Absolutely! There are a variety of jobs suited to different schedules and time commitments to allow flexibility around work schedules. The Class Rep schedules the Duty Roster in advance and is able to accommodate different scheduling requests.

Parents or other caregivers such as grandparents or nannies are welcome to do Duty Days. More than one adult per family may do Duty Days as long as requirements are met.

Sometimes things happen and a parent must miss a duty day. Often parents are able to switch duty days, or in case of an emergency, the class emergency parent can cover the duty day on short notice.

Sometimes children or parents get sick, and we encourage all children and parents who are sick to stay home until symptoms improve. If your child has diarrhea, please stay home until 24 hours has passed since the last incident. If you are unable to make your duty day, please contact other parents or the emergency parent to cover your day. Please call the school at 604-858-5579 to let the teacher know that you will not be in class that day.

Hobby Hill offers a brief maternity leave for new parents. During this time you are not required to do your duty days but are welcome to bring your baby to Parent Education meetings and any other preschool events.

Unfortunately, due to Licensing Requirements, only children enrolled in the program are able to be present during regular class times. However, parents are often willing to trade baby-sitting during duty days.

You can expect to do 2-3 Duty Days in the classroom per month, as well as your family job. Each job requires different time commitments and can be as simple as picking up a few supplies during your own grocery shop and submitting the receipt for reimbursement to being on the Executive Board and taking a more active role in running the school.

In addition to duty days, and a school job, parents attend a 2-hour long Parent Education meeting on the last Wednesday of every month.

Should a duty parent be unable to attend a Parent Education meeting, they will be given a missed meeting package. This may include watching a video or reading some material on the missed topic. Missed meetings must be made up within a week of the meeting being missed.

Some children find it harder to be away from their caregivers than others. Our teachers are very compassionate and will work with you to make your child feel comfortable and secure in the classroom. This varies for each child, but please be assured that we will find a solution that works for your family.

Our classes at Hobby Hill are inclusive to everyone and our teachers are happy to work with parents and aides to provide the best experience for your child. When registering, please inform us of any needs that your child has so that we can put a plan in place for the beginning of the school year. However, due to the heritage nature of our building, we may not be able to accommodate certain physical considerations.

We encourage all children to be potty trained before entering our program while understanding that all children achieve this milestone in their own way in their own time.

Prior to the first day of class, we ask that parents provide a full change of clothes and a pair of indoor shoes to be kept in their child’s cubby. We also ask parents and children to create a special collage to put up in their child’s cubby; the students love to show off their collages to one another and it gives them a special piece of home to keep at preschool. Teachers also require an individual and family photo for program use. Any prescription medications may need to be considered as well.

Yes!

During non-COVID times, Students, teachers, and Duty Parents all sit together at the tables and share a snack brought by the day’s Duty Families. We are careful of any allergies and dietary restrictions: information is shared and posted.

During COVID each child brings their own snack and water bottle.