Our Staff
Little Friends Nursery Centre has high quality, caring and committed staff. Each room has a primary teacher and a teaching assistant. Current criminal record checks and vulnerable sector searches are completed for all staff. In addition, staff must maintain a minimum Level I childcare certification and First Aid/CPR certification.
Karen Singleton – Playschool Teacher
Karen Singleton joined Little Friends as the Playschool Teacher in 2010. She has a long history with Little Friends. All three of her children, David, Mark, and Kate, attended all three programs. Karen also served on the parent board and worked as the assistant in the Toddler Room. Karen taught junior high school, but her love for preschoolers prompted her five years as a Kindermusik instructor and recent preschool teaching experiences.
Bonnie Engler – Playroom Teacher
Bonnie began her teaching role at little Friends in 2004. After obtaining her Bachelor of Education degree, with a major in Special Education, she taught for over ten years, exploring a variety of education career opportunities, including Kindergarten. Bonnie provides a soft, gentle transition toward more structured learning.
Kelly Petryk – Toddler Room Teacher
Kelly and her family have lived in Crestwood for the past 17 years. She has two sons, Max (15) and Renn (13), who both attended Little Friends Preschool. Kelly has participated with the school as a parent, board member and teacher in the Toddler Room for 2 years. She completed her education degree at the University of Alberta. The last 15 years were mostly spent raising her two boys, and volunteering in the community. She is excited to be back at Little Friends this year assisting with the play school program and looking forward to a wonderful year!
Marie Ulliac – Playroom Assistant & Toddler Room Assistant (Fri)
Marie has been with our program since 2008. Through the Edmonton Catholic school system she gained experience working as a teaching assistant, mainly with Kindergarten and special needs students. Marie’s history with Little Friends extends back to the late 1980’s when her own children attended the program.
Lisa Clarke – Toddler Room Assistant (Tues, Wed, and Thur)
Lisa joined our staff in 2016. She lived in Parkview for 11 years and recently moved to Lewis Estates. She has worked in child care for over 20 years in Ontario and Alberta. She graduated in 1992 with an early childhood education degree and has worked in several child care settings from a junior kindergarten to a preschool classroom.
Ashleigh Bit – Playschool Assistant (Mon, Wed and Fri)
Ashleigh is the assistant in the Playschool room and joined little friends in 2019. She holds her Level 1 in Childcare and is currently working towards her Early Learning and Childcare Diploma. Ashleigh has lots of experience working with children and loves all ages of early education. When Ashleigh isn’t busy with school, she enjoys getting outside, reading and drinking tea.
What is Expected of My Child & I?
For a detailed explanation please download our Polices & Procedures Handbook
Behaviour
Students are expected to observe basic respect for others. No rough physical contact or verbal abuse is tolerated. All families will sign a conduct policy agreement.
Arrival/Departure
Students are expected to arrive for class on time and be picked up immediately after class finishes. Late students will be admitted to the classroom at the teachers’ discretion. Please be courteous and remove all wet or dirty shoes before going on the stairs. The children are required to use these stairs to access the gym so we want them kept as clean as possible.
Participation
In a normal school year, all families contribute to Little Friends by fulfilling one volunteer position per enrolled child over the school year. This year, Toddler Room families will be expected to provide new playdough for their child weekly. Due to Covid-19, all in class parent participation has been suspended until further notice. The board and teachers may require volunteer positions that would be independent of classroom participation.
Snack
This year, snack for all classrooms will be provided by the board and funded in part by social fees. The snack must include two food groups, cannot be homemade and must be brought in whole. Some examples of snack include:
- Mini-fruit or bran muffins, banana, date or applesauce breads
- Digestive biscuits, Arrowroot cookies, animal crackers
- Cheese sticks and crackers, any bite size (fish crackers are often a favorite)
- Fruit (e.g. banana, pear, apple, etc)
Vegetables, such as carrot or celery sticks, are unsuitable. Cupcakes, Rice Krispies squares, chocolate and other sweets should be limited to special occasions. No snacks containing nuts, peanuts, peanut butter or nut oil flavouring If your child has a food allergy, it is important to indicate such on your registration form and inform the Registrar and Roster Board Member.
Roster Duty
There is no Roster Duty this term due to Covid-19.
Field Trips
Field trips are cancelled due to Covid-19. Teachers will be encouraging gross motor play outdoors, and will give advance notice. Please dress your child appropriately for warm or cold weather. Teachers will ensure that students are dressed in whatever items they were sent with that day (i.e.: hat, mitts, scarf, snow pants).
Potty Training
All children in the Toddler Room are required to wear diapers or pull-ups. Many students are in midst of toilet training, but it takes time to get to the bathrooms. Please ensure the backpack contains a minimum of 3 diapers/pull ups and an extra change of clothing.
ABOUT US
Little Friends is located in the Christian Education Wing of St. Andrew’s United Church at 9915 148 Street, Edmonton, Alberta
admin@littlefriendsedm.com
Access to the Nursery Centre is through the doors on the east side of the building (147th Street). We occupy rooms twelve and fourteen.
The Playschool runs
Monday, Wednesday & Friday mornings from 9:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The Playroom runs
Tuesday & Thursday mornings from 9:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The Toddler Room runs
Tuesday through Friday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. (1 or 2 times a week)
Little Friends Nursery Centre Society 2020 – 2021 Board of Directors
President: Laura Butcher
Vice-President: Gina Bit
Treasurer: Jaira Grover
Registrar: Shyloe Slatter
Personnel: Erin Kirby
Communications: Lindsay Kristiansen
Church Liaison: Marianne Lund
Roster: Kyra Leuschen
Supplies: Bethia Faragini
Special Events: Natasha Woolsey
Volunteer Coordinator: Sarah Shurraw
Members at Large: Carla White, Jenni Varughese, Kristen Priestner, Delina Stephen
