

• Coat or jacket. Please send a coat or jacket every day regardless of the weather.

• Extra clothes. Please bring extra clothes each day (in a small bag hung on the child's hook). You do not need to purchase a back pack unless you want to, as any bag will do. Unfortunately we do not have space to store extra clothing. The preschool does have some spare clothing on hand, but only a very limited amount.

• Sunscreen. Please apply unscented sunscreen before your child comes to preschool during warm weather.

PLEASE LABEL ALL YOUR CHILDREN'S CLOTHING, BOOTS, AND SHOES TO AVOID CONFUSION!