Our Program
Carp Cooperative Nursery School offers a preschool program for children aged 2.5 to 4, Monday to Friday, from 9:00 - 11:30 am. Enrolment options include our Monday/Wednesday/Friday program and/or our Tuesday/Thursday program during the school year (September to end of June), or our Monday/Wednesday/Friday program during the summer months. There is no Tuesday/Thursday program throughout the summer months.
Daily Schedule
Our program follows the same flow of daily activities each day.
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Arrival - Children are encouraged to find their cubby, take off their outdoor wear and switch to indoor shoes independently.
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Free Play - This is an opportunity to explore different activity areas at their own pace including arts, crafts, science activities, the sensory station, tabletop toys, quiet time/books, dramatic play and/or the gross motor and big block area.
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Circle Time - Everyone joins in to tidy up then the students come together at the circle time area to enjoy stories, songs, games, discussion, dance and many spontaneous events.
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Snack - Students wash their hands then gather to enjoy their snacks together.
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Bathroom/Getting Dressed - After snack, students are encouraged to take turns using the washroom then can enjoy more free play until it's time to go outside. This is a great opportunity for students to practice putting their outdoor clothes on independently.
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Outdoor Play - Children play in our enclosed grass-filled area complete with a hill, a large sand area, and a variety of toys, shovels, buckets, riding toys, tricycles etc., and natural play items such as rocks, twigs and logs.
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Pick-up - Parents pick their children up from the yard and students are encouraged to help tidy up the toys and say goodbye to their friends before leaving.
Our Classroom
Our classroom is filled with activities that encourage exploration, curiosity and hands-on learning. Click through the slideshow below to learn more about our different learning areas.
Creative Area
Different materials allow the children to use their imagination and develop their creativity. Through the creative process, self expression and communication skills are promoted. The children also learn about concepts such as colours, shapes, and size. Fine motor control is enhanced, and this is a precursor to writing and literary skills.
Field Trips
The school goes on several theme-related field trips each year, including the pumpkin patch in the fall and sugar bush in the spring. We also visit the local fire station, enjoy a chickadee walk and host Ray's Reptiles in our classroom. To celebrate the end of the school year, we gather at Fitzroy Provincial Park for a picnic, concert and a morning at the beach.
A parent or guardian is required to attend our off-site field trips. Siblings are also welcome to join the fun! Events that take place at the school do not require a parent to stay, however they are welcome to stay if they choose.
Co-op Model
We are a co-operative nursery school which means that families play an essential role, alongside our teachers, in running our school. Each family is actively involved as a member of our Executive Committee or a fundraising committee, or has an individual responsibility (i.e. supplies, yard maintenance, duty scheduling, field trip coordinator etc.). Families also take turns washing the cloths and towels from the classroom.
In addition, family members (typically parents or grandparents) do duty days approximately once a month. The frequency depends on enrolment and a duty calendar is shared well in-advance. Duty parents are expected to stay for the duration of the morning. You will provide assistance as directed by the teacher in the daily routine and support activities in classroom such as supervision during free play, arts & crafts, circle time and tidy up time. There are lots of opportunities to engage with the children and have fun. You may also be asked to help the program assistant with some clean up chores.
There are many benefits that come along with the responsibilities of participating in a cooperative nursery school. Parents have the unique opportunity to observe and interact with their child and their child's peers during duty days. The participation requirements give parents the opportunity to be highly involved in their child’s experience at nursery school and to feel a sense of ownership and pride for the program. The cooperative model also allows tuition and fees to be kept lower.