Handbook for Parents
The Dusk’a caregivers’ handbook provides you with all the information you need to know about applying to Dusk’a, and ensuring both your child and your family get the most out of their time at the centre.
We are Kwanlin Dün
The Dusk’a caregivers’ handbook provides you with all the information you need to know about applying to Dusk’a, and ensuring both your child and your family get the most out of their time at the centre.
Kwanlin Dün citizens have priority over all other applicants, regardless of when they apply. Other First Nations have second priority according to date of application.
If there are vacancies, potential students are assigned a spot at Dusk’a based on Kwanlin Dün First Nation citizenship and date of birth (as of December 31).
If there are no vacancies in the appropriate age group, applicants are put on a waiting list.
Students are placed in one of three classes: eighteen months to three years old; three years old; or four years old. Classroom shifts occur in September when the five-year-old children leave for Kindergarten.
Once a child has been placed in a program, they will not be removed regardless of citizenship.
Before enrolling, parents or caregivers are required to have a mini-conference with Dusk’a staff to go through our admission procedures and fill out registration forms. All parents are required to re-apply every year. Each year your child’s application will go to a panel for admission.
Registration is only valid for the year from September to August. Registration begins each year in August.
Toddlers (18 months to 3 years old)
Full-time: $622
Special needs full-time: $688
Preschool (3 or 4 years old)
Full-time: $578
Special needs full-time: $688
Children must be picked up by 5:15 pm, otherwise a late fee of $1 per minute past 5:15 will be charged. For example, if you pick up your child at 5:25 pm you will be charged a $10 late pick-up fee.
Our centre has a monthly newsletter to take home. This is to keep you updated on planned events for the month. Please feel free to submit any community events that you would like to share with other families in the centre.
The centre often holds fundraising events. We are always seeking new ideas and donations of items to help with fundraising to promote fun, educational programming and encourage the volunteer spirit!
It is the responsibility of parents or caregivers to pay fees on time, to ensure the subsidy is up to date, and to sign the subsidy forms and return them to the manager.
It is important to ensure that your child arrives by 9:45 for their learning sessions. Late arrivals are disruptive to the class. Arrive at the centre at the same time daily to ensure an easy transition, routine and familiarity for your child.
Your child needs appropriate clothing for the weather and season. In the spring and fall, provide rubber boots, a warm jacket and splash pants. In the summer, provide sun screen and hats. In the winter, provide a hat, mitts, and boots and snow pants. Your child’s health and safety depend on it. While you arrange to provide your child with these clothing, Dusk’a provides extra clothing.
Labelling your child’s clothing can ensure their clothing do not get lost, misplaced or make their way home with another child.
Your child needs extra clothing every week. Bring prescribed medications in original packaging such as inhalers or Epi-pens and diapers or pull-ups as needed.
Leave all toys at home, as the toy may get lost. High sugared snacks brought for your child will be left in their cubby.
Keep your file updated and communicate changes with the manager. It is a child care regulation violation when files are not up to date. The centre relies solely on the information provided by you, the caregiver, when attempting to contact you in an emergency situation.
We encourage you to participate in your child’s learning. You can ask a teacher or a staff member about the development of your child at any time. You may also ask the teacher about the weekly and monthly planning for your child’s class. We encourage you to share talents such as sewing, beading, cooking with the children. Come in for a visit anytime!
Our centre has policies in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of your child and our staff that can be found in the policy manual in the offices.
Staff will not release a child to anyone that is not on the approved pick up list, unless we receive a written or verbal authorization from the child’s caregiver. The staff at Dusk’a will request that your file be updated with a new contact for your child when new people are approved to pick up your child.
Please do not send your child to the centre if they have a communicable disease such as head lice, scabies or diarrhea until the infection is cleared by a doctor’s note. It is a health and safety policy to prevent spreading of infection to other children and staff. In the event that a child has one symptom of a communicable disease, then the parent or caregiver will be called to pick up their child.
If your child is too sick to participate in daily activities, then your child is too sick to come to the centre. You will be called by staff to pick up your child. For instance, with signs of flu or a fever of 100 degrees or more, we will call you and ask that you pick up your child.
Our staff will not take the children outside to play if the weather is below –20 degrees, including wind chill.
It is very important for the parent or caregiver to sign their child into and out of the centre. We use this information to keep track of your child’s attendance and to ensure everyone is accounted for if there were to be an emergency.