FAQs

> What does a Parent Involvement Preschool (PIP) Mean?

Parents are given the opportunity to be involved in their child’s preschool experience, although parents are not required to stay on any given day. A parent Involvement Preschool understand the importance of a child’s development, learning and success in life and school to be directly correlated to the family involvement.  The teacher to child ratio in a PIP is 1:8. This tends to be smaller then the tradition preschool, which is 1:10. When we add a volunteer parent in the mix of the day, it’s lowers the adult to child ratio but still fosters the perfect balance of allowing children to discover, socialize, play and learn independently.

> How much time will be required by the school?

Each family has a minimum amount of volunteer time required:

1. Parents are asked to fulfill one duty day every 4-6 weeks depending on how many children are enrolled in the class. Duty days consist of three jobs, bringing a healthy snack for the children to share during our shared snack time, bringing your child prepared for our ‘Show-and-Share’ program, and at the end of the day taking home any used towels to be clean and returned to the preschool.

2. Parents are to attend 4 general membership meeting. The meeting consists of a parent education component and preschool business where you will hear reports from executive members and our teachers, and vote on any necessary agenda items.

3. To volunteer 7 hours towards our fundraising event, the Imagination Fair. The fair has been a tradition at our school for many years and is a fantastic annual event in our community. As our preschool is apart of the non-profit society, this fundraiser is a great event for raising money to helps us successfully run our preschool.

>What role do I have as a volunteer parent?

Parents assist the teacher in preparing the classroom, help children with activities, supervise, prepare snacks and clean up at the end of the day. Parents are there for all the children, not only their child, but on your volunteer day, you’ll be able to observe your child at play with others and enjoy the school day with them.

> What does a typical day at Preschool look like?

On a typical day we have two teachers and up to 19 children attending preschool. The program is play based and our amazing teachers plan fun exploratory activities that engage children. There is a circle and snack time each day, and there is outside play almost every day. To see photos of a typical preschool day click here

> Are there any days where the children leave the facility?

Our teachers are constantly on the hunt for field trip opportunities for the children and most months we either have a special visitor to the Preschool, or take the children on a field trip. Examples of some of our field trips include: Burnaby Lake, Library, Recycling depot, fish hatchery.

> What do you mean by a play-based program?

It means that the program and activities planned are experiential in nature, sometimes messy and always lots of fun. Play is open-ended with opportunities for children to progress and explore at their own pace. Children take given materials and their imaginations to use them in a variety of ways, with guidance and support from the trained teachers.

> Do we send our own snack?

At Kiddies Korner Preschool the daily snack duty parent (rotating) brings the snack for all the children. This way, children all sit and share a snack-time together and are exposed to a wide range of healthy foods, the opportunity to share, and socialize with their preschool classmates while enjoying a healthy, yummy snack.

> Are you affiliated with the church?

Kiddies Korner leases the space from the church but is not a religious based program. We have our own space, including amazing outside area, coat area and washrooms.

> Why should I choose Kiddies Korner Preschool?

Mrs. Durkin our teacher is a very experienced preschool teacher who has won multiple awards for teaching excellence. Mrs. Graham has a new and energetic passion towards the philiosophy of play-based learning and encouraging the children to discovery and exercise their imaginations. Our teachers work together to provide children with an exploratory, play-based program that is not just play; it is play with a purpose. Children and their families find that belonging to Kiddies Korner Preschool means belonging to a community that cares for each other. It is a place for building lifelong friendships both for the children and the parents. It is a place to send your child knowing that that their first educational experience will be filled with rich hands on learning, instilling a love of learning in an environment filled with caring adults. Learn more