Themes
- Weather
- Gardening
- Easter
- Earth Day
- Environment
Playschool Fees were due December 1 and March 1. Reminders have been sent out. Please contact the office if you are unsure of outstanding fees or if you have any questions. Unpaid fees will mean your child will not be able to participate in class for the remainder of the year and/or graduation.
March 29 - Spring Market Fundraiser - details below
April 2 – Wear purple day for the Monday/Wednesday classes to honor Autism Day
April 3 – Wear purple day for the Tuesday/Thursday classes to honor Autism Day
April 15 – Miss Marg comes to read to the Tuesday/Thursday classes
April 15 - Board Meeting 7pm, everyone is welcome
April 15 - Deadline for Growing Smiles orders - details below
April 16 – Easter parties for the Monday/Wednesday classes
April 17 – Easter parties for the Tuesday/Thursday classes
****April 21 – April 25 – Spring Break****
April 28 - Monday/Wednesday classes resume
April 29 - Tuesday/Thursday classes resume
May 8 - Open House 4:30pm-6:30pm
May 30 - Ladies Night Gala and Fundraiser - details below
DONATIONS
Thank you to those families who have donated.
We are in need of small paper bowls.
Easter Parties
The Easter parties for each class will be held on Wednesday, April 16 and Thursday, April 17.
Please bring 2 hard-boiled eggs to the Easter party so that your child can decorate their eggs at the party!
Also bring a regular snack to the party as we will be following our day as close to the usual routine as possible.
Overdue Library Books
There are several books that have not been returned.
Mrs. Gerle has sent emails to those with outstanding books. They can be returned to the Playschool or at the Carstairs Public Library as soon as possible.
Please ensure all books are returned promptly so Carstairs Playschool can continue to take advantage of this incredible program put on by the Library.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Table Work
This month the three year olds will be working on vertical and horizontal lines, diagonal lines (left and right), wavy lines, and zigzag lines. These are all important skills to learn before the children start the Handwriting Without Tears program.
The four year olds will be working on letters B, R, K, and A. Practicing these letters will help the children learn to use correct top-to-bottom, left-to-right directionality for letters, while holding a crayon with proper pencil grip and using their helper hand to help stabilize objects and paper. Mrs. Gerle works closely with the children at this center to help them with their pencil grip as well as help with the letters in their name. They have come so far with their name writing and their understanding of the lingo used in the Handwriting Without Tears Program.
Ms. Johnson’s center almost always involves some king of scissor practice which may have to do with the theme or the letter that we are working on. The children love this center and all of them have improved significantly with their scissor skills. We are both so proud of all the kids, and how well they are doing this year!
Registration for the 2025-2026 year is now open. For those parents with a child currently enrolled at Carstairs Playschool, we strongly recommend registering as soon as possible as spots are filling up quickly. Please help spread the word to other families if they have shared interest in the program.
You can find the registration form on our website.
The Growing Smiles Fundraiser is on until April 15. Please click here to order online. We have several posts on our facebook page if you want to share the information with others.
On March 29, Carstairs Playschool will be attending the Spring Market at the Carstairs Community Hall from 10am-3pm with our first ever toonie drive! The theme is “How Many Toonies Long Is A Blue Whale?”
We will be there with a table, handing out blue whale candies to anyone that donates and keeping track on our very own blue whale how many toonies it takes to fill the blue whale! We would love your support in stopping by our table or spreading the word to being your toonies.
Check out the Facebook Event
The preschoolers were sent home with tickets to our big event fundraiser of the year. We would love your support in selling the tickets if you know of any women that would love to attend our Ladies Night Gala and Market Fundraiser on May 30. We will have a vendor market, an art show to showcase the preschoolers work, food and cocktails, dancing and so much more!
Tickets are $15 each, payment can be e-transfered to carstairsplayschool@gmail.com or cash can be brought when you return the small portion of the ticket to the school. Please write the name of the person who purchased the ticket on the back of the small side. If you have any questions or need additional tickets please reach out to Veronica at 780-721-0423 or Carstairs.playschool.fundraising@gmail.com
Check out the Facebook Event.
Supporting a Preschooler Experiencing Anxiety – Some Tips For Parents
1. Create a safe and supportive environment
a) Establish routines
Predictable routines can help reduce anxiety, so stick to regular schedules for meals, bedtime, and activities
b) Provide reassurance
Let your child know that it’s okay to feel anxious and that you are there to help them cope
c) Model calm behavior
Children often mirror their parents’ emotions, so try to remain calm and composed, even when facing stressful situations
d) Limit exposure to scary content
Monitor the news, TV shows, and online content your child is exposed to, and limit exposure to potentially upsetting material
2. Encourage open communication
a) Listen actively
Pay attention to your child’s verbal and nonverbal cues, and allow them to express their feelings without judgement
b) Validate their feelings
Acknowledge their anxieties and fears, even if they seem irrational to you
c) Use open-ended questions
Instead of asking “Are your anxious?”, try “How are you feeling about going to school today?”
d) Share your experiences
If appropriate, share your own experiences with anxiety and how you cope with it
3. Teach coping skills
a) Deep breathing
Teach your child to take slow, deep breaths when they feel anxious
b) Relaxation techniques
Practice simple relaxation techniques, such as progressive muscle relaxation or guided imagery
c) Positive self-talk
Encourage your child to use positive affirmations and to focus on their strengths
d) Role playing
Practice scenarios that might trigger anxiety, such as going to the doctor or attending a party
e) Distraction
Engage your child in fun activities or games to take their minds off their worries
f) Grounding techniques
Help them focus on their senses by identifying 5 things they can see, 4 things they can touch, 3 things they can hear, 2 things they can smell, and 1 thing they can taste. This will help your child focus on the task at hand rather than on what is causing them to feel anxious