Take a Virtual Tour of Our Classroom:
15 years ago, Ms. Leah created our Pre-Primary program with love and care and attention to detail. Ms. Leah retired in the Spring of 2021 and our current Pre-Primary Director, Ms. Maggie, continues to deliver the high-quality Pre-Primary program that we’ve become known for.
We always remember our first school experience. Pre-Primary Head teacher, Ms. Maggie, and her team of early childhood educators look forward to creating a positive pre-primary school experience for your child. Together, we create a nurturing environment where your child feels safe and secure and able to grow, play and explore.
The first thing that you might notice about Pre-Primary at Shambhala School is the classroom. Imagine a place free from clutter, filled with natural light and beautiful materials for children to explore. Aesthetic development is valued and the choices in the environment nurture young souls.
The daily routine works in harmony with seasonal rhythms. Stories, songs, verses and activities enrich the experience of the seasons.
Circle time is a focal point of the morning. Children are encouraged to participate in this rich language experience. It is followed by story time, the magical moment when the teacher sits in a rocking chair, lights a candle and tells a folk tale from memory. This window into other worlds not only develops language and imagination but also fosters the understanding that wisdom is common to all peoples and cultures.
Teachers honour children’s ideas and personalities. Children are given choices within firm, but friendly boundaries. Boundaries help children feel secure and when they feel safe, they are available for learning.
Children learn to identify feelings. They discover that it is normal and healthy to have negative feelings and begin to learn how to manage them.
Young children naturally see the world with a scientist’s eye: observation, questioning, experimenting and hypothesizing occur organically through the investigation and manipulation of materials. Curiosity is nurtured through thoughtful experiments and daily exploration in nature.
Early foundations of mathematics are successfully introduced at this age by building on children’s everyday activities. They are a natural component of play, whether it’s sequencing of beads or estimating how many steps to get around the playground.
At Shambhala School, outdoor play is an essential part of every child’s day. The core of open air play is expansive movement, challenging their gross motor skills. Outdoor play allows the children to participate and experience the seasons and all the gifts that they have to offer.
The children enjoy a delicious, vegetarian lunch and healthy snack each day. They have been known to ask their parents for these healthy foods at home!
Pre-Primary Program Details
Licensed Program
We are licensed to have 24 students in two rooms. 8 students in the Sky Room and 16 students in the Earth Room. Our licensed program runs from 9:00am to 3:00pm on regular school days.
Eligibility
Our program is for 3 and 4 year olds. Students must be toilet trained and 3 years of age by the first day of school in September.
Extended Care
In recognition of the childcare needs of the families we serve, this coming year we are introducing a new model with extended care. In 2024/2025 the cost of our program includes
- an extended day program with care from 8:00am to 5:30pm, and
- 20 extra days of care outside regular school days. Families can choose the coverage that will suit their needs best including childcare days (such as report card writing days, parent-teacher meeting days) or childcare weeks (March break camp, June summer camp).
Calendar
Our program roughly follows the Shambhala School Calendar, you can see this year’s calendar here. The calendar for the 2024/2025 school year has yet to be determined. We usually start school the week of labour day, take a couple weeks off for Winter Break at the end of December, take two weeks off for March Break and finish up for the year in early June.
Program
For additional details of our Pre-Primary Program we invite you to review the following:
2024/2025 Enrollment
Explore our website to learn more about our admissions process, tuition and other fees and before and after school program.
Inquiry
We invite families that are interested in learning more to submit an Admissions Inquiry Form, and Ms. Maggie MacNevin, our Pre-Primary Director, will get back to you to answer your questions and book a meeting or tour.
Application
Upon deciding that you would like to secure a place for your child in our Pre-Primary Program for September 2024, we will assess if we have spaces available and we will invite you to make your formal application.
- Maggie will let our Head of Administration, Susan Marsh, know that you are ready to proceed and you will be connected to our Shambhala School Parent Portal
- Once logged in you can complete and submit your application form. In order to process your application, we require a $125 non-refundable application fee.
- Submit additional documentation such as the caregiver recommendation (if applicable).
Acceptance
Maggie will review your information and schedule a time for one parent/caregiver and the student to visit our Pre-Primary classroom.
When possible these student visits will be during a regular weekday morning. Maggie will be able to provide a conditional acceptance at this time and within 2 weeks you will receive the formal acceptance and enrolment documents.
Enrollment
Upon receipt of the formal acceptance and enrollment documents families have 2 weeks to complete documents and make payments arrangements to confirm their commitment for next year.
Before and After School Program
In 2024/2025 the cost of our pre-primary program includes an extended day program with care from 8:00am to 5:30pm at no additional costs. Pre-Primary students may be mixed with primary students taking part in our Before and After School Program,