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Ms. Nataliya is Moving!

A Message from the Chairperson

Hello Preschool Families,

I’m sad to say that Ms. Nataliya and her family are moving away from the Bow Valley. We will miss her kindness and creativity at Preschool next year!Worms!

Our board made an excellent decision in 2007 when they chose to hire Nataliya. She came to Canmore Preschool with an Honours degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Ukraine, and several years’ practical experience working with preschool-aged children in Canada. Our children have benefited from her experience, patience, and good cheer for the past nine years.

In her teaching, her deep knowledge of best practices in early childhood education has always been filtered IMG_6668through her dynamic personality. She has invented new art projects, taught the children how to decorate pyansky (traditional Ukrainian Easter eggs), and invited her daughter Melanie to visit Preschool to demonstrate and teach dances. Nataliya has always brought delightful and engaging activities into her classes.

Nataliya will still be running Canmore Preschool summer camps this July, programs which she founded in 2012. Over the years the entire Fladager family has contributed to the summer camps, especially Nataliya’s husband Dave whose expertise as a science teacher has enriched our “Young Scientists”.Outdoor Day

We will convey our thanks to Nataliya and her family at the End of Year Party on June 23. At that time, we will have a card or guest book for those who want to write a note of appreciation and best wishes for the adventures ahead.

Looking forward for the Preschool, we are seeking another top-notch early childhood educator to join our team, and the hiring committee will begin interviewing candidates soon. We hope to find someone as warm and wise as Ms. Nataliya!

Sincerely,

Rachel Lippitt

Chairperson of the Board

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Now Hiring: Preschool Teacher

Position Filled!

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Sadly, Ms. Nataliya and her family are moving, so Canmore Preschool is currently accepting applications for the following position:

Preschool Teacher

Location: Canmore, AB

Status: Salaried; three-quarter time; late August to end of June, possible work in July

Closing Date for Applications: June 30, 2016

Starting Date: September 5, 2016; classes begin September 12.

The Canmore Preschool is a non-profit, parent-directed, educational program for 3- and 4-year-olds. We are the longest-running preschool in Canmore, providing outstanding early childhood education since 1972. Our programs follow the Canadian Rockies Public Schools calendar from September to June, and we offer summer camps in July.

Our program encourages learning through social play. Children this age learn through every game they play, whether at the craft table, in the block centre, in the gym, or outside. We aim to strike a happy balance between child- and teacher-directed activities each day to provide both structured and free learning opportunities.

We provide a progression for children from our 3-year-old classes to our pre-Kindergarten 4-year-old classes. The pre-K classes are challenged with longer classes, more pre-literacy and numeracy activities, more advanced gross and fine motor skills, and more structured activities to prepare them for the transition to Kindergarten.

Responsibilities:

  • Plan, prepare, and implement developmentally appropriate programs for both 3-year-old and 4-year-old classes. Schedule:
    • 4yo Pre-Kindergarten class M/W/F 8:45-11:45am
    • 3yo Preschool class T/Th 9:00-11:00am
    • Afternoon schedule to be determined but will include 6 to 12 hours per week of afternoon classes M-Th finishing no later than 3:30pm.
  • Effectively facilitate classes to create an environment for young children that is both creative/playful/active and also safe/respectful/organized.
  • Communicate effectively and warmly with parents about program activities, schedules, volunteering, and their child’s performance in preschool.
  • Communicate effectively with the board of parent volunteers, and attend board meetings every other month.
  • Work closely with the other preschool teacher, classroom aide, and office administrator on a daily basis.
  • Work closely with aides from the Cause & Effect Foundation.
  • Be open, welcoming, and understanding with families from diverse backgrounds.

Qualifications:

  • Organized, energetic, creative, and warm-hearted.
  • Must have at least 3 years experience working with preschool children.
  • Possess certification as a Child Development Worker or higher (CDS and BEd preferred).
  • Possess certification in Standard First Aid, including child CPR and use of epi-pens.
  • Pass a Vulnerable Sector criminal record check.
  • Provide references.

Salary range will be commensurate with qualifications.

To Apply:

Email your cover letter and resume to info@canmorepreschool.com.

 

Canmore Preschool welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds.

We sincerely thank all applicants for their interest.

Only those selected for an interview will be notified.

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Space available in Young Scientists Summer Camp for ages 3 to 5!

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July 11-15, 2016:
8:45-11:45am
Young Scientists

Why is water wet? Why do balls bounce? How do magnets work? What is a rainbow? Can we make a volcano? What can float on air? We will try to find the answers to these and many other questions preschoolers might have. Children will enjoy captivating demonstrations, perform simple science experiments, and discover how science can help us to better understand the world around us.

Email info@canmorepreschool.com to find out if space is still available.

2016 summer flyer

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Frozen Flatbread Fundraiser – Product Pick Up June 13th 3-5pm

flatbread logoPick up went very smoothly – Thanks to the volunteers who helped out! And thanks to all who bought and sold and made flatbread!

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Previous info:

We are selling frozen flatbreads again! Nutritious, delicious, locally made, these flatbreads are the ultimate easy family dinner after a busy day in the mountains. We hope you stock your freezer and your friends stock theirs as well!

Place orders online until May 29th, 2016, at 6pm.

Pick up product on Monday, June 13th between 3-5pm at Preschool.

To order please go to:

http://www.teamfund.ca/canmorepreschool

You can use the invite code “2” to place an order and Lindsey will be your contact person (403-678-2538), or if you are a preschool parent, please click “Register” at the top to get your own invite code. Then give the website and your invite code to anyone who wants to order!

2016 Rocky Mountain Fundraiser MENU

2016 Rocky Mountain Fundraiser ORDER FORM

Thanks for supporting Preschool!

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Summer Camp Registration Now Open!

Please use the button in the upper right to register and pay for Canmore Preschool July 2016 summer camps. Camps are for potty-trained children ages 3 to 5. Maximum 15 children per camp. Fees are $100 per week (Mon-Fri, 3 hours per day).

July 4-8, 2016:
Choice of 8:45-11:45am or 12:30-3:30pm
The Mighty Jungle

Let’s swing on a vine! We are going to learn about wild jungle animals. We will play games like “Jumping Monkeys”, “Sleeping Lion Cubs”, and many more exciting activities. Children will make animal masks, match animal parts, and transform into jungle creatures through face-painting.

July 11-15, 2016:
Choice of 8:45-11:45am or 12:30-3:30pm
Young Scientists

Why is water wet? Why do balls bounce? How do magnets work? What is a rainbow? Can we make a volcano? What can float on air? We will try to find the answers to these and many other questions preschoolers might have. Children will enjoy captivating demonstrations, perform simple science experiments, and discover how science can help us to better understand the world around us.

2016 summer flyer

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Registration Night & AGM – March 9, 2016 – 7pm – at the Holiday Inn

Canmore Preschool Registration Night & Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the 2016-17 school year will be held:Annual General Meeting

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

7:00 p.m.

Holiday Inn, 1 Silvertip Trail, Canmore. (Nakiska Room, Level P)

Please click the button to the upper right to submit your registration forms and fee online. Specific class placements will still be determined by the Preschool after AGM. We ask all families to attend AGM on March 9, 2016, and families that attend will be placed in classes first.

Online registration is new for the 2016-2017 school year, so we will still accept paper forms at the AGM if necessary, but we appreciate you trying the new system! The system will ask you to Register for a 3yo or 4yo student, to complete the registration forms, and pay the $45 registration fee. For 2016-2017, 3yo classes are intended for children born in 2013, and 4yo classes for children born in 2012.

If you wish to register for 2016-2017 but cannot attend the AGM, please call the office to discuss your situation – 403-678-2538.

The Annual General Meeting will last about an hour. We recommend attending without kids in order to focus on business and wrap up as soon as possible. We are working on arrangements to provide some childcare on site for those who need it.

The first order of business for the AGM is to make sure we have a full complement of board members for the coming school year. As a cooperative, non-profit organization, the Canmore Preschool cannot operate without these volunteers. We have some returning members for 2016-2017, but some positions remain to be filled. The children of board members will be guaranteed their class placement! Call the office at 403-678-2538, if you are interested in volunteering, or look for the sign-up sheets in the lobby.

The second order of business is registration for the 2016-2017 school year. If there are too many applicants for a class, all registrations submitted (whether online or on paper) by those attending the meeting will be assigned class placements on a lottery system. Parents must attend the meeting for their child to enter the lottery. All registrations submitted after Registration Night will be placed or waitlisted in the order they are submitted, as space allows.

Thanks!

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Start Your Engines – Library Visits Begin in January

Our monthly visits to the Canmore library will start in January. We will take buses to the library for this special program with Ms. Rhonda.

Student pick up on library days will be from the library (except for Ms. Nataliya’s 4-yr afternoon class which will ride the bus both ways with pick up, as usual, at the preschool).

Due to safety concerns, we ask that parents arrive 10-15 minutes earlier to assist their child in selecting and checking out 2 books together.

Please arrange for your child to have a library card before the first trip. This can be done at the library and there is no cost involved. For your convenience, application forms will be available in the preschool lobby closer to the library dates!

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Something’s Fishy Here – January is Ocean Month

Our theme in January will be the “Ocean”. We will learn many finger plays and songs, read interesting books and learn about ocean life. Get ready to sing “Slippery Fish”!

We will conclude the theme with Beach Day for our 3-year old students and Hawaiian Day for our 4 year old students. Please dress for the beach, bring a beach towel and a tropical snack.

During Hawaiian Day our preschoolers will have a chance to taste a delicious pineapple. Let us know if you have any concerns about this.

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Good Luck to Ms. Nancy! She’s moving on from Preschool

A Message from the Teachers

As you may have heard, our long-time administrator, Nancy McGinn, is graduating from preschool! She is retiring in January. Nancy joined the inaugural teachers, Janet Haas and Kathi Newman, in 2000 as the preschool’s first and only administrator to date. Kathi describes Nancy’s addition to the team as an immediate presence of “peace over the whole preschool operation.” Nancy has been the preschool’s welcoming ambassador ever since.

When Nancy arrived on the scene, she brought with her a wealth of past experience as a teacher and as an operator of her own daycare and preschool businesses. Good thing for her diverse background, because her role as preschool administrator has called on her to juggle all of these hats at some point or another! Between her outstanding organizational skills and her instinctive ability to liaison between the preschool Board, our parents, we teachers and other community groups, we salute her dedication which has kept this ship of ours sailing. Time after time, she has offered kind support to many, far beyond her job description. Throughout it all, Nancy’s prevailing concern and care has always been in the best interest of our students, your children, and our program. For this unwavering vision and its invaluable contribution to our preschool community, we are truly grateful.

One of Nancy’s greatest pleasures during these 15 years has been to work alongside such wonderful families, board members and community colleagues. Please join us for a family friendly drop-in to honour her contributions, friendship, wit and wisdom on Thursday, January, 21 between 3:30 and 5:30pm. We hope to see you there!

Although we will miss Nancy’s daily presence here, we wish her all the best in the next chapter. We hope that it includes less driving and more time with her grandchildren!

Carmen and Nataliya

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Considering Preschool? Moving up to our Pre-K program? Visit a class!

We welcome all families considering preschool to call the office at 403-678-2538 to schedule a time to visit one of our classes. This is the perfect way to see what we do, and introduce your child to the program.

But it’s not just for new students! If your child has attended the 3-year-old classes this year and you’re looking at your options for pre-Kindergarten, please come and visit a 4-year-old class. Our program is designed to grow with your child, to challenge them, and to set them up for success when they transition to Kindergarten. Give us a call and set up a time to see for yourself!

Registration for 2016-2017 began on March 9th, 2016. It is now ongoing, on a first-come first-served basis. There is still space available in some classes. Please call the office to check current availability.