Care to Learn Preschool

    Care to Learn Preschool is a provincially-licensed organization located in nine schools in Northern Lights Public Schools.

    We are a developmental preschool, providing learning, growth and play opportunities for pre-Kindergarten aged children through music, arts and crafts, games, physical activity, early math and literacy centres, and more.

    Our preschool program is designed to support families in their efforts to provide their preschool-aged child with the following essential skills:

    • independence;
    • decision-making;
    • imagination and creativity;
    • sense of community;
    • communication;
    • learning through exploration;
    • problem-solving;
    • feelings of value and self-worth;
    • and relating to others.

    We offer many options for parents to choose from.

    Our Three-Hour Program is available in the mornings and afternoons and there are options to attend either two or three classes per week. Not all options are available at every location due to enrollment numbers and staff availability.

    The Three-Hour Program is available at:

    Full-Day options, where children can attend up to five days a week, are available at:

    More information on program availability and fees is available in the Fee Schedules section below. 

    Please note our preschool programs (with the exception of the full-day programs), follow the Northern Lights Public Schools calendar and there are no preschool classes on no school days.

    Important Dates

       
    March 4, 2024 Registration opens for existing Care to Learn Preschool Students
    March 14, 2024 Preschool open house at all locations from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
    March 18, 2024 Registration opens to all students.
    August 22, 2024 Schools re-open and start to process registrations received over the summer.
    September 3, 2024 First day for students enrolled in full-day program at Duclos School
    September 9, 2024 First week of half-day preschool programs and full-day programs at Ecole Plamondon and Vera M. Welsh Elementary

    Fee schedules for 2024-2025 are still being confirmed. Check back closer to registration opening for updated information. 

    Please click on the program you are interested in attending for information on what classes are available.

    Our 2024-2025 Care to Learn Preschool Parent Handbook includes important information about our program including:

    • Introduction and Goals
    • Registration and Fees
    • Supplies
    • Snacks
    • Policies and Procedures
    • Discipline
    • Illness
    • Communicable Disease
    • Lice
    • Accidents and Emergencies
    • Emergency Evacuation Procedure
    • Grievance Procedure

    2024-2025 Registration

    Registration for the 2024-2025 school year is now open!

    Instructions on how to register are included below.

    New to Northern Lights or returning to Northern Lights (no children currently enrolled in our schools)

    • Please register using School Engage.
    • We recommend using a computer (desktop or laptop) to complete forms in School Engage. Forms can also be completed on a tablet, but are not mobile friendly and we do not recommend using a smartphone to complete forms.
    • Detailed instructions for registering through School Engage are included in our NLPS Registration Guide for Parents.

    If you already have other children enrolled in a Northern Lights school

    • Please register your preschool student by logging into your PowerSchool Parent Portal account and clicking on School Engage in the bottom left hand corner of the screen.
    • Detailed instructions are included in our NLPS Registration Guide for Parents.
    • You will need to access the Parent Portal using a computer (desktop or laptop) in order to access registration forms. You will not be able to access the forms using the Parent Portal app.

    Completing the Form

    • Once you have accessed School Engage, please select the 2024-2025 Preschool Registration Form, fill everything out and submit the form.
    • You will need to provide citizenship documentation as part of the process (birth certificate, passport, citizenship documents), so please have that available to upload.  If you do not have a birth certificate and your child was born in Alberta, you can download a form HERE, fill it out and take it to the local registries office to order one.
    • For tips on completing your registration form, please see the Tips for Completing Your Student Registration page. Our school administrative assistants can also provide assistance with accessing and completing the form, and answering any questions you may have.

    Confirmation and Fees

    • Once you have submitted your form, it may take up to five working days (Monday-Friday, excluding statutory holidays) for us to review your form and availability in the class you have selected. You may receive a call from our division coordinator during that time to confirm details.
    • Once your enrolment has been confirmed, you will be sent instructions on how to pay your deposit through School Cash Online. If you need assistance in setting up or using School Cash Online, please contact your school.
    • Your space in the preschool program will be held for two weeks from the date your enrolment is confirmed. If you have not made payment by that time, your space may be assigned to someone else.
    • If you are experiencing difficulty paying the fee on time or need assistance with applying for the Provincial Government's Child Care Subsidy, please contact our Division Coordinator, Glenda Bouvier, at 780-623-4414. 

    Parents who currently have a child enrolled in our preschool program can register their child for 2024-2025 through the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

    • Forms will be shared with all existing preschool families between Monday, March 4 and Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Families will receive an email that the form is ready for them to complete in School Engage.
    • You will need to use a computer (desktop or laptop) to log in to the Parent Portal and access the registration form in School Engage. You will not be able to access the form using the Parent Portal app.
    • If you do not already have a Parent Portal account set up, please contact your child's school and they will assist you.
    • If you already have a PowerSchool Parent Portal account, please log in and click on School Engage in the lower left-hand corner of the screen.
    • Detailed instruction are included in our NLPS Registration Guide for Parents.

    For tips on completing your registration form, please see the Tips for Completing Your Student Registration page.

    Confirmation and Fees

    • Once you have submitted your form, it may take up to five working days (Monday-Friday, excluding statutory holidays) for us to review your form and availability in the class you have selected. You may receive a call from our division coordinator during that time to confirm details.
    • Once your registration has been approved, you will receive instructions on how to pay your deposit through School Cash Online.
    • Your space in the preschool program will be held for two weeks from the date your enrolment is confirmed. If you have not made payment by that time, your space may be assigned to someone else.
    • If you are experiencing difficulty paying the fee on time or need assistance with applying for the Provincial Government's Child Care Subsidy, please contact our Division Coordinator, Glenda Bouvier, at 780-623-4414.