Highlights
- Edelweiss Preparatory School is licensed through Alberta Children’s Services for Preschool and Junior Kindergarten programs.
- Edelweiss Preparatory School is a registered non-profit society.
- Edelweiss Preparatory School is an accredited private school through Alberta Education.
- Edelweiss Preparatory School is a member of the Association of Independant Schools and Colleges in Alberta.
- Edelweiss Preparatory School is a member of the Early Childhood Education Council of Alberta.
- Edelweiss Preparatory School is a member of the Canadian Association of Young Children.
- All Edelweiss teachers hold membership in the Calgary Preschool Teacher’s Association.
Our educational curriculum for all classes includes: Science, Math, Language Arts, Computers (in Kindergarten), Art, Spanish, Drama, Dance, Music and Physical Education. The goal of the curriculum is to provide understanding and engagement in the joy of learning. The program co-ordinators use their knowledge of child development and the philosophy of the school as guiding principles in developing curriculum. The school Directors lead and facilitate this process. Each teacher accepts responsibility for balancing social, psychological and emotional growth with academic learning. The curriculum respects the family, cultural and racial diversity which is valued at Edelweiss Preparatory School.
Here are some of the benefits that our program offers:
- One-way observation windows for parents.
- Children receive the benefits of rotating between rooms with their teachers and peers daily.
- Excellent resources allow our Early Childhood Centres to be changed weekly.
Children are given the opportunity to:
- choose from a number of available activities
- participate in both large and small group activities.
Centres are used to provide children with materials for creative play.
Field trips enrich experience and stimulate learning. The Preschool children go on one trip in the Spring, The Jr Kindergarten go on 2 trips in the Spring and the Kindergarten children go on numerous field trips throughout the school year. Parent volunteers are welcome on field trips.
We can offer a diverse program because of the small class sizes and a highly qualified staff.
Multicultural Focus
At Edelweiss, we feel that as our country moves toward becoming an increasingly global village, that children should be prepared to deal with those different cultures. In an effort to understand and communicate more effectively with one another, each month our Kindergarten has a special presentation from a visitor of another culture or country. The children hear music from that culture, taste food, listen to a folktale and see artifacts and ethnic clothing as well as much more.
Prior to the special guest coming, the children all learn a song or a few words to say to the presenter in their native language. The children also make a craft related to that culture. This is a wonderful way to introduce children to other cultures and hopefully reduce prejudice while increasing awareness.
A.I.S.I. Project
The Alberta Initiative for School Improvements gives funding to schools (starting at Kindergarten) for special projects of the school’s choosing to enhance student learning.
Our new 2006-2009 A.I.S.I. Project starting in September 2006 is a Fine Arts program where we will have an Artist of the Month come in and teach the children various forms of art using a variety of media. This will also include learning about world famous artists and experimenting with their style of art.
The goal is that the children will be able to: express ideas and feelings through a variety of media; experiment with techniques and materials; demonstrate basic knowledge and skills gained through exposure to the arts and activities in the arts; co-operate and collaborate with others on artisitc projects; demonstrate awareness of new abilities they develop through arts activities; express pride in their own work; demonstrate awareness of some simple art forms from various cultures and identify and describe some basic elements of art forms.
Pictures of some projects coming soon!