Lower Sackville Nursery School

Located in Knox United Church Hall since 1970, Lower Sackville Nursery School is the longest-running preschool in Sackville. We welcome all children and offer a nondenominational learn-through-play program. Limited spaces are available for children having special needs. Lower Sackville Nursery School is a not-for-profit preschool. All staff are ECE-qualified and have current first aid, child abuse registry screening and clear criminal record checks. The centre is licensed for 36 children each morning, ages 2 ½ -5 years old, divided evenly into two classes. The school is regularly inspected by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, the Health Department and the Fire Services. We follow the Day Care Act and comply with all regulations. School Year The school year runs 16 weeks from early September until December, closes for a Christmas break and then carries on for an additional 24 weeks into June. We observe all statutory holidays and close for the same March Break as the HRM schools. (Note: parents do not pay for Christmas and March Break.) We do not close for Professional Development Days in the HRM schools; our professional development is done outside of class hours. We close for storm days only if HRM has closed all its schools. When in doubt call the school at 865-9765 to listen for a closure message. Our last day of school is Graduation Day. All children graduate whether or not they are going off to elementary school or returning to the nursery school. The children will do a short recital followed by refreshments. All family members are welcome to attend. Program The children are in school from 8:45-11:15 am. We have two classrooms and offer parents a choice of either a 3-morning (Monday-Wednesday-Friday) class or a 2- morning (Tuesday-Thursday) class. Each class has 18 children with two teachers and one resource teacher (if that class has a child with special needs and funding is available). We ask that children be toilet-trained, unless that child has special needs. Those newly toilet-trained, or almost there, may wear pull-ups to school; please discuss this with your child’s teacher. The daily program has the children involved in a variety of routines including: art, freeplay, gym, circle time, washroom, snack, worktime and story. The school follows a weekly theme format and sends home a monthly calendar and newsletter to inform parents of themes and special days. We ask that children wear comfortable play clothes to school as art can be messy. Since we have indoor gym for about 25 minutes each day we also ask that children wear comfortable foot gear, not fancy shoes and crocs as these type of shoes often result in tripping during gym. Progress Reports Progress reports are done on each child twice during the school year, once in late Fall and then again in late Spring. These reports are an observation of your child’s development in the following areas: cognitive, fine motor, large motor, self-help and social/language. Parents are encouraged to talk to their child’s teacher any time that they have concerns about their child’s development; the teachers do the same. Parent Nights Parent nights are held at the centre once in the Fall and again in the early Spring. They usually take the format of individual Parent-Teacher interviews but may also be a guest speaker. Parent Committee In accordance with the Day Care Act, the school has a Parent Committee which meets during class time once each term. Any available parent is invited to attend. The agenda of this meeting covers staff training, regulations, health and safety, equipment and any other topic requested by the parents. Parents are asked to check off on the registration form if they wish to be part of this group. Parent Handbook Each parent will be provided with a Parent handbook the week school starts. This handbook contains important phone numbers, dates, a fee schedule, FAQs and school policies. Menu Snack is provided by the school each morning and, in accordance with Nutrition Standards outlined in the Day Care Act, it has foods from at least two food groups. Snack foods are low fat, low sugar, low salt and high fibre. A menu is included in the Parent handbook. The centre is designated peanut-free and, if necessary, tree-nut free. Soy butter and sunflower seed butter are used as alternatives when an allergy exists. Parents are asked not to bring in food from home excepting for special days.