Alerces Frequently Asked Questions
What age can children start at Alerces?
Children can start from 30 months old (2.5 years old) if they are potty trained to 6 years old.
What are Alerces hours for part-time and full-time students?
Our preschool and kindergarten programs run every day Monday through Friday from 8:45 am to 11:30 am for part-time students and from 8:45 am to 3:30 pm for full-time students.
Is there afternoon only kindergarten or preschool?
Alerces part-time students come only mornings; everyday, Monday through Friday.
Why choose preschool over daycare?
We encourage a learning experience that promotes early development, and prepares your child for school. Children are close in age to promote social, cognitive and physical development. Our staff are teachers with the proper accreditation as Early Childhood Educators.
Does my child need to be potty trained?
Yes, in order to enter Alerces, we do require that children are no longer in diapers.
What does Reggio Emilia Inspired mean?
Reggio Emilia is a method of teaching where the child leads the learning experience with guidance from their teacher, the environment around them, their peers, their family and community. Children are encouraged to explore and experiment within their environment using symbolic languages like words, painting, sculpting, drama, drawing and more.
Is Alerces a private school?
Alerces is a private preschool and kindergarten created by Bati McComas and Maru Aguirre in 2007. It is licensed by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education.
Is there before and after school care?
Alerces runs Before and After Care programs for families to provide extra flexibility for working parents’ schedules. The before school childcare is available from 7:30 - 8:30 AM and again directly after school childcare is available from 3:30 - 5:30 PM. Childcare is available in the same building.
What are the class sizes?
Parents love that Alerces offers much smaller class sizes than public school. Plus, the children thrive in classes that allow lots of time with the teacher and opportunities to form connections with the other students. At Alerces, classes have a maximum of 10 students per class.
What if my child has allergies?
Alerces is a tree nut and peanut free facility and we ask that parents not send lunch and snacks containing these allergens. If your child has other allergies please let us know so we can discuss what we can safely accommodate.
What if my son/daughter still naps?
We provide a quiet sleeping area for children who nap. Visit our Daily Schedule page for more information on naps.
Is lunch provided or do I need to pack lunch for my child?
We do not provide lunch or snacks at Alerces. We ask parents to send a nutritious lunch and two snacks for their child.
Does Alerces follow the Saskatchewan curriculum for Kindergarten?
Yes, Alerces is licensed by the Ministry of Education and helps students achieve the learning outcomes from the Kindergarten curriculum.
Does Alerces run the whole year?
Alerces runs from September to June, following the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools schedule.
How much does it cost?
Alerces fees for 2023/2024 are: part-time $650 monthly; full-time $890 monthly.