General Information | Staff |
Schedule, Availability and Cost | Playschool Pointers
Monthy Calendar | Monthly Newsletter | Pictures
General Information
Playschool is an active, hands-on program for children aged three and four years old that promotes developing social skills. Music, art, storytelling, puzzles, crafts, science, themes, and field trips are all part of the busy playschool class.
Playschool runs from the second week of September until the end of June, following the Elementary School calendar, and taking the same breaks for holidays. Each class is 2.5 hours long, and there may be a choice of mornings or afternoons.
We strive to provide a special kind of early learning experience, developing the child's potential - physically, socially, emotionally and intellectually. Our staff works hard to act as a complimentary extension of the home, creating a secure and caring environment for each child. The programs are based upon a "developing through play" philosophy, taking into account individual and group needs and interests. We try to expose the children to many ideas and experiences. This is partly done by the use of different weekly or monthly themes. Some themes we have used are space, sea, dinosaurs and transportation. The play materials, equipment and activities are arranged to stimulate the children's creative abilities and develop their skills in language, math, science, and daily living tasks as well as gross and fine motor activities. Our programs provide for individual choices, decision making, problem solving, sensory exploration, as well as small and large group interaction. We aim to foster self-esteem and a respect for the feelings, ideas and property of others.
Staff
Chellae Rehbein is the playschool supervisor. She has been married for ten years and has two lovely daughters of her own. She is very excited to have the opportunity to be back in childcare. Chellae had her own licensed daycare that was run out of her home for just over three years. Her favorite part of childcare is being the small push that causes a child to make an exciting discovery for themselves.
Renee Marcotte is one of the playschool assistants. She has lived in Osoyoos all of her life and has chosen to stay in Osoyoos to raise her daughter. Renee has worked with various ages of children in a school setting and has always wanted to work at a playschool. She is very excited to join the team!
Lisa Bennici is one of the playschool assistants as well as an assistant in the Kids Klub program. She has always been fond of working with children. Lisa has been babysitting for as long as she can remember, including four children that she provided care for fulltime for a year. She also spent six months working at a daycare centre in Alberta. Lisa is considering taking her ECE to further her education in this field.
Schedule, Cost, and Availability
When you register your child for playschool, you have the choice of two days a week - Monday and Wednesday -OR- Tuesday and Thursday.
Monday and Wednesday classes
Families wanting classes on these days have a choice of mornings or afternoons. The morning class runs from 8:45 am - 11:15 pm. The afternoon class runs from 12:15 - 2:45pm.
Tuesday and Thursday classes
Families wanting classes on these days have a choice of mornings or afternoons. The morning class runs from 8:45 am - 11:15 pm. The afternoon class runs from 12:15 - 2:45pm.
Cost
There is a $20 non-refundable registration fee when first enrolling your child for the year. The cost per month is $75.
Acceptable method of payment:
Currently, we only accept 10 post-dated cheques for each month of the playschool year, at time of registration. (For example, if you enrolled your child at the start of the year, we would need 10 cheques - each one for $75, post-dated September 1, October 1, November 1, etc.)
The centre is closed on weekends, as well as all stat holidays (New Years Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, BC Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day). There are NO playschool classes on Fridays.
Playschool Pointers
Here are some pointers and reminders for parents to help make each day as smooth as possible for you, your child, and the playschool staff.
- Parking and gates: Remember to keep doors and gates closed behind you and remember to be careful in the parking lot. Please do not leave vehicles running when you pick up or drop off your child.
- Drop off and pick up: For safety, children must remain with the teacher until dismissed to you. Only those listed on the registration form as authorized to pick up your child will be allowed, so please be patient for the first couple of weeks until the teacher gets to know everyone. The playschool door opens 5 minutes before class begins. Also, please be prompt for pick up.
- Late pick up: Children are expected to be picked up promptly when playschool is over (11:15 am for morning classes and 2:45 pm for afternoon classes). In the event that your child is picked up after his/her class officially ends, a late pick up fee of $20 for the first 15 minutes and an additional $1 per minute after that PER CHILD will apply.
- Sign in/out: Please remember to come in and sign your child in when you drop him/her off and again when you pick up. Let the teacher know if your child will be absent whenever possible.
- Personal belongings: Any items that children bring to playschool are their responsibility and if there are difficulties with the items amongst the children, the teacher will put them in the owner's backpack or up by the sign in/out book for home time. Also, please remember to put your child's name on items they will be bringing to class so that they can be easily identified.
- Health: Please keep your child home if he or she is not feeling well enough for playschool or if a cold is more than clear sniffles.
- Dress: Please remember to dress your child according to the weather (pack extras in case of weather changes) as we do play outside on a regular basis. Also dress children for play as we frequently use paints and other "messy" materials. The children must wear shoes at all times, and must always have a spare change of clothing with them.
- Snack/Lunch: Remember how important it is to send healthy foods for your child so that he/she may have the best opportunities for growth and functioning as possible. Please note: Our playschool classroom is now "Nut Free" due to allergies. Please do NOT send any food that may contain any type of nut. This includes peanut butter.
- Monthly Newsletter: The teacher will send home a calendar every month to let you know what is happening at playschool. This will include such information as: learning themes, fieldtrips, crafts, holidays, special events, etc.
- Parent Board: There is a bulletin board above the children's cubbies where information will be posted for parents. Please be sure to check this on a daily basis so that you do not miss anything important!
- Teacher Talk: Please feel free to schedule time with the playschool supervisor (outside of class time) whenever you have any questions, concerns, suggestions or encouragements. Chellae is available Mondays from 3:00 - 5:00 pm or a message can be left for her at anytime. Also, let the staff know of any changes or significant events at home that may have an impact on your child.