The Grimshaw Playschool is shining brighter than ever!

The Grimshaw Playschool is shining brighter than ever! With the recent addition of two large windows, the classroom has an abundance of natural light, creating an even more inviting and cheerful atmosphere for the little ones. This enhancement was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Playschool Society, the Town of Grimshaw and local contractor Karl Mundt, who also volunteered some time to complete the project. The new windows not only brighten the space but also reflect the strong sense of community and teamwork that defines the playschool.

“The difference the windows make is unbelievable,” shares Carrie Rasmussen, Grimshaw Playschool Society head teacher.  “It’s really opened up the space, and the children love the natural light and looking out at the community. It’s brought a fresh energy into our classroom and we are very grateful for the support we’ve received to make it happen.”

Since its incorporation in 1979, the Grimshaw Playschool Society has been an important service and support for families with children aged 3-5. From its humble beginnings in a private home to its current location in the Town of Grimshaw Kennedy Administration Building, the playschool has grown and evolved into a fully licensed playschool and registered non-profit society, with programming that is focused on emergent and play-based learning delivered by accredited staff and governed by a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors.

Kate-lynn Gerwatoski’s three children went through the program and shares why she believes in the playschool and what it offers.

“Grimshaw Playschool provides a high-quality early childhood education that is built through play and interactions with children of the same age group with highly accredited staff” says Kate-lynn. “It lays a strong foundation for when the children progress into the education system and they also do developmental screening that can benefit families and students so that they can acquire the proper tools and resources for success.” Kate-Lynn also serves on the Grimshaw Playschool Board of Directors as President.

Carrie has been with the playschool for about 16 years and works alongside co-teacher Kaleena Riewe who joined just over a year ago. Together, they have completed advanced training, such as the FLIGHT curriculum framework through Grant MacEwan University, which emphasizes play as central to early learning.

“This is a flexible framework for thinking about how children learn and experience their worlds, as well as a guide that fosters strong early childhood communities” says Carrie. “Children’s play is central to this curriculum – it is play-based, and in our classroom, we plan activities based on what the children are curious about.  That’s what the emergent curriculum approach is, and it’s engaging because it’s driven by their interests, not just a preset theme.”

Grimshaw Playschool staff work closely with Karin Freilberg, Pedagogical Coach and mentor whose been a means of support for the playschool over the last 18 years. In her role, Karin works with playschools throughout the province and shares what sets Grimshaw Playschool apart.

“Grimshaw Playschool is respected in the Early Learning community for the exceptional quality of their program” says Karin, “Carrie has worked tirelessly throughout her career to ensure that the Playschool is an industry leader and the Northwest Region is stronger as a result of her dedication and that of the volunteer Board.  I often encourage new programs and educators to visit the Grimshaw Playschool to gain insight and context as they begin their journey of exploration with Flight - Alberta’s Early Learning and Care Framework.”

The playschool also incorporates elements of the Reggio Emilia teaching method, which is geared to create a warm and inviting classroom environment filled with neutral tones, textures, and “loose parts” that can be used in countless imaginative ways. “Our kitchen center has yarn, gems, and wooden pieces instead of plastic food,” says Carrie. “The children can decide how to use these items, fostering creativity and independent thinking.” 

Carrie also highlighted their strong collaboration with the Inclusive Child Care Program (ICCP) funded through Stepping Stones. 

“We’ve worked with ICCP for nearly 12 years, and our coach, Linda Peterson, has been an incredible support over the last eight years,” she says. “Linda helps us set professional and classroom goals based on our observations, and together, we’ve achieved the highest ICCP score in Alberta. It’s a testament to the collaborative and inclusive environment we strive to create.”

Parents are also instrumental in the playschool’s success through their ongoing support, donations and participation in various playschool fundraisers.

“Recently, one of our parents donated all the snacks for our Playschool Family Night, where we had 45 parents and children join for a special night of activities,” says Carrie. “This is one of many examples of support we are grateful to receive.”

The playschool offers two programs that run two days per week: a morning session from 9:00–11:30 a.m. and an afternoon session from 12:30–3:00 p.m. The program costs a total of $145 per month per child however, thanks to the Government of Alberta Affordability Grant, parents only pay $70. There’s also a subsidy available that families can apply for that would cover the $70 monthly fee.

"I would recommend Grimshaw Playschool to others because I believe it’s a great resource to help equip children with different types of foundational tools and skills that they can carry into the next stage of school” says Kahala Enns, parent of two children in the program. “Our playschool allows a child’s introduction to learning to be fun and experience-based, which is very helpful for the transition into kindergarten because they have this positive and helpful foundation. I encourage others to have their children in playschool so they experience learning through play, build social skills with both other kids and adults, learn about the foundations of their emotions, how to communicate what they are feeling, and so much more."

Looking ahead, the playschool is preparing for a spring fundraiser in partnership with Northern Dough. Fundraisers like this ensure the program remains accessible to families, many of who can also benefit from subsidies or provincial funding. As a registered nonprofit society, the Grimshaw Playschool relies on a volunteer board of directors, fundraisers and the support of its community. 

The Grimshaw Playschool is located within the Town of Grimshaw Administration Office. For more information about the Grimshaw Playschool Society, be sure to follow them on Facebook or email grimshawplayschool@hotmail.com.