4612 Varsity Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T3A 0Z9, Canada
Early childhood development programs to give your child a love of learning
Enroll your duckling today for a warmer, more compassionate preschool experience
A Note from the Director
Welcome to PuddleDucks Preschool!
My name is Miss Shannon, I am the owner and director of PuddleDucks Preschool as well as the lead teacher of our three-year-old and junior kindergarten programs.
My formal education includes a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta as well as a diploma in Early Childhood Development. My experience includes 30-plus years of managing and teaching in all kinds of amazing, life-changing positions that have helped shape not only who I am, but what I believe early education should be, and needs to be.
I have an extensive background managing and working for programs that focus on children with special needs which includes working at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital in Edmonton. Because of this, I am a passionate and outspoken advocate for early intervention and believe all children, no matter how disadvantaged, should have the absolute right to equal opportunities.
Teaching is both a vocation and reason I choose to be a life-long learner. I believe that it is incumbent upon us as educators to ensure all needs of a child are met. This includes fostering the development of social skills, emotional intelligence, intellectual skills, their speech and language, as well as meeting their physical needs. PuddleDucks Preschool does all of this while fostering a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment so that all children can thrive as they develop their sense of self.
One of the most important things I have come to learn on my teaching journey, is that having strong family engagement, during these early stages of development, is central in promoting a child’s overall health and personal wellness. Families are a child’s first, longest lasting, and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers. Positive parenting and strong family engagement is central, not supplemental, to promoting children’s healthy development. A families’ engagement in their child’s learning at home and in early education programs has been shown to impact their long-term health, developmental and academic outcomes. As a parent and caregiver, you know your child best. This is why at PuddleDucks Preschool, the entire family is embraced as part of our programming. This ensures that each of our students have the best possible opportunity for success.
PuddleDucks Preschool is the product of my personal dream that has been developing for the last 30 years. Our programs have been specially curated and are possible thanks to our team of experienced, highly trained and educated staff.
This is why I am truly proud to welcome you to this incredible place.
Programs
PUDDLEDUCKS PRESCHOOL PREP (PPP)
PUDDLEDUCKS PRESCHOOL PREP (PPP)
PUDDLEDUCKS PRESCHOOL PREP (PPP)
Ages: 24-36 Months
PPP Morning Classes:
Class Duration: 2 Hours (unparented)
Time: 10AM-12PM
Days: Monday-Friday
Before Care:
Starting at 8:30AM
*There is a fee for our before care option. Please contact us for all program pricing.
PPP Afternoon Classes:
Class Duration: 2 Hours (unparented)
Time: 1:00PM-3:00PM
Days: Monday-Friday
After Care: Fro
Ages: 24-36 Months
PPP Morning Classes:
Class Duration: 2 Hours (unparented)
Time: 10AM-12PM
Days: Monday-Friday
Before Care:
Starting at 8:30AM
*There is a fee for our before care option. Please contact us for all program pricing.
PPP Afternoon Classes:
Class Duration: 2 Hours (unparented)
Time: 1:00PM-3:00PM
Days: Monday-Friday
After Care: From 3PM - 4PM .
*There is a fee for this option. Please contact us for all program pricing.
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
PUDDLEDUCKS PRESCHOOL PREP (PPP)
PUDDLEDUCKS PRESCHOOL PREP (PPP)
Age: 3 years
Preschool Morning Program:
Class Duration: 3.5 hours
Time: 8:30AM - 12PM
Days: Tuesday - Thursday
Preschool Afternoon Classes:
Class Duration: 3 hours
Time: 1:00PM - 4:00PM
Days: Tuesday - Thursday
Junior Kindergarten
PUDDLEDUCKS PRESCHOOL PREP (PPP)
Junior Kindergarten
Age: 4 years
Jr. K Morning Program
Class Duration: 3.5 Hours
Time: 8:30AM - 12PM
Days:
Monday - Wednesday - Friday
Jr. K Afternoon Program:
Duration: 3 Hours
Time: 1PM - 4PM
Days:
Monday - Wednesday - Friday
Why Choose Us?
our programs are unique!
· Longer classes
· Higher staff-to-child ratio
· Play-based, child centered programming
· Children do not have to be potty trained
· 3 levels of programming
· Structured and unstructured daily activities/art experience
· 2 hour un-parented programming for 24-36 months
our educators are educated!
As Early Childhood Educators and Special Education Teachers, we believe the purpose of education is to inspire children with a lifelong passion for learning. Our role as educators is to support and equip your child with the knowledge that he or she will need in order to be a person who will positively contribute to the life of his or her peers, family and community. The teacher is regarded as a partner, nurturer, guide and researcher in the classroom, while the children are recognized as the communicators, explorers and learners. Both classrooms are supervised and lead by an Alberta-educated teacher.
our classroom demographics are unmatched!
We offer 3-3.5 hour programming for our 3 year and 4 year old programs (many preschools only offer 2 hour classes.) Our longer class times allow your children to work at their own pace without feeling rushed. PuddleDucks is also the only non-daycare preschool program in Calgary that offers un-parented classes for ages 24-36 months.
In our 3 and 4 year old programs there is 1 teacher for every 5 children and a maximum of 16 children per class (most schools are 1:12 and 24 students). In our PuddleDucks Preschool Prep program our ratio is 1 teacher for every 3-4 children with a max of 8 ducklings per class (other schools are 1:6). Our higher teacher to student ratio means your little Ducklings get more one-on-one learning time.
Our Philosophy
PuddleDucks Mission and Philosophy
At PuddleDucks Preschool, we are committed to developing your child’s love for learning and a sense of purpose in life. We do this by cultivating positive growth in your child’s Character, Confidence, Competence and Compassion.
Each of these skills build upon each other and help children better understand themselves and the world around them. At PuddleDucks, we strongly believe in creating an environment which provides children a SAFE place to explore, create, make mistakes, try something difficult, try something new, ask questions, and be a better friend. Essentially, we want to create a place where all of our students can “become” who they are meant to be in this world.
At PuddleDucks Preschool we are inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy. This means that themes are developed to tap into children’s interests and their natural curiosity about the world around them. It also means that our themes build on basic skills such as numerical, early literacy, fine motor, gross motor, problem solving, and attention span. Through collaborative play, learning alongside each other, teacher-led conflict resolution, and emotional awareness, we help your duckling develop those ever-important social-emoitional skills.
Being ‘inspired by’ Reggio also means that here at PuddleDucks Preschool we do not limit our students’ learning style to one governing philosophy. Instead, we see each child as a unique learner and therefore we've chosen to pull what we believe are the best qualities from a number of other educational pedagogies such as Montessori, and the Waldorf teaching method.
We are Partnered with and Early intervention program
Your duckling may or may not need early intervention; we (your teachers) are trained to help identify these early indications if they do present themselves.
If your little one does need extra supports, our early intervention partner, Step By Step, is here to help navigate government funding and supplying highly trained therapists and aides in our classroom environment.
Step by Step works with children as young as 18 months to a maximum age of 6 years old.
According to research, learning and development are at their highest rate in the preschool years.
Due to potential conditions noticed at birth, such as identified disabilities or later identified developmental delays, some children risk missing the most important learning and developmental milestones. Early intervention helps keep these children on a path to making the most of their abilities and skills developed during these early years.
Early intervention has long-term benefits, even reaching into adulthood. It has been shown that early learning therapies do far more than provide immediate benefits, but also significantly increase the child’s ability to integrate in future social environments, including school, community, and ultimately employment."
If you would lilke to know more about early intervention and our partners at Step by Step, you can do so here: https://stepbystepyyc.com/
The PuddleDucks Difference
your child does not have to be potty trained
your child does not have to be potty trained
your child does not have to be potty trained
Most preschool programs will not accept children UNLESS they are Potty Trained. PuddleDucks Preschool understands that not all children move through their developmental stages at the same pace. We do not feel that these children should be left out, nor do we feel that a parent should have to rush back to their child’s preschool in order to change them. Your child does NOT need to be potty trained to come to PuddleDucks Preschool.
Our caring and nurturing staff will be here to assist you with potty training. If your duckling has an accident or needs a diaper change, we've got your back!
** It is important to ensure your little one always has a fresh change of clothes and a few diapers or pull-ups available in their backpack.
parents and family Are always welcome
your child does not have to be potty trained
your child does not have to be potty trained
At PuddleDucks Preschool we foster an open-door policy; this means that we are an un-parented program, however, parents and guardians are always welcome and encouraged to stay and join in on any class. The only time you will be required to stay is if your little duckling is showing signs of distress when you leave.
Volunteers:
PuddleDucks Preschool does not require mandatory classroom volunteers. However, we love getting to know our families and encourage you to stay for a class if you so wish. Once the September madness is over, a Classroom Volunteer Sign-Up sheet will be posted.
we have an art infused curriculum
your child does not have to be potty trained
we have an art infused curriculum
Why do Children Need both Craft and Art?
Beyond being a mental stimulant, fine art and craft activities are great attributes for your ducklings, such as:
· Creativity & self-esteem
Playing with colours, shapes and textures encourages your preschooler to use the creative side of their brains, and completing crafts will help boost their self-esteem.
· Fine motor skills & coordination Working with their hands helps children practice their hand-eye coordination and develop their fine motor skills.
· Cognitive functioning
Seeing colours, feeling textures, and smelling different materials helps to reinforce children’s processing abilities and memory.
· Self-expression
There are no hard and fast rules and no wrong way in art activities for preschoolers. Letting them loose with colours and crafts allows them to express themselves fully, showing them the reward in self-expression.
mindfulness in the classroom
Hands-On Sensory-Based Play
we have an art infused curriculum
What is mindfulness? There are many answers to this question as it can be different for each person who practices. The aspect of mindfulness we will be focusing on is learning how to be in and enjoy the present. There are many ways that we will incorporate mindfulness into our curriculum, the first being: learning how to breath deeply with purpose. We will practice taking deep breaths at circle time, during our craft time and when we start to feel out of control emotionally. The second way we will incorporate mindfulness in our programs is with the practice of beginner level children's yoga.
Benefits of Mindfulness:
- decrease feelings of stress and anxiety
- improve focus and concentration
- help with impulsivity
- improve self-regulation
- develop empathy
- reduce aggression
- improve sleep
- …and more!
Hands-On Sensory-Based Play
Hands-On Sensory-Based Play
Hands-On Sensory-Based Play
What is sensory-based play?
Toddlers and kids learn best through their senses. Any play which stimulates the use of touch, smell, sight, hearing, or using fine motor muscles is considered sensory-based play. Stimulating neural pathways through sensory experiences is a crucial part of children’s early brain development.
Sensory-based play lays a crucial foundation for later learning skills
Stimulating senses through play sends signals to the brain which help develop its ability to identify objects and explore the world. Learning to differentiate sharp from soft, round from square, and cold from warm is a basic step in empowering the brain’s ability to discover, classify and sort more sophisticated information later through life.
Mat Man/ Handwriting Without Tears
Hands-On Sensory-Based Play
Hands-On Sensory-Based Play
"From classroom personality to storybook hero, Mat Man™ is a favorite among young children. Children first meet this charming character through the Handwriting Without Tears® Build Mat Man activity. Mat Man teaches important readiness skills: Body Awareness, Drawing & Pre-writing, Counting, Building, Socializing & sharing.
The teaching philosophy behind Handwriting Without Tears is that "the curriculum is designed to make handwriting easy to teach, and easy to learn."
Our PPP Program will be introduced to some basic Mat Man lessons during their "All About Me" theme month.
We introduce Mat Man to both our 3s and our 4s right in September. The 3s and 4s all learn the music, stories and activities associated with our Handwriting Without Tears program. The 3s focus more on the music and the shapes, whereas with the 4s we start learning our Letters and Sounds. In October, we start working on our Handwriting Without Tears program. This program works through the alphabet and introduces writing by using the basic shapes covered in the 3-year-old program and the sounds of the letters.
Meet The Team
Miss Jennifer
Miss Jennifer
Miss Jennifer
Program Administrator:
Providing all business operations of the school including registration
About:
Miss Jennifer is a graduate of Human Resources from the University of Calgary. She has over 10 years of experience working as a Human Resources professional for oil and gas companies. She's also been running her own consulting company for over a decade. Miss Jennifer is a mom who has known Miss Shannon (the director and owner) since childhood, and shares her passion for early childhood education.
miss Jenn
Miss Jennifer
Miss Jennifer
Lead Teacher of:
PuddleDucks Preschool Prep 2 - 3 year old program
About:
Miss Jenn has an Early Childhood Care and Education diploma from Mount Royal University and has experience working in childcare for nearly 20 years. Miss Jenn was previously teaching Kindergarten and school-aged children. She is excited for this new adventure, teaching our littlest ducklings in our PPP program.
A lover of impromptu dance parties, Miss Jenn's classroom philosophy is to engage children in learning through interests, laughter, and play.
miss joyce
Miss Jennifer
miss joyce
Support Teacher and Program Facilitator :
Working in the 3 year old and junior kindergarten programs as well as supporting, and facilitation of, all day-to-day functioning of the school
About:
Miss Joyce has a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and has experience subbing grades 1-3, and teaching ESL. She's spent the last 10 years focused on teaching children with special needs as well as working with them as a therapy assistant. Miss Joyce is the mother of 3, all of whom also enjoy working with children.
"Children, first and foremost, need to have fun in a secure, supportive and loving environment. Social skills, self-regulation and learning to be good listeners are some of the foundational skills of early learners."
miss kaite
Miss Claire M.
miss joyce
Educational Assistant and Support Administrator:
Working primarily in the 3 year old and junior kindergarten programs while also playing a supporting role in daily admin duties
About:
Miss Kaite has over a decade of experience working with children; including 7 years spent focused on early intervention as a therapy assistant to preschoolers with exceptional developmental needs, Miss Kaite is not noly a mom of two, she also holds a bachelor degree in Fine Arts and is a published author. Miss Kaite has written a number of non-fiction books for children ages 5-14 years old.
"I love watching children grow and gain confidence in their abilities as they discover the world around them. It is important to me that the children I work with feel heard,"
Miss Claire M.
Miss Claire M.
Miss Claire M.
Classroom Assistant for:
PPP but will also assist in the 3 year old and junior kindergarten programs
About:
Miss Claire has a level 1 early childhood educator certificate, but has also gained incredible hands on experience growing up volunteering in her mothers preschool and as a proffesional babysitter.
Miss Claire is not only passionate about the quality of education each student recieves, but also ensuring that the developmental needs of all children she works with, are met.
"Children need to know they are loved and feel accepted in order to grow into strong, healthy adults. I believe that is one of the most important things I can teach a child, that they are loved, even when they make mistakes."
MISS AALIYAH
Miss Claire M.
Miss Claire M.
Classroom Assistant for:
3 year old and junior kindergarten programs as well as PPP
About:
Miss Aaliyah is the eldest daughter in a family of 8. Her family immigrated to Canada from England in 2004.
Miss Aaliyah has her Level One Child Care Certificate and prior work experience in a day home with children ranging in ages from 1-10. She has also spent a great deal of time babysitting young children including her own siblings.
"I am passionate about social skills and the significance they play during these ever important formative years."
Miss claire S.
Miss claire S.
Miss claire S.
Educational Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator:
Assisting in the 3 year old and junior kindergarten programs when needed.
Coordinates volunteers for all programs and facilitates the display of student artwork and development of their beautiful scrapbooks
About:
Info coming soon
miss sam
Miss Missiker
miss sharon
Classroom Assistant for:
3 year old and junior kindergarten programs as well as PPP
About:
Miss Sam emigrated from England in 2004 with her husband and 3 children. She is now a proud mother of eight children and grandmother of one.
Miss Sam began working at PuddleDucks in September of 2022. Since then, she has already achieved her Level 1 Early Childhood Educator Certificate and is looking forward to completing her Level 2. Miss Aaliyah is Miss Sam’s eldest daughter, whom she is excited to be able to work along-side.
“I love this stage in a child’s life. I find it amazing how no two children are the same and how their little minds work to process things.””
miss sharon
Miss Missiker
miss sharon
Classroom Assistant for:
3 year old and junior kindergarten programs as well as PPP
About:
Miss Sharon has a Level 1 Early Childhood Educator Certificate. Her experience includes working as a teacher’s assistant for the CBE as well as a lunchroom supervisor. Miss Sharon moved to Vancouver in 2016, and while living there, continued her career working with children ages 18 months to 4 years old in a day care, and then at a
preschool. Just over a year ago she returned to Calgary and has been working at Puddleducks Preschool. "It took me many years to find a career that I could put my whole heart into and love going to every day. PuddleDucks is that place for me. It brings me great joy watching the children grow and discover new things in the world around them.”
Miss Missiker
Miss Missiker
Miss Missiker
Classroom Assistant for:
3 year old and junior kindergarten programs as well as PPP
About:
Miss Missiker has a Level 1 Early Childhood Educator Certificate. Missiker has experience in childcare, such as babysitting, and has always been passionate about child development and psychology.
"I am grateful for every individual child I've worked with, and it is a privilege to get to watch their unique personalities blossom. It is so important to me that all kids are given the opportunity to grow into themselves in a safe, loving, and respectful environment."
Important Calendar Dates
Testimonials
