FAQ

What does my child need for daycare?

Infants:
-2-3 extra sets of clothing
-diapers
-wipes
-diaper cream (if needed)
-bottles/formula/breast milk if needed
-soother/teethers if needed
-blanket for nap
-comfortable indoor shoes
-outdoor gear (for the weather)
-summer- Swimming diapers, bathing suit, towel, water shoes/sandals, sun hat
-4-5 pictures of family members for a collage poster

Preschool:
-2-3 extra sets of clothing
-diapers (if needed)
-wipes (if needed)
-diaper cream (if needed)
-blanket for nap
-comfortable indoor shoes
-outdoor gear (for the weather)
-summer- Swimming diapers (if needed), bathing suit, towel, water shoes/sandals, sun hat

School Age:
-1-2 extra sets of clothing
-comfortable indoor shoes
-outdoor gear (for the weather)
-summer- bathing suit, towel, water shoes/sandals, sun hat

How often do the children play outside?

We try to provide outdoor play time as much as possible for the children, especially in the warmer months of the year.  When we go outside, we play on our play space, go for walks around town, go on "adventures" and even visit places in town, like the rec centre, the lumber store, and the post office.

 

The infants have a stroller that can seat up to 8 babies, and they use it as often as they can.

 

The school agers will typically play in the school yard and at the school play structure after school.

 

We try to get outside in the morning time (between 9:30 am and 11:30 am) and after snack in the afternoon (after 3:30 pm).  It is not uncommon for the children to be playing outside at pick-up, so be prepared to come into our play space at the end of the day.

 

Please note, if it is colder than -25 degrees with the wind chill, the children must stay inside.

 

We do not go outside when we are under a "heat advisory" issued by Environment Canada.

What kinds of activities take place throughout the day?

We provide activities across a variety of curriculum areas throughout the day.  We try to provide 1-2 experiences from each of the following curriculum areas each week:

 

Nature & Science

Early Literacy

Language Development

Fine Motor

Gross Motor

Dramatic Play

Math Literacy (numbers, classification, matching)

Art/Creativity

Sand & Water

Music & Movement

 

If it is a beautiful day outside and the staff have planned an activity, more often than not, they will bring it outside so that the children can enjoy the day while learning/experiencing something new.

 

Take a look at our curriculum area board in the front Foyer for more information.

What does ECE II mean?  What does CCA mean?

ECE II means Early Childhood Educator Level II.  An ECE II has gone through the post-secondary education required to obtain such a license in Manitoba.  An ECE II has a thorough understanding of child development, from birth to 12 years of age, and knows how to provide early learning and care that best suits the developing child's needs.

 

CCA means Child Care Assistant.  Child Care Assistants are here to support ECEs in providing high quality care for the children and families.  They learn their skills from the ECEs and typically have the opportunity to obtain their ECE II with the support from the Centre.  CCAs are a very important piece of the early learning and child care puzzle and we couldn't operate without them.

My child is sick, what do I do?

Please call or email the centre if your child is sick.  If they have a communicable disease, like Strep Throat or conjunctivitis (pink eye) for example, please disclose this to the Centre.

 

If you child has a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, please keep them at home.  Please refer to our parent policies for more details about specific illnesses.

What are adult:child ratios in each program?

 

Infant:
1:4
Preschool:
1:8 (2-3 year olds)
1:9 (4-5 year olds)

School Age:
1:10 (Kindergartens only)
1:15

Why is the front door locked?

In order to control visitor access, our front door is locked at all times.  Families are given a key fob to use at drop off and pick-up.  Individuals without a key fob must ring the doorbell, identify who they are and why they are at the Centre, and show photo ID before they are allowed to enter.  This Locked Door Policy is a licensing requirement of Manitoba Early Learning and Child Care.  All Centres in Manitoba must lock their doors and control visitor access in order to keep the children safe.

When are child care fees due?

Child care fees are due in full on the first scheduled day of each billing period.  Billing periods consist of 4 weeks and there are 13 billing periods/year.  Please see the Fee Schedule page for exact dates.

I pay child care fees every four weeks, why do I need to fundraise?

Your fundraising dollars go to Special Events/Visitors and projects for the children, like the Green Space Project for example.  The Fundraising Committee lets families know what each fundraiser is for when order forms or event invites are sent out.  The children LOVE having special guests, like magicians, scientists, artists, and musicians visit us, and we always have a BLAST on our field trips.  We couldn't do these kinds of things without fundraising, and we are so thankful for all the effort that comes from our families and the community.

What is an AGM and why should I attend?

AGM stands for Annual General Meeting.  This mandatory meeting happens once/calendar year and the purpose of this meeting is to allow parents/guardians to connect with our Board of Directors.  At this meeting, parents/guardians are given the opportunity to learn about the Centre and how it runs as a not-for-profit organization, and to understand what the Board and the staff of the centre are currently working on.  This is also an opportunity for parents/guardians to ask questions, share concerns, and learn about the Centre's financial statements from the prior year.  Attendance is imperative at these meetings and we try to make it a fun family event.  Please see the Director of Chairperson for more information on this year's AGM.