Our Program

  
 

Glenbrook Community Preschool provides a stimulating and challenging environment in which children are encouraged to grow socially, intellectually and emotionally at their own rate. Our philosophy is based on child directed, unstructured play.

Our experienced teachers understand how play contributes to learning. They create varied activity centres and rotate them throughout the school year. Children are free to choose the centre of interest which appeals to them at any particular time. This supports children in developing skills they need for school success, such as cooperating, problem solving, leadership, and critical and logical thinking. Activity centres used through the year include painting, large and small blocks, house, puzzles, carpentry, science and discovery, learning games, play dough, puppets, water and sand tables, books, craft tables, and quiet corner.

Research shows the importance of child directed, unstructured play for young children:

"...preschoolers learn differently from school-age children: play is essential to early learning. Play is the main way children learn and develop ideas about the world. It helps them build the skills necessary for critical thinking and leadership. It's how they learn to solve problems and to feel good about their ability to learn."
(Play Pamphlet, Action Alliance for Children)

We would be happy to direct you to other published information on this topic.

 
     
 
 
     
 

Typical Class
During the majority of class time, our teachers promote and respond to child directed play in ways that foster learning opportunities. Play centres are set-up in the classrooms and students are encouraged to pursue their own interests. When the weather permits, outdoor play at one of the two adjacent play parks occurs. Occasionally, students go to the gym for indoor physical play.

Although the majority of the class is devoted to child directed play, group times in the form of music, story time, and discussion time are important aspects of the program as well. These activities are limited to the last 15 minutes of each class. Weekly music classes allow the students to interact with the other class. Structured carpet time is at the end of each class and can include learning the days of the week, sharing stories and singing songs.

Parent Involvement

  
  Glenbrook Community Preschool is a parent-volunteer run preschool. Only our teaching staff are paid positions. For this to be successful, we ask that each family consider volunteering some time during the year.

Volunteer positions that must be filled range from simply making play dough a few times through the year to the more time consuming (yet extremely rewarding) executive positions. The executive positions also allow parents to become familiar with the preschool at an operational level.

An important part of Glenbrook Community Preschool is the active role parents play in the program. Parents are welcome to observe a portion of their child's class, having made prior arrangements with the teacher. This lets you see your child interact with their peers, and allows you to get to know your child in a social setting.

  
     
 

Fundraisers

  
  Glenbrook Community Preschool typically runs 3 to 4 fundraisers per year. The funds raised contribute to the operation of the school, and allow teachers to purchase new toys and supplies for the school. All fundraising participation is strictly voluntary and families may chose to donate funds in lieu or not participate at all.  
 

Private Preschool
Glenbrook Community Preschool is a privately-run preschool that operates under the auspices of Glenbrook Community Association. The preschool is not affiliated with the Calgary Board of Education but only rents two classrooms from the CBE. The preschool does follow the same school calendar as the CBE because of its location within a CBE school.

Policies and Procedures
Our full Policies and Procedures document is available here.

Download Policies and Procedures PDF Here (As amended by the Parents' Advisory Committee on January 10, 2012)

Snacks
Glenbrook Community Preschool provides a daily snack for the 3 and 4 year-old classes. Snacks are served at the snack centre when each child is ready, with no set snack time. Snacks consist of a small cup of water and a combination of two items from the following list: raisins, dried cranberries, goldfish crackers, snack crackers, pretzels, cheese, apples, bananas, grapes. This list may change from time to time. We have a no nut policy and will make the best effort to accomodate any other food allergies.