Snack
Toast, fruit and cheese in the morning. In the afternoon something proper: crackers, veg and dip, yogurt, whatever is in season. The hall is peanut-free.
School-age care in Nanaimo, BC
Before the bell and after it.
7:00amBell
Doors open, toast and fruit if breakfast got skipped, then we walk your child to school.
Bell5:45pm
We are at the gate when it rings, walk back to the hall together, and stay until pickup.
For kindergarten to grade 7. Open every school day, plus Pro-D days and spring break.
GradesK–7
One day, start to finish
The day
From the first sign-in to the last pickup. Between the bells your child is in class and the hall is quiet.
Doors open
Marnie, our program lead, is at the desk. Sign in, bags on the hooks, then colouring, board games or the reading corner.
Snack table
Toast, fruit and cheese for anyone who has not had breakfast. Nobody has to eat it.
Jackets on, we walk
Head count at the door, then two groups leave for school, one for each of our schools.
The bell
8:45 at Kestrel Park, 8:50 at Alder Lane. We wait at the gate until every class line has gone in.
School day
The hall is quiet while the children are in class. On Pro-D days and over spring break this stretch is a full day at the hall.
Pro-D and spring break: open all day
We are at the gate
Staff are standing there when the bell rings (2:55 at Kestrel Park, 3:00 at Alder Lane) and count everyone before the walk back.
Back at the hall
Hands washed, bags on the hooks, then an afternoon snack. Families can start picking up from here.
Homework corner
A quiet table with a staff member close by for a stuck word, a reading log or a maths sheet.
Outside or crafts
The playground and field if it is dry, rain gear if it is not. The craft table is open for anyone who would rather sit.
Last pickup
Sign out with an adult from your list. The doors close at 5:45.
Four regulars
What kids do
Nothing fancy and nothing screen-heavy. A full belly, a finished reading log, some fresh air and something made with their hands.
Homework corner
A quiet table with the lamps on. A staff member sits nearby and helps with a stuck word or a maths sheet. It is a place to get it done, not tutoring.
Outdoor games
The playground and field at the end of the block, most days, rain gear on if it is wet. Tag, four square, soccer, skipping ropes, and a chalk hopscotch on the hall’s back pavement.
Crafts
Paper, paint, glue and cardboard, with a new idea most weeks. Finished work goes home on Fridays.
No cars, no buses
The walk
Both schools are under ten minutes from the hall on foot. We walk children there in the morning and collect them at the bell, every school day.
At most8:1kids per adult
Kestrel Park Elementary
Bell at 8:45 am. Out at 2:55 pm.
Walk leader: Priya
6 minute walk
The hall
214 Linden Street, Nanaimo. Home base from 7:00 am to 5:45 pm.
Program lead: Marnie
9 minute walk
Alder Lane Elementary
Bell at 8:50 am. Out at 3:00 pm.
Walk leader: Dev
- Counted three timesAt the hall door, at the school gate, and again when we are back inside.
- Crossings onlyWe cross at lights and marked crosswalks, and a staff member stops at every one first.
- Wet is fineThe walk happens in the rain. Jackets and boots go in the bag between October and April.
- Icy or stormyIf it is too slippery or windy to walk safely, we text every family before 7:30 am so you can drive in.
In Canadian dollars
Monthly fees
One price per child, the same every month from September to June, with the walks included.
| Care | Fee per month |
|---|---|
| Before school7:00 am to the bell, walk to school included | $185a month |
| After schoolThe bell to 5:45 pm, walk back included | $325a month |
| Before and afterBoth for one child, $55 less than paying for each | $455a month |
Every price includes both walks, snacks, the homework corner, outdoor games and the craft table. Nothing is extra.
No school, still open
Pro-D days and spring break run from 7:00 am to 5:45 pm. Priced by the day, and your child brings a lunch.
Pro-D day
$58
Per child, per day
Spring break day
$62
Per child, per day, with an outing
- $40 registration, once per family.
- Fees are due on the 1st, by e-transfer.
- We are closed on statutory holidays, over winter break, and in July and August.
- Book Pro-D and spring break days a week ahead by phone or email, and we confirm by reply.
Straight answers
Questions
What if my child is sick?
Call or text before 7:30 am so we are not waiting for them at the door or the school gate. The monthly fee stays the same on sick days, with no credit for days missed.
If a child gets sick at the hall we phone you straight away and keep them in the quiet corner, with a staff member, until you arrive.
What if I am late at 5:45?
It is $15 for every 10 minutes after 5:45, per family. If you are stuck, call the hall. We would much rather know. If we cannot reach anyone, we phone the emergency contacts on your form.
What should my child pack?
A water bottle, a rain jacket and boots from October to April, a hat and sunscreen in spring, and spare socks. Name everything. We supply snacks. Lunch is only needed on Pro-D days and spring break days.
Do you take children younger than kindergarten?
No. Your child needs to be starting kindergarten or older. For younger children, a local child care centre is the right place.
Do you offer tutoring?
No. The homework corner is a quiet place to get it done with an adult nearby. If your child needs real tutoring, a tutor in town is the better answer, and their teacher can usually suggest one.
Can you drive my child to another activity?
No. We do not drive children anywhere. We walk to and from Kestrel Park and Alder Lane Elementary, and that is all.
Tell us who is coming
Save a spot
Fill this in and a staff member will call or email you to talk through the days, the walk and when your child can start.
