Is this a private school?
No. Dalhousie Community Kindergarten is a publicly-funded community school. We are an accredited, independent ECS Operator funded by Alberta Education. Children in our kindergarten program are funded through grants from Alberta Education, similar to other public school boards in Alberta. Alberta Education does not allow independent kindergarten programs to charge tuition for standard kindergarten hours, and requires that the same minimum curriculum is taught in all ECS programs across the province. We typically offer additional hours of instruction (about 20 hours) which translates to an extra 6 to 7 days of classes.
Our program also offers a tuition based option for Junior Kindergarten students (4 years old by the start of the school year) or kindergarten aged children who will turn 5 between September 1 and Dec 31, and opt to delay or repeat their funded kindergarten year. Please see Program Information for additional details.
Can students from any community register?
Yes! We welcome children from any community. Also, children who are funded by Alberta Education and live more than one kilometre from our school qualify for a “Parent Provided Transportation Grant” in replacement of bussing services. The grant amount is set each year by Alberta Education. ($703 for the 2024 – 25 school year.)
What is the difference between this kindergarten program and others?
We don’t mean to brag, but several things come to mind:
- our small class size (maximum of 18 students) allows our teacher to spend time with each child as an individual – and, we have a full time assistant in our class who also gets one on one and small group time with your child.
- our dedicated and talented staff (both teacher and teacher’s assistant) teach kindergarten as their chosen speciality because kindergarten, and teaching early learners (and building meaningful connections) is their chosen passion!
- our large sunny classroom space, excellent outdoor spaces including a fantastic playground (shared with a small number of peers), small hills for tobogganing, and large open spaces for games, running and exploring activities.
- our commitment to daily outdoor time. Every day the weather allows, we get our students outside for fresh air, exercise and the opportunity to either find a quiet space or raise their voice and jump, climb and play.
- our experience and commitment to providing so many unique and memorable learning experiences (field trips, classroom visitors, hatching ducklings, skate and swim lessons, and so many more special activities!)
- our community focus and the opportunity for parent involvement often results in relationships that develop between our families. Parents can always use the support of others – sometimes just a quick hello or chat about parenting can make a big difference in your day!
- our size! We are small, which means you get lots of access to our teacher, we provide lots of updates and communication about what is happening in class, and we can easily adjust and adapt to each class’s needs and characteristics. There is no large school board – just a really dedicated team who truly believe in the value of an exceptional start to your child’s education journey.
Is there on-site childcare available?
Yes, for children who will be 5 years old by December 31 of the school year. The Dalhousie Community Association operates a licensed and accredited childcare program in our building. They generally offer care before and after our class, and there is a direct transfer of care between their staff and ours (i.e. if you drop your child off before class with them, they will bring your child to our classroom for the start of school, and will pick them up from our class after class.) They offer flexible options of 2, 3 and 5 days a week as well as coverage for non-instructional days. This program qualifies for subsidy and the Affordability Grant. Please confirm all details directly with their program. Their info is found under the Programs tab at dalhousiecalgary.ca
Can any child attend the Out of School Care Program?
Children who are kindergarten aged (i.e. will be 5 years old by Dec 31) can attend the before and after school care program offered by the Dalhousie Community Association. PUF funded children who may require additional support while in the child care program may be able attend with funding through FSCD (Family Supports for Children with Disabilities) for extra staff to make their attendance possible.
What about transition to Grade 1?
Children from our program move to several different schools for grade 1. Parents have reported that the transition to a new school is typically not a problem. Grade 1 can be a big transition, with longer days, increased structure and more children. Kindergarten in our program gives your child a year to develop their self confidence, independence, and communication skills. Our unique learning opportunities give your child lots of exposure to new environments, challenges and ultimately, opportunities for success! This leaves them in a stronger position for grade one experiences, and the new social interactions that are a part of every child’s transition to a new classroom. Your child will also leave us with a strong foundation in academics: letters, sounds, sight words, numbers, and math concepts. In particular, our program emphasizes early literacy and language learning to help ease the transition to another program.
What about a gym or a library?
The children have access to the community centre’s hall for indoor physical education, as well as the outdoor skating rink, sledding hill, and amazing playground. (We try to have outdoor activity time every day that the weather cooperates.) We have an extensive collection of books that are always changing, and we bring new resources into the classroom on a regular basis.
When does tuition apply?
Tuition is only paid if your child is not eligible for Alberta Education funding. This may be because your child:
- is not yet kindergarten aged (your child will be at least 4 years old in September but not yet 5 years old by Dec 31) or
- has a birthday that falls between September 1 and December 31, and you have decided to either delay their funded kindergarten year or repeat kindergarten after a government funded year.
Can your tuition option be offset by childcare subsidy or affordability grant?
We operate as a school and are not a licensed childcare program. Unfortunately this means you can not apply for Childcare Subsidy to offset our tuition, and the Affordability Grant does not apply. (Subsidy and Grant do apply to the childcare portion of the day, if you choose to enroll in this additional program.)
Is there room in next year’s class?
Registration for the the school year begins on October 15 for the upcoming school year. Please see our registration page for more details. Class size will be limited to 18 students.