Early Learning Policies

School personnel will administer the screener to all new students at a designated time. An evaluation of the screener and other existing records will be reviewed by the Director and teacher(s) to determine your child’s strengths and needs. A more extensive assessment will be available for an additional cost.

Full-Time Programs:

• Our school year runs from September until mid-August with program hours from 8:15-5:15 (please check our yearly schedule posted on our website, as closure dates fluctuate).

• Fees must be paid during the summer. Please refer to the Cancellation Policy.

• Fees are prorated into 12 equal payments.

• Those on the wait-list for a full-time program must pay and/or start the program as soon as a space becomes available.

• We have a scheduled Teacher Administrative Day on Tuesday, September 3rd,  at which time our school will be closed for all families. Our orientation for new children will begin on Wednesday, September 4th at 8:45am, families will be contacted with an appt time.

* Discount offered to families with two or more children registered Full Time.

Extra-Curricular Activities: 

• All children registered into the Full Day Balanced Montessori Program (Monday – Friday) will receive the following classes as part of their curriculum. Children registered in MWF or T/TH Full Day, 8:30-5:15 will receive only the listed enrichment on the days they are registered.

• Dance Classes – Connie Parsons School of Dance. Dance uniforms, performance tickets and year end costumes for the recital are an extra cost; year-end recital optional for ages 3 and older, children MUST be toilet trained to take part in recital.

• Music Classes – Kindermusik classes offer a playful and nurturing environment where children sing, move, play instruments, and hear stories—all while developing social skills, problem-solving skills, pre-math skills, and a foundation for reading. This research-based curriculum focuses on whole-child development and helps each child develop musically, cognitively and socially.

• Fitness Classes – Our Fitness classes elevate children’s love of movement, while improving their physical, social, and cognitive skills through our award-winning fitness curriculum.

• Creative S.T.E.A.M. Discovery and Exploration –S.T.E.A.M. classes encourage open-ended, multi-sensory experiences with focuses on activities in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics. Creative S.T.E.A.M. programs engage children’s minds, bodies, and senses and create natural learning experiences that lead to self discovery, developmental growth, creativity and inquiry.

Early Achievers has implemented a policy in which all children attending our programs wash their hands upon arrival.

*It is important for your child to arrive on time each day to maintain classroom routines and to aid with transition.

Early Achievers closes for Statutory holidays, Easter and Christmas vacations. Summer Enrichment Camps in July and part of August  as well as themed S.T.E.A.M. Enrichment Camps may also be available through out the year, if there is enough interest.

Our Montessori programs start with an Administrative day for teachers and an Orientation morning for new students.

We close for scheduled Parent-Teacher Conferences twice per year; Fall and Spring.  However, if you have an immediate concern, please contact your child’s teacher to arrange an appointment for an earlier date. A conference by telephone can also be arranged.

Early Achievers closes mid-August to prepare our school for the following school year. (Please check our yearly schedule posted on our website as closure dates fluctuate).

Snowstorms – If the public schools close due to weather, Early Achievers will also be closed. Please listen to local- radio stations for an announcement. We will also post closures on our website and Facebook page. Please like our Facebook page to ensure you keep up to date with notifications.

*We do not issue credits for sick days, vacations or any unexpected closure due to snow days.

Each day children should bring a change of clothes; including socks, shoes, underwear, pants and a shirt.  This is important as children sometimes have accidents that soil their clothes.  Non- marking indoor footwear is also required.

Every effort will be made to accommodate children with exceptionalities. A meeting to discuss the strengths and needs of each child is necessary before confirmation of a quality program following best practices can be met within our facility. Once it is determined that a quality program can be designed to meet the strengths and needs of the child a Standard of Practice and a Safety Plan (if need be) will be implemented. We will work closely with our Government approved Inclusion Consultant to confirm if a teacher can be approved. If a child requires an Inclusion Worker to help the child succeed in the classroom, an independent worker will be provided. If the Inclusion Worker is absent for whatever reason the child unfortunately will not be able to attend our programming for that period of time.

Early Achievers has implemented a policy in which all children attending our programs must wash their hands upon arrival.

If a child is unable to participate in programming due to an illness or medically related condition the child will be offered a quiet place to rest and parents will be called to bring the child home immediately.

In most child care settings it is not unusual for children to be exposed to various illnesses or afflictions. If your child exhibits any of the following symptoms, please DO NOT bring him/her to school:

• Lethargy

• Fever of 38.1 degrees or higher within the last 24 hours

• Vomiting or diarrhea within last 24 hours

• Unusual coughing, runny nose and eyes, heavy nasal discharge

• Rashes on the skin

• Has symptoms of a possible communicable disease (reddened or watery eyes)

A child can transition to another classroom when there is space available and the child is developmentally ready with a successful toileting schedule program. This includes self-help skills such as the ability to pull up and down clothing and to wash their hands independently.    

We will try our best to go outside as long as it is above -15 degrees Celsius with the wind chill and not too damp. Please note, however, sometimes ice and snow levels may prohibit us from keeping the children safe at which time a decision will be to stay inside. At times physical movement may be available in the Resource Centre as a substitute. Please dress your child in layers for changing weather and be sure all outer clothing is labelled.
Mabel’s Labels is a great company that we are promoting – www.mabelslabels.com.

We require students to bring a snack/lunch and drink/s to school each day. There is no access to microwaves or ovens to heat items at lunch, however, a good thermos will keep meals quite hot. Suggestions for healthy lunches include: sandwiches, yogurt, cheese, fruit, chili, spaghetti, macaroni, pasta dishes, and soups. We appreciate parent’s help in supporting a healthy environment by avoiding foods high in sugar and fat. Lunches should be packed in a lunch bag or lunchbox with the child’s name clearly and visibly labelled on the front. *Early Achievers has a Healthy Eating Policy which follows Canada’s Food Guide.

Children will be required to bring a minimum of 2 healthy snacks, lunch and a water bottle for drink. *Toddler children can bring milk.

• Please follow the Canada’s Food Guide when preparing or planning snacks and lunches

• Food Allergies: peanuts, tree nuts, seafood, egg (subject to change)

• Please cut grapes and cherry tomatoes in half/lengthwise and quarter, please par boil or shred carrots. No raisins or popcorn are permitted as they are choking hazard.

• Send food with an ice pack to keep food cold or in a Thermos to keep food warm

• Provide spoons, forks, and straws as needed

• Re-usable drink containers are preferred

• Juice boxes should contain 100% fruit juice and be limited to one per day – Milk and water are best

• Little Counters– Classes are made fun by incorporating songs and rhymes, hands-on tactile learning with an AL abacus as well as music and movement activities to teach four year old’s early skills to succeed in Math. Offered to children in their year before Kindergarten.

• Little Pre-Readers – Preschool children enjoy learning in our Little Pre-Readers program. Each 40 minute class introduces and reinforces the necessary skills to help develop early reading foundations through games, crafts, stories and more with Ziggy the Zebra. At this early stage, your preschool child will develop a basic understanding of phonics, decoding and early reading skills. Offered on to children in their year before Kindergarten.

• Les Petits Amis –  Children see the French language come to life with Camembear a magical, French speaking puppet. Children experience and explore language through games, rhymes, and story books. Classes are supplemented with hands on activities that reinforce the concepts introduced. Learning languages at a young age helps children to develop cognitive and social skills,
  together with a sense of self-confidence that will carry them through into later stages of their education, and right into their adult life. Camembear inspires and motivates young children to speak with confidence in a foreign language as children are more
  confident speaking to a puppet in French. *Offered to children Ages 3 – 5 or those that are developmentally ready.
  

• Early Piano Keyboarding –  Keyboarding Classes include a creative, developmentally-appropriate
  introduction to the piano keyboard. Weekly small group lessons introduce children to early piano skills, keyboard awareness and rhythmical understanding. As a bonus, children will be introduced to other Orff instruments such as xylophones, glockenspiels,
  drums, and metallophones. Offered to children Ages 3 – 5 or those that are developmentally ready.(Children must be toilet trained for ALL enrichment classes)

Early Achievers offers the following payment options:

• Cheque (Monthly Post Dated Cheques dated for the 1st of the month

• PRE-Authorized Debit (PAD) (Direct Debit for the 1st of each month)

• Visa or MasterCard (Monthly or payment in full – 2.25% user fee will be charged

• No Cash will be accepted unless program fees are paid in full for the year 

  *A $25 penalty will be charged for all NFS or returned cheques.
  We do accept children on government funded subsidy.

One half of the first month’s tuition is payable at the time of registration to hold a student’s space for September. This deposit is non-refundable and will be credited toward September’s tuition. Prorated monthly payments will begin thereafter.

All Balanced Montessori and Traditional Pre-School programs require a $100 non-refundable registration/materials fee for the school year to be paid at time of registration, plus a $50 Child Development Screener for new children ages 3 and older.

When registering your child(ren), you are committing to the full program year.

Full time: Late August – Mid August of the following year

When registering your child(ren), you are committing to the full program year.

Montessori School Year Program: Early September – Mid August

You will be required to pay for the remaining months in the program if you decide to withdraw after December 18th, 2024, and before the program year is complete. A written notice must be submitted no later than December 18th and your child’s program will finish by Christmas Break.

If notice is given in the months prior to December a 30-day notice will come into effect. Depending on when this notice is given, there may or may not be a balance of fees due as our fees are prorated monthly.

Students enrolled into our Balanced Montessori programs will be required to wear uniforms in our school. Research shows that uniforms provide a sense of inclusion, equality and school pride. When wearing a uniform, a student feels connected to the school community and all of its values. In addition, a uniform relieves the pressure of conformity and encourages individuality through action.

Please note: The Strawberry Tree; a local clothing store orders our uniforms, please contact Florence @ 709-579-7626

Uniform

• All children must wear non-marking shoes

• Grey or Black Pants OR Embroidered Tunic

• White Polo Shirt – Short or Long Sleeve

• Embroidered Cardigan OR Vest

Optional

• Knee High Socks

• Floppy or Elastic Tie

• Blouse

• Turtleneck