Lucerne Elementary Secondary School

Early Learning

Early learning programs at Lucerne include:

Strong Start – Early Learning Centre

Pre-School – New Denver Nursery School

Daycare (Goat Mountain Kids Centre)


Strong Start

Early Learning Centre

This program is designed to work in partnership with parents, their children, an Early Childhood Educator, and community partners.

Community Partners

School District 10 (Arrow Lakes), Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy, Slocan Lake Early Learning Society and the Healthy Families Resource Group.

Your Child

Your child will feel free to explore and play in an environment that is friendly, safe and inspiring!

You

You will get to share in the excitement and successes of your child’s early learning experiences!

A time for play
  1. Explore with sand and water
  2. Explore through art with a variety of mediums
  3. Develop all the senses
  4. Learn songs, enjoy music
  5. Learn fingerplays
  6. Listen to stories
  7. Play dress-up
  8. Climb and slide
  9. Build with blocks
  10. Pretend play with animals, little people, dolls
  11. Play with natural and real materials

Nutritious snacks are provided!

Drop-In Times

Please join us

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 9am – Noon
Tuesday, Thursday: 2pm – 5pm

Contact us for more program details

Charlene Alexander
Early Learning Program Coordinator

Phone: 250 265 2306
Email: charlene.alexander@sd10.bc.ca

We acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Education.

Where are we?

We are located at Lucerne Elementary Secondary School
604 7th Ave.
New Denver, BC

A program of

StrongStart Early Learning Centre
A School Based Early Learning Program
A free drop-in program for children 5 and under and their parent, grandparent or caregiver.

Parent & Caregiver Testimonials

“StrongStart is a great community connector.” 

Trevor Holsworth – Dad

“We love Bean!” 

Ayla & Raya Kipkie – Children

“It is a wonderful place & opportunity to meet up with friends, play and do new and interesting crafts and activities!” 

Natasha Weiss – Mom

“I think StrongStrong is a great program the children get to socialize with people their own size in a safe, loving environment. My grandson always enjoys being here.” 

Heidi Casely – Grandmother

Jiro and I love StrongStart. Socializing while doing various activities promotes all the good developments like solving puzzles etc. and it is interesting for me too.

 Jackie Taylor – Grandmother

PreSchool

Welcome to the New Denver Nursery School!

The New Denver Nursery School was established in 1978 to provide a program for preschoolers in the New Denver – Silverton and surrounding area. We strive to provide “Quality Care” for preschoolers (from 30 months to 5 years of age), providing an environment which allows children to learn through play with guidance of a qualified and experienced Early Childhood Educator. This encourages full development in all areas: social, emotional, cognitive, physical and creative.

Nursery School Staff

Charlene Alexander

Charlene is passionate about every aspect of early childhood education, the children the parents and the politics. Charlene is a gifted childcare worker. Her biggest strengths is in teaching the children problem solving skills and how to express their feelings. Charlene’s positive attitude, sense of humor and upbeat energy makes her popular among the children, and also their parents!

Julia Greenlaw

Julia’s experience with young children ranges from teaching swimming, skiing and camp counselling to facilitating the local Mothergoose program. She started working as a qualified assistant at the New Denver Nursery School in 2005 when her youngest son Devon was enrolled in the program. She has a degree in Environmental Studies and French and a Diploma in EcoForestry and loves to share her love of nature with the children. She helped create the school garden and believes strongly in connecting children with the natural world through basic hands on activities like planting seeds and eating peas fresh off the vine.  She enjoys singing, storytelling, cooking and playing and helping kids solve their problems. She loves being part of the pre-school community and working with such a great team.

Sara Wearmouth

Bio to come.

Fee Structure

One session/week$80 / month
Two sessions/week$160 / month
Three sessions/week$240 / month

Drop-in Sessions

The drop-in fee is $6.00 per hour and is due on the drop-in day. Please phone ahead. Our licensing requires that a child be registered in order to attend on a drop-in basis.

Fees and Attendance

Fees must be submitted at the time of registration in the form of: 1) 10 post-dated cheques dated for the first day of each month and made payable to SLELS; or 2) pre-authorized direct debit forms. The first payment will include the annual $5.00 Society membership fee and the annual$25.00 registration fee. Alternate payment arrangements can be made with the Treasurer of the Society.

Parents wishing to withdraw children from New Denver Nursery School are required to give formal written notice of withdrawal to the Board of Directors two weeks in advance. Parents agree that children shall be deemed registered at New Denver Nursery School during the two weeks following formal notice, and that the fees will be paid for these two weeks. Any remaining post-dated cheques will be returned.

Arrivals and Departures

Parents are responsible for having their children at the school on time and picked up promptly. If your child is to be absent or late, please notify the centre as soon as possible. (250-358-7768).

You are responsible for all scheduled time at the centre, even if your child does not attend due to illness or otherwise.

Parents or guardians are responsible for signing children in on arrival and out on departure.

Please let staff know in person if someone other than yourself will be picking up your child, as we cannot allow children to leave with unauthorized persons.

Daily Needs

Children attending the nursery school will need to bring a piece of fruit or a vegetable to share for snack and a simple lunch. Please do not send juice or high sugar items.

Fee assistance is available for qualifying families through Ministry of Children and Family Development.

Program Structure and Activities

When children arrive, they begin outside in our playground to provide a large motor experience as well as nature exploration activities. After clean up, the children have a snack followed by activities involving small motor skills (puzzles, table toys, painting). Next, children engage in a free play time as well as an art, science or cooking activity. Following free play, children have lunch and then participate in a circle time comprised of music, fingerplays, action poems and stories.

Constructive Play Activities
Arts and crafts, outdoor activities, organized games, and guided free play.
Social Living
Dramatic play, puppets, interaction with peers and adults, and independence skills.
Language
Books, stories, recordings, songs, puppets, interaction and problem solving
Music
Experiences with songs, dance, instruments and movement.
Science
Learning by experience, through sensory involvement with the world around us.
Field trips
Discovery of the community through first-hand observation and interaction.

If you would like more information about our program, or a copy of our Parent Information Handbook, please email us.


Daycare

Please visit The Goat Mountain Kids Centre for more information.