Do you have a program at Hardisty School? Yes, we have an afterschool program at Hardisty School for grades 1-6.
How long is your waiting list? Presently we have a very extensive waiting list. We have limited spaces for infants (12) and it is dependent on movement within the center. We welcome parents to call us to put their name on the waiting list although we can not guarantee a spot as it depends on what becomes available.
Afterschool: Presently we have a few spaces available in our afterschool programs.
As spots become available within rooms we call people on the waiting list.
Do you bus children? No, we do not provide our own transportation however if a bus route can be set up with the school, then we will make sure the child boards the bus and is greeted when the bus arrives at the end of the day. Presently we have bus routes going to Holyrood and Forest Heights.
Do you serve meals? For the daycare we provide breakfast, lunch, and snack. The afterschool programs provide an afternoon snack.
What times are meals served? In the daycare, we serve breakfast from 7-9 am. We serve lunch from 11:00-11:30 depending on the age group and sometimes on bus arrival in the Kinder room. Afternoon snack is served around 3-3:30 pm.
My child has a food allergy – do you make food substitutions? We will substitute meat or veggies, but for children with gluten, milk, or egg allergies we require parents to bring in alternatives that fit with our menu.
Do you serve nuts or nut products? No! We are a nut-free centre.
How does nap work? We encourage the younger children to rest or sleep after lunch. Older children have the option of napping or quiet play.
Who can pick up my child if I cannot? You provide us with a list of alternative people who may pick up your child – we will check ID but we do require that parents call ahead to advise who will be picking up your child.
What do I do if my child is sick? Due to Covid19, we complete a daily screening chart to monitor for fever, running nose, cough, or chills. If a child has any of these symptoms they can not attend daycare and must get a Covid19 test. We also require the child to be symptom free before returning to the center.
Will you give my child medication if required? We do administer medication, but require it to be in the original bottle, with the child’s name and dosage. Parents are required to fill out a medical form.
My child has allergies what do I need to do? We keep a record of allergies in the child’s file including a Medical Alert Sheet. If your child may need emergency treatment (Epi-pen, antihistamines, inhaler, etc.) we require you to provide a doctor’s note and fill out our medication forms. We also require you to instruct the staff on how to administer the medication.
Do you have daily outdoor time? Yes, weather permitting the children may be outside twice a day. We have a large play yard but due to Covid19 only cohort can go out at a time. We also have an infant playground that is exclusively for the infants.
Do you go outside in the winter time? Yes, weather permitting.
Do you go on field trips? Due to Covid19 we are only able to go for walks and play in our own play yard. In a regular year, we go on field trips during the months of July and August. The afterschool tend to go on two major field trips and weekly staff planned outings around the neighborhood.
Do you have special events? Staff plan special activities and experiences with the children.
Do parents have ways to connect with other parents? Due to Covid19 we communicate with parents via newsletter and email. In a regular year, we host a number of family functions such as muffin mornings and summer BBQs. The functions are posted on our perpetual calendar at the front entrance.
What if my infant needs 2 naps a day? In the younger infant room we will start with the two naps and then slowly progress to one nap after lunch. Infant nap times vary greatly. Some only sleep for 30 minutes and many sleep for the entire two hours. If a child wakes early, the staff will take time to interact with the children while the others are sleeping.
Do I need to bring in Homogenized milk? We serve 2% milk and if parents want to have other milk served they must label it and bring it in.
Do you accept children with cloth diapers? Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate cloth diapers – parents need to bring disposable diapers.
Will you give my child the breast milk I provide? Yes, but please label the bottle with child’s name and that it is breast milk as the heating process is different for breast milk.
Should I wean my child before starting daycare? To minimize stress and to avoid dehydration, we do recommend that children be comfortable drinking from a bottle.
If my child has not yet been introduced to table food what provisions do I need to make? We request that you bring in powdered formula (or breast milk) and baby food. We will not give your child any foods you have not introduced at home.
What should I bring in for my infant? You may want to bring in your child’s favorite soft blanket. You also need to bring in diapers, diaper cream (if needed), a change of clothing, shoes, and outdoor clothes appropriate for the weather. We supply baby wipes and bedding.
What is the process for entering the daycare? Parents are asked to use the north entrance (across from the play yard). When they enter, they must have a mask, sanitize their hands, remove wet or snowy boots/shoes, and fill out a screening chart. If any of the questions are answered with a no, then the parent must take the child for Covid 19 test before returning to the daycare. We require the child to have a negative test and be symptom free.
What is the process for entering the afterschool? Parents are asked to use the west entrance around the corner from the parking lot. When they enter, they must have a mask, sanitize their hands, remove wet or snowy boots/shoes, and fill out a screening chart. If any of the questions are answered with a no, then the parent must take the child for Covid 19 test before returning to the daycare. We require the child to have a negative test and be symptom free.
Do I need to report my when my child is not attending child care? We require that you let us know if your child will not be at daycare/afterschool.
How can I help the daycare/afterschool? We always look for volunteers to participate in our casinos as this generates a large amount of revenue for the centre.