Our 3 to 5 Program
We believe that children are unique individuals whose behavior
and development are affected by their culture, their environment and
their experiences. We also believe that communication between
parents, children and caregivers is essential when guiding young
children towards a healthy and happy life.
Teachers/Supervisors | Locations/Classroom
Description | Hours | Daily Activities/Routine |
Monthly Themes/Calendar |
Field Trips/Visitors | Birthdays |
Cubby Supplies | Health |
Food | Orientation |
Parent-Teacher Interviews/Concerns & Feedback
Lonsdale Creek Daycare has always tried to exceed the minimum
staff to child ratios prescribed in legislation. We believe our
children deserve more than the minimum standard that is recommended
by the BC Government. Lower ratios allow us more opportunities to
work and play with children on a one-on-one basis as well as through
group interaction. Staff also have more time to observe, program
plan and develop team approaches.
We are proud of the longevity our staff have with us (many over 10 years), as we feel it demonstrates the success that can be achieved when parents and staff work together to create positive environments. The health, safety and well-being of our children are our highest priority at Lonsdale Creek Daycare Centre. A strong, well-trained staff that enjoy working with and for children are critical in achieving this important goal.
The daycare is a learning environment requiring professional, skilled staff. Lonsdale Creek staff includes:
- Director – a B.C. licensed supervisor of daycare, and
specialist in Early Childhood Education, many years experience
and under-three training.
- Supervisors – hold a B.C. license in Early Childhood
Education.
- Housekeeping Staff – to ensure the centres maintain a high
level of cleanliness the daycare employs housekeeping staff who
come in daily.
- Students – our daycares are demonstration centres for students taking the Early Childhood Education Program. Students will often be in the playroom, assisting the regular staff and gaining valuable experience.
Locations/Classroom Description
Lonsdale Creek offers three locations for 3 to 5 care:
| Lonsdale Creek Daycare – Annex 240 West 21st Street (Mahon & 21st) North Vancouver, BC V7M 1Z4 (604) 988-5515 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
Mahon Park Childcare Unit 2 – 1601 Forbes Avenue (16th & Forbes) North Vancouver, BC V7M 2Y4 (604) 988-5515 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
Margaret Heights Daycare 1800 Rufus Drive North Vancouver, BC V7J 3L7 (604) 988-5515 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
All centres are safe, clean, friendly environments that provide plenty of fun and stimulation for preschool learning and play. Each locations offers:
- A secure playground area and plenty of equipment for outdoor play beside a park or greenbelt
- Indoor activity areas for sand and water play, puzzles, construction, toys of all kinds, dress-up and imaginary play, art projects, stories and more
- A circle area for songs, games, stories and other group activities
- Snack/lunch tables
- Mats for rest time
- Child-size bathroom
- A cubby for each child
Lonsdale Creek Daycare is open Monday to Friday. We are closed statutory holidays, Easter Monday and the week between Christmas and New Year's Day.
The centres open at 7:30 a.m. and we would like your child to
arrive by 9:30 a.m. in order to participate with the group fully. If
an emergency prevents arrival, please telephone and let us know when
to expect your child. If your child is going to be absent, please
telephone and let us know the reason for absence.
Parents are required to bring children to a supervisor when
arriving. This allows parents to update the supervisors of any
particular situation, e.g. your child slept poorly the night before.
The supervisor can then plan accordingly for your child.
You must pick up your child no later than 6:00 p.m. It is a long day and your child is very active while at daycare. Seeing other children leave can make your child anxious so we require you to come immediately after work. Be sure the supervisor sees you and your child before leaving.
If you have an emergency and cannot call for your child or contact us before closing we will immediately call the alternate person you have named. If you cannot come and want to send someone else you must notify the daycare by phone.
The children in each program are grouped together for most activities, but plenty of opportunity exists for individual play with suitable toys and equipment. Daily activities follow a regular pattern, enabling the child to feel secure knowing what to expect next.
Preschool children learn through play and exploration. Our program includes both indoor and outdoor play periods, stories, music and rhythm and a variety of creative activities.
The playground gives the child plenty of opportunity for
strenuous activity, encouraging good muscular development. We use it
every day – rain or shine.
Puzzles, blocks, construction toys, water play and many more indoor
activities provide almost unlimited possibilities for the child to
construct, create, imagine, discover and work out small problems.
The satisfaction from such achievements gives the child confidence
to try new and more difficult tasks.
Stories and simple nature observations help to widen the child’s horizons by providing information about the people and world around them. Songs, rhythmic activities and simple singing games provide much enjoyment and encourage the child to take part in group activities and to express their ideas. The child is assisted by staff and learns how to play without interfering or hurting others. The supervisor is always close at hand to give guidance, set limits, comfort and assist with problem solving.
Simple routines followed every day help the children to learn how to wash themselves, comb their hair and learn general self-help skills. They also learn that they need rest to feel refreshed.
Each month circle times, songs, art projects, books and other learning activities are focused around a different theme. A sample of these themes is listed below, although these do change from year to year. Special activities are also planned for celebrations during the year such as Valentine’s Day and Mother's/Father's Day. A calendar is posted outlining activities for that month.
|
Month |
Learning Theme |
Sub-theme |
|
September |
My School, My Daycare |
Safety First |
|
October |
Fall Back to Fall |
Thanksgiving/Halloween |
|
November |
Push, Pull and Drag |
Things That Move |
|
December |
It’s a Jolly Holly Season |
The Sights and Sounds |
Outings include trips to local parks, stores, libraries, etc. Before the child enters the program, parents sign a release form to cover such outings. In case of larger excursions involving transportation a separate form will be sent home giving more details for each occasion. We also have occasional visits from members of the community such as a doctor, firefighter or Elmer the Safety Elephant.
Each centre has its own special way of recognizing the birthday boy or girl such as a birthday hat or badge. You are welcome to bring cake, cupcakes or another special treat for your child’s birthday. Please advise the supervisor at your centre ahead of time so they can schedule accordingly and let you know how many children to provide for.
Clothing - Your child should wear play clothes which are warm, comfortable and easy to handle and launder. You should provide a complete change of clothes in your child’s cubby in case of an accident. Slip-on shoes are preferred for children who don’t know how to tie laces and open-toed shoes and sandals are not allowed for safety reasons. Please label your child’s clothes so they won’t be lost. Part of every day is spent on the playground so your child will need appropriate outdoor clothing. In cold and rainy weather, mitts, a hat, boots and a muddy buddy will be needed; in warm weather, a hat for protection against the sun and sunscreen. Please provide a clean, labeled water bottle for your child in the summer months.
Slippers are required indoors and we ask that they be left in the child’s cubby.
Cubby Supplies - On the first day following the staggered entrance, your child will need:
- lunch kit or bag with name (no microwave food)
- blanket (to be left at daycare)
- slippers (slip-on style)
- change of labeled clothes including: shirt, pants, underpants (several if in training) and socks
- muddy buddy for wet weather
- boots
- sun screen, sun hat
- bathing suit for hot weather
Toys from home - We don’t encourage children to bring toys from home because they can get lost amongst the daycare toys. However, children are welcome to bring a special stuffed toy from home (no noise-making toys, please) and/or a book or music cd to share with friends. Please remember to label any items you bring in.
We do our best to maintain good health by providing a safe and hygienic environment, healthy food, rest and physical exercise – but we also need your help. Please do not bring a sick child to daycare. In all centres, diarrhea, vomiting and high fever can be particularly alarming when they occur because of infection. When your child is absent due to illness, please advise the supervisor of your child’s symptoms. If your child becomes ill during the day the director will be responsible for making the decision to request that you return for the child early.
When your doctor orders prescription medication we will be
pleased to administer it provided original instructions are on the
bottle or there is a covering note from the doctor. Medications must
be given to the supervisor.
If your child has been absent due to an infectious disease over a
long period, you will need a note from your doctor saying the
child is fit to return. A full isolation period is required for all
communicable diseases.
All centres receive regular visits from members of the community health team.
The daycare provides a snack in the morning and afternoon based
on the Canada Food Guide along with juice and water. Snacks include
a wide range of fresh fruits and vegetables along with protein and
carbohydrate foods.
Children bring their own lunch and the daycare provides milk with
lunch.
If your child has any strong dislikes, allergies, chewing problems
or dietary restrictions please tell the director at admission.
It is difficult for a child to be suddenly immersed in an unfamiliar setting amongst strangers. It is also hard for parents to leave a child in a new place with new people. To make the adjustment a positive experience, Lonsdale Creek arranges a free settling in period prior to the start date. The visiting child and parent arrive together and stay for one or two hours for a couple of days successively. At first the parent remains in the room, then sits in another room, then finally leaves the building for a short time remembering always to say goodbye. If it is impossible for the parent to come along, a relative or friend who the child knows very well may act as a substitute. The staff is skilled in helping your child with this transition.
Parent-Teacher Interviews/Concerns & Feedback
The director and supervisors are experienced professionals and are available to parents wishing to discuss their child’s progress and deal with questions or concerns. Please phone after 10:00 a.m. for an update, appointment or phone conference. Scheduled child progress reviews also happen during the year. Parents who wish to participate can sign up for a half hour review on the appointment schedule that will be posted on the Parent Information Board.