The Edmonton Society for Christian Education (ESCE) operates two private preschools.

• West Christian Preschool
• Northeast Christian Preschool

Our preschool program runs annually from mid-September through mid-June.

Locations

West Christian Preschool 14345 McQueen Road Edmonton, AB T5N 3L5

Northeast Christian Preschool 5940 159 Avenue Edmonton, AB T5Y 0J5

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Operations

The Edmonton Society for Christian Education (ESCE) operates the Edmonton Christian Preschool, providing children with a safe place to play, learn and be introduced to Christian education. The Society office is the place of contact for all registration and payment inquiries as well as for comments and concerns about the program.

Edmonton Christian Preschool is accredited by the Association for the Accreditation of Early Learning and Care Services. Learn More

Edmonton Christian Preschool – Society Office
780.476.6281 | preschool@edmchristian.org

About the Program

Edmonton Christian Preschool is an accredited early childhood education program focusing on learning through play in a Christian setting. We encourage each child to grow socially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually through a variety of activities, including:

Free Play:

Each class begins with a time of free play, allowing your child to adjust to the classroom and make his/her own choices without pressure. New activities are introduced as the class continues, such as art-related activities, sensory activities like play dough, sand, water, and interactive games. Children are encouraged to participate while still making their own choices.

Modelling:

Children will learn to cooperate, share, take turns and listen to others during group times such as circle, singing, show and share, daily calendar and clean up. Good manners and healthy habits are encouraged at snack time. We thank God each day for our food.

Experience:

Children will be offered gross motor activities through the use of the gym and the outdoor playground.

Jesus is at the heart of our preschool program. We follow His example for daily living through stories from the Bible, prayer and song. We celebrate His birth at Christmas and His death and resurrection at Easter. We reinforce a strong and healthy Christian family lifestyle which is essential to a child’s well-being. Our world belongs to God!

Staff Responsibilities:

The preschool teacher is responsible for the care and safety of the children. The teacher will teach preschool-level activities through materials and play based on Christian beliefs. The teacher will nurture the child’s self-image while building social, motor, and language skills.

Our Preschool teachers are certified at minimum as Child Development Workers (level 2). They have provided a clear and recent Police Information check, including a vulnerable sector search. They are certified to provide first aid.

Child Guidance: Children learn best through experiences. We believe that the teacher must lovingly guide the children to help them learn to cooperate with their peers and have positive educational experiences that encourage and enhance their growth and development while in our care. This can best be accomplished by:

• planning a wide variety of activities for the children.
• limiting the number of children in each area of the room to avoid overcrowding and to allow for sufficient materials and the opportunity for constructive interactions.
• speaking with a child if their behaviour is inappropriate for the area or material that they are using. For example: “This is how we use the crayons” or “Walking only, please”.
• using positive language with the children for appropriate behaviour. For example: “I like the way Mary is sitting” or “Walking feet” instead of “Don’t run.” If a child is still having a problem cooperating, he/she is removed from the situation and redirected to another activity for a period of time. For example: “Mary, I’m sorry, but that is not how we play at the sand table. Let’s go to the colouring table or the blocks”.
• ignoring, where appropriate. For example: If a child is making faces at others but not upsetting them, we ignore it.

If group behaviour is a problem, the area that has become a problem for the group is closed, and the group is broken up and redirected to other activities.

If the child has not responded to positive reinforcement and has been redirected but is still displaying inappropriate behaviour, the teacher will offer him/her other choices. For example: “Billy doesn’t like it when you knock over the buildings he is working on. Let’s ask Billy how you can help,” or, “You can use your ideas to build over here.”

If the situation isn’t resolved, there will be a consequence. For example: “You’re not listening to Billy’s words. He’s sad when you knock over his building. I can’t let you play here anymore. You may play at the play-dough table or with the cars”.

It is at the teacher’s discretion to discuss with the parent of a child who is displaying continued inappropriate behaviour other methods of dealing with the child and the situation. However, in no case will a teacher or helper ever inflict on a child physical punishment, verbal or physical degradation or emotional deprivation. Teachers and helpers will never deny or threaten to deny any basic necessity, and they will never use or permit the use of any form of physical restraint, confinement or isolation. Teachers will involve parents in all facets of the program, including guidance and discipline.

Food Allergies

Food allergies will be recorded when the child registers. Parents will be notified of any severe allergies in the class (e.g. nuts). Shared snacks on special occasions like birthdays will have no home-baked items as per Capital Health’s request and will be supervised by the teacher.

What to Bring to Preschool

• Weather-appropriate clothes. The students will have outdoor playtime every class, weather permitting.
• A backpack
• Indoor shoes
• A healthy snack

All personal items should be labelled. Indoor shoes can remain at the school.

Every School Day:

1. Arrive on time. This helps settle your child and starts the day on time.
2. Remove outdoor shoes or boots and place them on the rack near or inside the classroom.
3. Take off your child’s coat and backpack and place them on the coat hook with their name.
4. Help your child to change into indoor shoes.
5. Pick up your child on time.
6. Sign your child in and out.