About Us

Registration

We provide care to children 18 months to 6 years of age.

Admissions are processed in the order in which they are received, in accordance with the

following (ranked) priorities:

Age: children must be at least 18 months old
Staff: priority is given to the children of individuals currently employed by the Co-operative
Siblings: priority is given to co-operative members with children presently enrolled and in good standing
Attendance boundaries: families living within the current catchment attendance area of Lakeview and Argyle Elementary Schools. These admissions are processed in the order in which they are received.
If, after the application of the foregoing priorities the Centre has vacant spaces, the Centre may enroll children from outside the school community, when there is assurance that the community need is met.

The Executive Director usually makes calls in May for September spots. At that time, a visit to the Centre will be arranged where you will meet with the Centre Director who will provide an enrolment package which includes registration forms and a parent handbook which contains all of the Centre’s policies and procedures. At this time you will have a tour of the facility and meet the Centre staff.

Our Centre is a co-operative therefore parents must fill out an application form for membership as well as pay a non-refundable membership fee. Families are also required to provide 3 hours of volunteer work a year or pay $150 in lieu of this.

To be added to the wait list, please email or call the Executive Director.

Hours of Operation

The Centres are open from 7:00 A.M. until 5:30 P.M. Monday through Friday.

We are closed on all statutory holidays.

Fees

Fees are due on the first working day of each month.

Families must provide a six month supply of post-dated cheques that will be deposited at the beginning of the month. We are also set up for CAFT (Customer Automated Funds Transfer) so funds are automatically withdrawal from your account monthly.

There is no reduction in fees for vacation or illness.

Parents are required to pay their fees in order to retain their child care space.

Failure to do so in a 30 day period will result in notice of withdrawal.

2023 Fee Schedule

Meal Program

We provide breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack. All meals are well balanced and meet the nutritional and serving requirements of the Canada Food Guide.

By creating a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment, the Co-operative helps to foster the confidence and curiosity of our students. Each day is enriched with hands-on experiences and group activities, providing ample opportunities for children to improve their knowledge-base while developing social skills.

We follow the Play & Exploration curriculum provided by the Ministry of Education. In Play & Exploration, educators build the learning program around the interests of the children, there is an emphasis on small group projects that engage children, displays featuring children’s experiences and work rather than commercially produced materials, natural materials are preferred and authentic/real materials such as tape measures, safety glasses, menus, pots, brooms etc. The goal is to be more home-like and less of an institutional atmosphere.

Programs

Toddler and Preschool

Our program offers a combination of staff directed activities as well as use of the learning environment itself to inspire young children to explore and become competent and independent learners. Through careful observation of the children at play, we are able to capture the children’s interests and plan activities that further inspire them in their proficiency of a particular subject area. Staff then use both written documentation as well as photographs to track the children’s progression.

We use the natural environment to provide children with inspiration and create awe and wonder of the world around them. This is created by bringing outdoor materials into the Centre as well as active exploration of the outdoor environment.

Our fresh air policy ensures that children have the opportunity to be outdoors each day to enjoy the beauty of all seasons. They may just step out into our natural playscape, go on a neighbourhood walk or go on an excursion to the nearby parks and museums in the area.

School Age Children - Turtle Park Location

In our licensed school age program, children up to 6 years may join us before school, at lunch, and after school until the completion of grade one. During July and August the school age children are kept busy in the licensed program or can move into our Summer School Age

Before and After School Program

Our Centres offer un-licensed before and after school care in both Lakeview and Argyle Schools. We offer breakfast and an afternoon snack. We are open on all teacher professional days. We are able to operate on school holidays (Christmas (excluding Dec 24-Jan 1), February, and Easter) for a daily fee of $25. The program runs from the first day of school in September until the last day of classes in June. See the Before & After page for more information.

During the summer months children can register in the Summer School Age Program to keep them busy and entertained!