We are taking 
Frequently asked questions
I work outside the home. Can I still do a parent participation preschool?
We have many parents that work outside the home, or even work at home in various occupations, and every family finds their own way to make it work. Some parents share the duties with other family members and the preschool members are very accommodating to those members who can only help in the classroom on specific days.
I have a younger child as well as my preschooler. I'm worried I won't be able to find care for my younger child during my duty days.
Parents may NOT bring siblings to stay at the school on their duty days. Many parents with multiple children coordinate babysitting with other preschool families – i.e. "I’ll babysit your child/children on your duty days, and you can babysit my child/children on my duty days." This cross babysitting alleviates the financial burden of hiring childcare and can be a fun and rewarding experience for the siblings.
What is the time commitment to belong to a PPP?
Duty days are about 3 hours one to three times a month, depending on the number of members currently enrolled in the preschool. The parent education and general meeting is about 2 1/2 hours in the evening once a month. If you are interested in being on the executive, it would be one extra meeting of one hour per month and it takes place right before the general meeting. Your job in the preschool may take a few minutes a week or a couple of hours a week, depending on the role you choose.
I work on preschool days. Can my nanny do my duty days?
We always try to accommodate different family situations. If parents do not have flexible work schedules, and no other family members are available to fill in, other caregivers can help in the classroom and take the duty days of the parents. In that situation, the parents would be responsible for the parent education, meeting, and job portion of being members in the preschool.
What do the children do during their time in preschool?
Since we're a play-based preschool we believe children need to discover and explore at their own pace and follow their curiosity. We have various stations set up around the preschool, including an art area, a library, a child sized house, complete with kitchen, dining, and sleep areas, and many puzzle and construction block toys to fuel the imagination. Our teacher also sets up a weekly activity area which often coincides with holidays or seasons. We also have daily outdoor time and the preschool has access to a great playground as well as our own bicycles, scooters, wagons, and other outdoor toys.
Does the preschool have a gradual entry program to reduce separation anxiety?
Parents and children often meet during the summer before class begins to help the children meet others in their class. As well, all the children meet with the teacher before preschool starts.
Once the school year begins, the children start a gradual entry program. The threes start off with a 45-minute schedule for two weeks in September, with half of the class at a time. The fours begin with the same type of schedule, but only for one week.
How do I enroll my child?
The first step is to contact the Enrollment/Orientation Coordinator by email at hello@villagepreschool.ca or to phone the preschool at 604-984-2021. After obtaining some general information about the preschool from the Coordinator, we ask that you contact our preschool teacher, Lindsey Buchanan, to schedule a classroom observation and watch a class in action. The next step is to complete and return an Enrollment Form and include a non-refundable cheque for $65 to the Coordinator. This will confirm your child's enrollment and begin your journey with us at the Village PPP. The Coordinator will contact you to talk about your orientation to the school.
Does my child need to be potty trained to attend?
No, children do not have to be potty trained.
Who runs the school?
The Village PPP is owned and operated by the parents of the children currently enrolled in the program. Parents form the administrative backbone of the school, employing a teacher and acting as volunteer classroom assistants.
May we visit the school?
We encourage you and your child to visit us and explore the preschool. Please call us at 604-984-2021 to arrange a suitable day. Also, our open houses provide a great opportunity to meet the teacher and other parents currently enrolled.
What types of jobs are available for parents in a PPP?
There are a wide variety of jobs available and we try to match your interests or skills to the jobs. For example, if you have an interest in sewing, this is a job and your responsibility may be to sew items for the dress-up area. If you have a background in accounting, you may be most helpful to the preschool as the treasurer.
Click here to see a list of jobs.
I am a stay-at-home dad and wonder if I would be welcome as a PPP parent.
We are always delighted to have dads in the classroom! Although most of our duty parents are moms, there are plenty of dads who are very involved with the school. In some families, both parents choose to take part in school activities, and in others, only one parent participates.