Enrollment in the Pre-primary Program
Enrollment is by application only. Please contact us to schedule a tour of the school. This is really the only way to get a good grasp on how things work at Oak and Orca, since we are so very different from other childcare programs. It is important that you understand and agree with our philosophies and practices prior to applying for the Pre-primary School. Once all your questions have been answered, you can request an application form from school staff.
Philosophy of the Pre-primary School.
This is not a typical daycare, yet we are not a school in the traditional sense either.
It is important that you become educated in the school philosophy to the point that you can feel comfortable with the decisions we are going to make for your child. Please read the website carefully and then contact us with your questions.
Application Process
Enrollment is structured through an application process.
Once you have had a tour of our facility and have asked all of your questions, you may request an application form from school staff.
The form asks you questions relating to your family philosophy and your understanding of Oak and Orca. It is very important that your family philosophies are compatible with the way the school is run. Misunderstandings before a child is accepted can result in disappointed parents and unhappy children.
You will also be asked about your children, including any special needs they may have. We recognize that all children have special needs, and expect that needs will be identified for every child. An application saying that a child has no special needs leaves us wondering how we will be able to meet needs we know nothing about. Please be honest about your child. While we do not test children's abilities, we do need to know that we will be able to meet their needs in addition to the needs of other children in the school.
Finally, your desired level of participation and ability to pay fees will be requested. It is our desire to have an affordable program that any family can partake in regardless of financial ability. That said, we must pay for our programming and cannot offer a free program. Work-exchange options are available for partial payment of the parent portion if you are on a child-care subsidy program.
Program Fees
As a licenced facility, our fees are set to accommodate an 8:1 ratio.
Pre-primary school fees are $650 per child per month. The program runs from 9:00 to 3:00, with drop-off available starting at 8:30. The additional fee for after school care (3:00-5:00) is $100 per month.
A limitted number of spaces may be available for children to attend the program one or two days per week. Part-time fess are $35 per day (9:00-3:00.) After care fees (3:00-5:00) are $10 per day.
There is one other fee, $100 per year for school supplies and activities. While parents are asked to provide appropriate clothing, raingear and a bicycle helmet, this fee covers the school supplies and field trip costs.
Childcare subsidy can be applied to the school fees if you qualify. If you have more than one child in our programs, a discount may apply.
