2. Do I have to volunteer in the classroom?
Parents are always welcome to assist in the classroom. However volunteering as a parent helper is optional. If you choose to volunteer, you need to sign-up with the teacher. Siblings are welcome when you volunteer.

3. Will I have to fundraise?
Fundraising is not required at this time.

4. What is my volunteer commitment?
Work Bee
The work bee is time spent assisting the teacher as needed in areas such as changing centers, taking down or hanging up wall displays/posters, cleaning toys, craft preparation, and a general clean up of the playschool area including the entrance. The work bees are scheduled by the teachers in the evening. The board of directors will assign parents to the work bees, which take approximately 2 hours to complete. Each family will be assigned one work bee.  Only one parents has to attend the work bee. If you cannot attend the assigned evening, it is your responsibility to trade with someone else.

Teacher Assigned Class Preparation
Parents will be assigned a take home project. A typical example is craft preparation that should take about 30 – 60 minutes to complete.

If you are unable to complete your volunteer commitment, please talk to the teacher.

5. What does my child need to have for school?
A backpack with a complete change of clothes. A snack bag, with a healthy snack and drink.
Clean indoor shoes that stay at school. Velcro preferred.
Appropriate clothing for outdoor activities.
ALL items must be labelled with your child’s name.

6. What if my child doesn’t turn 3 until after the first day of school?
Due to our licensing requirement, your child can not start until the day of their 3rd birthday as long as they turn 3 before December 31st. You may guarantee your child a spot by paying the monthly tuition from the school start date until your child turns 3.

7. The Carstairs Playschool is run by a Board of Directors. How does this work?
Members of the Playschool Board of Directors are elected at a general meeting held in the spring before the end of the current playschool year. It is the Board of Directors responsibility to operate the Playschool, set the guidelines for the teacher and the teacher’s assistant, ensure that the child services regulations are followed and act as a liaison between the teachers and parents. The Board meets monthly. The Board of Directors consists of the following positions:
Chairperson
Vice-Chairperson
Secretary

Treasurer
Subsidy Representative
Scholastic Representative
Class Representatives – 1 for each class
Class Directors – 1 for each class
Website Coordinator
Grants Representative

8. What is my child going to learn?
Your child will learn topics through Centres Time, Circle Time, Craft Time, Gym, Music, Games, Free Play and Story time. Children are taught using theme based educational methods. We focus on kindergarten readiness, healthy active living, positive play and socialization. For more detail about specific themes please refer to the News Blogs.

9. When does the year start?
The Playschool year is coordinated with the school year, and generally starts in mid September and finishes in mid June.  For the 2011 - 2012 school year, first classes September 12th/September 13th and last classes are June 4th/June 5th.  The year end party will take place on Wednesday, June 6th.

10. What is your discipline policy?
The Carstairs Playschool focuses on prevention of behaviour problems through predictable routines, a safe environment and vigilant supervision, but from time to time problems can occur. Classroom rules will be explained to the children at the beginning of the playschool year, and they will be reminded of them whenever necessary. For more specifics about the discipline policy please refer to the Handbook, found in the Resources for Parents section.

11. What is your policy for ill children?
In the event that your child is unwell, including any of the following symptoms: fever, vomiting, diarrhea, conjunctivitis (pink eye), cough, sore throat, extreme fatigue, head lice, etc) PLEASE KEEP YOUR CHILD AT HOME.   Please call the Playschool (403 816 1481) to let the teachers know that your child will be absent.  It is also important that you notify the Playschool if your child is diagnosed with any contagious illness.  If your child feels ill while attending playschool, teaching staff will call you immediately to come and get them. Sick children will be kept a practical distance away from the other students and be supervised by a staff member until a parent arrives.

12. What is your policy for children who are hurt at school?
Our teacher and teacher’s assistant are required to have First Aid and CPR certifications as well as a police check. A first aid kit is available in the classroom. Any incidents that require first aid will be recorded in the Incident Binder and communicated to parents. In cases of accident or injury, parents will be immediately contacted using the phone numbers listed on the child’s registration form. Therefore, it is imperative that parents notify their Class Director of any changes to emergency contacts listed on the registration form.

13. How can I make a donation to the Carstairs Playschool?
As a nonprofit organization, Carstairs playschool accepts donations. A receipt can be issued and used for tax purposes.

14. Is Carstairs Playschool a daycare or a preschool?
Carstairs Playschool is not a daycare.  A daycare typically has a wider range of children (6 months - 12 yrs) and is open longer hours during the day and throughout the year.  We have shorter hours and closely follow the school year calendar.  Carstairs Playschool is a preschool educational setting because we focus on Kindergarten Readiness for three and four year olds.  When children finish our 4 year program, most will be enrolled in Kindergarten.

Please talk with the teachers before putting anything up on the notice board.  We allow information that pertains to kids and to kids activities (eg.sports registrations) but do not allow sales items to be posted.

The Playschool Teacher has her Level 2 Child Care Worker certification issued by the Government of Alberta, Child and Youth Services.  The Playschool Teacher's Assistant has her Level 1 Child Care Assistant certification.  Both the teacher and the teacher's assistant are required to have their First Aid and CPR Certification.  Our teacher and teacher's assistant also take other courses to keep up to date with early childhood development. 

There will always be 2 adults with the children at all times.  If the teacher's assistant has to be absent, a member of the Playschool Board will cover the classes.  These individuals have had their Police Checks and Child Welfare check done.  If the teacher is absent, a qualified person will come to sub for the day.  This person will be required to have either their Level 2 (Child Care Worker) certification or their Level 3 (Child Care Supervisor) certification, as well as have done their Police and Child Welfare checks.