Care to Learn Preschool

    Care to Learn Preschool

    Care to Learn Preschool provides a nurturing and engaging environment where young learners grow through play, creativity, and exploration. Available at nine Northern Lights Public Schools locations, our provincially licensed, developmental preschool focuses on preparing children for Kindergarten through:

    • Music and movement
    • Arts and crafts
    • Games and hands-on activities
    • Early literacy and math centres
    • Physical activity

    Building Essential Skills

    Our preschool program helps children develop:

    • independence and decision-making,
    • imagination and creativity,
    • communication and problem-solving skills,
    • a strong sense of community,
    • feelings of value and self-worth.

    Program Options

    We offer a variety of options to meet your family's needs:

    Three-Hour Program

    • Morning and afternoon options at some locations
    • Choose between 2 or 3 classes per week at some locations

    Available at:

    Full-Day Program (up to 5 days a week)

    Available at:

    For details on program fees and availability, please see the Fee Schedules section below.

    Note: Our preschool programs (with the exception of the full-day programs), follow the Northern Lights Public Schools calendar and there are no preschool classes on no-school days.

    Important Dates

       
    Week of March 17-21 Registration for 2025-2026 opens for existing Care to Learn Preschool Students
    March 28 Preschool open houses at all locations
    April 1 Registration opens to all students.
    TBD Schools re-open and start to process registrations received over the summer.
    TBD First day of full-day care at Duclos School
    TBD First week of half-day full-day programs at Ecole Plamondon and Vera M. Welsh Elementary

    Fee schedules for 2025-2026 are still being confirmed. Check back closer to registration opening for updated information. 

    Please click on the program you are interested in attending for information on what classes are available.

    • Ardmore School
    • Cold Lake Elementary School
    • Ecole Plamondon School - includes information on Full-Day program
    • Duclos School - includes information on Full-Day program
    • Glendon School
    • Iron River School
    • North Star Elementary School
    • Vera M. Welsh Elementary School - includes information on Full-Day program
    • Wandering River School

    Our 2025-2026 Care to Learn Preschool Parent Handbook includes important information about our program including:

    • Introduction & Goals
    • Registration & Fees
    • Supplies from Home
    • Snack & Nutrition Guidelines
    • Policies & Procedures
    • Behavior & Guidance
    • Illness & Health Guidelines
    • Emergency Procedures
    • Contact Information

    2025-2026 Registration

    Preschool registration for the 2025-2026 school year will open April 1!

    Parents of our existing Care to Learn Preschool students will be sent an email informing them that a form has been assigned to them in School Engage. Please follow the instructions for Care To Learn Preschool students below once you have received that form.

    If your child is not currently enrolled in our preschool program, please follow the instructions for new Preschool students below once the 2025-2026 form is available.

    Note: Please ensure you are filling out the form for the correct year. We often have registration for the current year running at the same time as registration for the upcoming school year. If you fill out the form for the incorrect year, you will be asked to log back in and fill out the correct form.

    Parents who currently have a child enrolled in our preschool program can register their child for 2025-2026 through the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

    • Forms will shared with all existing preschool families the week of March 17-21. Families will receive an email that the form is ready for them to complete in School Engage.
    • You will need to use a computer (desktop or laptop) to log in to the Parent Portal and access the registration form in School Engage. You will not be able to access the form using the Parent Portal app.
    • If you do not already have a Parent Portal account set up, please contact your child's school and they will assist you.
    • If you already have a PowerSchool Parent Portal account, please log in and click on School Engage in the lower left-hand corner of the screen.
    • Detailed instruction are included in our NLPS Registration Guide for Parents.

    For tips on completing your registration form, please see the Tips for Completing Your Student Registration page.

    Confirmation and Fees

    • Once you have submitted your form, it may take up to five working days (Monday-Friday, excluding statutory holidays) for us to review your form and availability in the class you have selected. You may receive a call from our division coordinator during that time to confirm details.
    • Once your registration has been approved, you will receive instructions on how to pay your deposit through School Cash Online.
    • Your space in the preschool program will be held for two weeks from the date your enrolment is confirmed. If you have not made payment by that time, your space may be assigned to someone else.
    • If you are experiencing difficulty paying the fee on time or need assistance, please contact our Division Coordinator, Glenda Bouvier, at 780-623-4414. 

    New to Northern Lights or returning to Northern Lights (no children currently enrolled in our schools)

    • Please register using School Engage.
    • We recommend using a computer (desktop or laptop) to complete forms in School Engage. Forms can also be completed on a tablet, but are not mobile friendly and we do not recommend using a smartphone to complete forms.
    • Detailed instructions for registering through School Engage are included in our NLPS Registration Guide for Parents.

    If you already have other children enrolled in a Northern Lights school

    • Please register your preschool student by logging into your PowerSchool Parent Portal account and clicking on School Engage in the bottom left hand corner of the screen.
    • Detailed instructions are included in our NLPS Registration Guide for Parents.
    • You will need to access the Parent Portal using a computer (desktop or laptop) in order to access registration forms. You will not be able to access the forms using the Parent Portal app.

    Completing the Form

    • Once you have accessed School Engage, please select the 2025-2026 Preschool Registration Form, fill everything out and submit the form.
    • You will need to provide citizenship documentation as part of the process (birth certificate, passport, citizenship documents), so please have that available to upload.  If you do not have a birth certificate and your child was born in Alberta, you can download a form HERE, fill it out and take it to the local registries office to order one.
    • For tips on completing your registration form, please see the Tips for Completing Your Student Registration page. Our school administrative assistants can also provide assistance with accessing and completing the form, and answering any questions you may have.

    Confirmation and Fees

    • Once you have submitted your form, it may take up to five working days (Monday-Friday, excluding statutory holidays) for us to review your form and availability in the class you have selected. You may receive a call from our division coordinator during that time to confirm details.
    • Once your enrolment has been confirmed, you will be sent instructions on how to pay your deposit through School Cash Online. If you need assistance in setting up or using School Cash Online, please contact your school.
    • Your space in the preschool program will be held for two weeks from the date your enrolment is confirmed. If you have not made payment by that time, your space may be assigned to someone else.
    • If you are experiencing difficulty paying the fee on time or need assistance, please contact our Division Coordinator, Glenda Bouvier, at 780-623-4414.