FAQ’S

  • What is the Brightwheel app?

    It is a childcare management software that integrates real-time communication between parents and teachers, photos throughout the day, reminders, emergency alerts, and so much more. It allows us to give parents the ease of knowing that they can contact teachers whenever they need and be able to see how their child is doing throughout the day.

  • Do I need to pack lunch for my child?

    Yes, we ask that all parents pack either snacks and/or lunches for their children, depending on the hours/program that they have selected. We do so to minimize any potential cross-contamination with food allergies, tolerances, or preferences. We are a peanut-free centre in all of our facilities as well.

  • Are you part of the Government Fee Reduction Initiative?

    Yes we are. We want to offer our parents as much assistance as we possibly can. The current fee reductions are as follows:

    • $545/month for ages 3-5
    • $900/month for infant/toddler (under the age of 3)
  • Do you accept Affordable Child Care Benefit Subsidy?

    Yes we do. However, we do ask that parents apply for the subsidy themselves and maintain their application status; month to month we will take care of the rest.

  • Are you open during school Pro-D Days?

    This is dependent on the centre. All of our centres that operate within elementary schools do follow the school’s Pro-D and Non-Instructional Days. However, all of our Daycare centres only recognize federal holidays (i.e. Family Day, Victoria Day, Good Friday, etc.). Our Daycare facilities also have different holidays for Christmas Break and Spring Break.

  • What are your holidays for Christmas, Spring Break, and Summer?

    Our holidays for each break that are within the public schools align with the school’s closure time. For our daycare facilities, the breaks vary depending on the year. All parents will be informed at the beginning of that school year.

  • Do you allow screen time?

    No we do not. Because our centres are more academically focused, we leave screen time for home and maximize work and playtime with our students within our facilities.

  • What does the process look like if I ever had to withdraw my child?

    We do require one month’s notice before a child leaves our program. Notice should be given on the first of the month to avoid being charged for the subsequent month. If a child is going to be withdrawn, we ask that parents give notice on the first of the month prior to withdrawal.

  • Is there a registration fee and when is it required?

    Yes we do have a non-refundable registration fee of $100; we also collect a deposit at the beginning of the year as well, which is equal to one month’s tuition. These are used to reserve a space at our centres and are non-fundable; we do not hold spaces for students without a registration fee and deposit. The deposit paid at the beginning is allocated towards the last month of the school year for parents; therefore, the deposit does get utilized

  • Do we have to pay tuition during December and March because of the breaks?

    Yes, you do. We do factor the closures in when we create our fee structure to account for the weeks lost for students. Additionally, we are not responsible for refunding monthly fees based on statutory holidays, family vacations, weather closures, or sick days. Full fee payment will be expected to maintain your child’s active status within our program.

Testimonials

“First Choice Montessori is the perfect name for this pre-school. It was definitely my First Choice in putting my daughter for full daycare when she was 3 years old and we weren’t disappointed. Ms. Brenda, Ms. Baljit, and Ms. Nitasha are top-notch as they made the Pre-school a lovely place to learn and grow. By the age of 5, my daughter had excelled in her academics that we had to put her in French Immersion Kindergarten as English Only wouldn’t have challenged her. The foundation that First Choice provided in those two years not only strengthen her social development, but effectively exposed her to reading, science, social studies, physical education, and music. First Choice Montessori’s goal is definitely to develop well-rounded kids while supporting a loving environment where my daughter was able to maximize her strengths and work on areas of weakness in a non-judgmental environment. There is no other pre-school that I would recommend but First Choice Montessori as I witnessed my daughter grow from a toddler to a child who now understands and appreciate cultural differences, enjoyed learning her ABCs, singing new songs, and coming home to tell me about her day and the new friends she made.”
FCMA Parent: Kulvit Chapman
“As a parent invested in my childrens’ education and learning from early on, I wanted to make sure the preschool they attended gave them a foundation that supported their academic, social and emotional growth. First Choice Montessori Preschool exceeded my expectations. All three of my kids benefited from attending First Choice and entered elementary school advanced, prepared and ready to learn. The staff are exceptionally kind, caring and patient. I only wish I knew about this preschool sooner when my first child turned three and I waited an extra year to start him in preschool but I am incredibly grateful that I discovered First Choice.”
FCMA Parent: Carrie Locke