Frequently Asked Questions
We don’t take the responsibility of caring for your children lightly! Your child’s safety, well-being, and happiness are our top priorities. We want every parent to feel confident that their little one is in the best care possible!
Common Questions
Helping you get to know our playschool better!
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Great question — we’re actually both! The terms playschool and preschool are often used interchangeably, and both refer to early childhood programs that prepare children for kindergarten. At Noah’s Ark, we proudly use a play-based approach to support learning and development in a warm, nurturing, and faith-filled environment.
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Yes. In partnership with RDPSD, we strive to create an inclusive learning environment for all children. We adapt materials, routines, and activities to meet individual needs and celebrate each child’s unique abilities.
Additional supports including Occupational, Physical and Speech and Language Therapy, etc. are available with qualification.
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Children must be 3 or 4 years old by their enrollment date to attend. If your child has a fall birthday, feel free to reach out—we’re happy to discuss special considerations.
We also ask that children are independent in their toileting habits, but we’re open to conversations if your child needs a little extra support in that area too.
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We use gentle, respectful strategies that help children learn self-regulation, empathy, and responsibility. Our goal is always to guide behavior in a way that builds understanding and supports emotional development.
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Please send your child with a backpack that includes the following each day:
Indoor shoes (preferably non-marking runners) — these should go home each day
A complete change of clothing (accidents and messy play happen!)
Weather-appropriate outdoor clothing — we go outside in all kinds of weather
A labeled water bottle and healthy snack
We ask that all items be clearly labeled, as Noah’s Ark Playschool is not responsible for lost or misplaced belongings. Personal toys should stay at home unless it’s a special show-and-share day or your child needs a comfort item. And we embrace messy, hands-on play — so dress for fun and comfort!
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Each day includes a mix of free play, circle time, stories, songs, hands-on learning, gross motor play, and faith-based activities. We keep our routine flexible to follow the children's interests and ensure every child feels engaged and supported.
Check out our daily rhythms here! -
Yes! We are a Christian playschool, and our values and teachings reflect our faith. We share simple, age-appropriate truths from the Bible and help children understand their God-given worth and the love of Jesus in everyday ways.
Noah's Ark is a ministry of the First Christian Reformed Church. It is a service to the community; church membership is not required for registration.
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Our regular drop-off time is between 8:45 AM and 9:00 AM, and pickup at 11:30 AM for morning sessions. For afternoon sessions, our drop-off time is between 12:45 PM and 1:00 PM, and pickup at 3:30 PM.
We offer a 15-minute flex time before class so parents can drop off early, reduce hallway congestion, and have a calm goodbye with their child. This also gives teachers time to personally greet every child and family.
If you expect to be more than 15 minutes late for pickup, please let us know by email or phone. For afternoon pickups, we understand many families are juggling siblings, so flex time is available, just let us know!
Noah’s Ark Playschool loosely follows the RDP school-year calendar and is closed during the summer months to give families and staff a chance to rest and refresh. We look forward to welcoming children back in the fall for a new year of fun and learning!
Our Curriculum Approach
Get to know how our play-based program blends the Reggio Emilia philosophy with Alberta’s FLIGHT Framework to support whole-child development.
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Flight is Alberta’s early learning and care curriculum framework, designed to guide educators in nurturing the growth and development of young children from birth to age six. It emphasizes the importance of play as a central, meaningful way children explore, express themselves, and make sense of the world. Rooted in relationships, reflection, and responsiveness, Flight supports the creation of inclusive, child-centered learning communities where every child’s voice, curiosity, and potential are valued.
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At Noah’s Ark, we use FLIGHT as a foundation for our curriculum planning and classroom practices. We observe the children closely to understand their interests, strengths, and developmental needs, and then use that insight to design meaningful play experiences. Our goal is to support every child’s social, emotional, physical, creative, cognitive and spiritual development in ways that are responsive, inclusive, and faith-filled.
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FLIGHT itself is not faith-based, but at Noah’s Ark Playschool, we blend its principles with our Christian values. We support the whole child—body, mind, and spirit—by integrating Biblical truths, Christ-like character, and loving relationships into our play-based approach.
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FLIGHT highlights key learning dispositions like playfulness, persistence, curiosity, caring, and participation. These are the habits of thinking and learning that help children thrive in school and in life. At Noah’s Ark, we intentionally foster these dispositions through our environment, routines, and responsive teaching.
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The Reggio Emilia approach is an educational philosophy that originated in Italy and focuses on young children as capable, curious, and full of potential. It encourages learning through exploration, creativity, and collaboration.
At Noah’s Ark Playschool, we embrace this belief wholeheartedly. We create a responsive environment where children are encouraged to explore, question, and express themselves in meaningful ways. Our educators value each child’s voice and help guide their learning through a foundation of respect, faith, and joyful discovery.
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Instead of following a rigid curriculum, learning is based on the interests and questions of the children. Teachers observe, listen, and design activities that build on what the children are curious about—making learning more meaningful and engaging.
At Noah’s Ark, we don’t follow a fixed, one-size-fits-all curriculum. Instead, we plan learning experiences based on the children’s own questions, interests, and observations. This allows us to respond to what’s real and relevant in their world. Our teachers observe closely and thoughtfully plan activities that deepen understanding, support growth, and align with both the Flight Framework and Reggio Emilia philosophies. This way, learning becomes a collaborative journey between teacher and child.
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Children are seen as strong, capable individuals with the right to express themselves in many ways. Their ideas, thoughts, and questions are central to shaping the learning environment.
We see children as unique and capable individuals created in God’s image—each with their own voice, perspective, and potential. At Noah’s Ark, children are active participants in shaping their learning. We invite them to share their ideas, make choices, and contribute to the classroom community. We believe what they feel matters, what they say matters, and what they do matters.
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Reggio Emilia emphasizes creating beautiful, organized spaces that encourage exploration and independence. Classrooms are thoughtfully arranged to spark curiosity and support meaningful learning.
At Noah’s Ark, we believe the classroom environment plays a powerful role in how children learn. Inspired by Reggio Emilia, we thoughtfully arrange our spaces to spark curiosity, encourage independence, and invite creativity. Our materials are open-ended and intentionally chosen, and we adjust the classroom setup in response to the children's interests, needs, and developmental stages—creating an environment that is as dynamic and alive as the children themselves.
We have rotating stations and sensory play opportunities that often reflect the seasons, local events, or the real-world themes children are curious about. These hands-on spaces help bring learning to life. Check out our photo albums to see the beautiful results!
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Emergent curriculum means that learning isn’t pre-set—it builds and takes direction from the children’s ideas, interests, and questions. Using FLIGHT, our teachers carefully listen, observe, and document to create learning opportunities that are timely and relevant to the children. This keeps learning engaging and helps each child feel seen, heard, and valued.