Back-to-School Guide

Banbury Crossroads School, established 1979, is the oldest self-directed learning school in Calgary. We offer collaborative education from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12, with class sizes averaging eight students per teacher. We value mutual respect, communication, and understanding rights and responsibilities. Our students learn to mastery, and work in vertically-mixed age groupings. We excel at meeting students’ individual needs, and we develop self-confident learners who are competent, resilient, and motivated. Choose to Succeed at Banbury Crossroads School!

The Calgary Classical Academy is a new tuition-free, public charter school opening September 2022 in the Bridgeland neighborhood near downtown Calgary. We offer an academically rigorous, traditional liberal arts education focused on nurturing a love of truth and beauty. Ours is a community of learning and friendship, in which we preserve the wisdom of the past, cultivate it today, and build upon it for future generations.

Offering preschool, Kindergarten, and Grades 1 through 9. Central to Waldorf education is a deep respect for childhood. Our enriched curriculum is designed to meet children’s specific developmental needs. Movement and time in nature is built into every student’s daily rhythm. The Waldorf learning experience is hands-on, with low-tech classrooms. The arts - music, story, drawing, painting, and drama - are interwoven through all subjects. Students learn two world languages: French and German.

Grades 1 to 12 traditional home education, blended, and teacher-directed learning. Full-time, part-time, or upgrading – with over 180 courses to choose from, we can find the right fit for you! Visit us at goldenhillslearningacademy.com for more information on our programs. The freedom to learn, anytime, anywhere.

TEACHING BOYS – the Way Boys Learn. North Point School for Boys taps into boys’ natural curiosity and energy as a foundation for lifelong learning. A strong academic program is just the beginning. We fuel motivation through real-life learning, digital platforms, our trademark 5R character philosophy, fine arts, and outdoor adventure in order to foster well-rounded, self-motivated learners. This Kindergarten to Grade 9 program is enhanced through our engineering education, financial education, and optional academies such as PEP hockey, soccer, baseball, volleyball, arts, drama and dance.

TEACHING GIRLS – Building Confidence, Discovering Passions. North Point School for Girls is an environment that celebrates girls’ strengths and interests, and nurtures their overall growth within a culture of achievement where discovery and development of a girl’s individual potential is paramount. A strong academic program is just the beginning. We fuel motivation through real-life learning, digital platforms, our trademark 5R character philosophy, fine arts, and outdoor adventure in order to foster well-rounded, self-motivated learners. This Grade 4-9 program is enhanced through our engineering education, financial education, and optional academies such as PEP hockey, soccer, baseball, volleyball, arts, drama and dance.

Phoenix Education Foundation is an Alberta-accredited private, non-profit, independent school. Phoenix engages kindergarten to Grade 9 students in parent-directed or school-directed programming to fulfill the Alberta Education curriculum. Phoenix offers Alberta’s only Kindergarten program for homeschooling families, BlendEd, and home education options for Grades 1 to 9, and ‘In-the-Scene’ classes in the Creation Studio, giving students immersive instruction in science, math, language arts, social studies, and fine arts.

River Valley School is an inclusive independent school providing exceptional education and character development to children in preschool (age three) to Grade 6. Students are immersed in play, inquiry, and project-based learning that challenges them to question, explore, and create! Our adaptive model of educational delivery supports different learning styles to ensure that each individual student flourishes.

Rundle is a private, post-secondary preparatory, co-ed, day school. Small class sizes, an enriched curriculum, and diverse co-curricular opportunities are pillars of our three distinct academic programs: the College (K to 12), Academy (4 to 12), and virtual Studio (7 to 9). Our Academy and Studio programs specialize in teaching students with diagnosed learning disabilities and/or ADHD.

Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School (STS) inspires compassionate, curious, and creative global citizens who lead with courage. Situated on a 220-acre country campus near Calgary, STS offers academic excellence as one of Alberta’s only full Kindergarten to Grade 12 International Baccalaureate (IB) independent schools. STS offers a rich learning environment where students can expect more, including small class sizes, integrated learning, over 90 co-curricular activities, city-wide bussing, and scholarships in unique, rural surroundings.

Use your free Calgary Public Library card for access to programs, books, movies, music, eBooks, audiobooks, and online resources for the entire family. Students can access free online tutoring with Brainfuse, prepare for tests and final exams with Solaro, and receive personalized, librarian-endorsed book recommendations from Beanstack. Head to your nearest library location for free drop-in programs including School Support, where trained volunteers help with language arts and math assignments, and Math Quest, where students explore the library while completing numeracy challenges.

Foothills Academy offers a full-time school program for students with learning disabilities from Grades 3 to 12. We provide targeted support in literacy, numeracy, and executive functioning for each student while also covering the full Alberta Education curriculum in small classes and in a supportive environment. A wide range of year-round outreach programs and services are open to the broader community, including assessments, individual literacy instruction, social skills programs, recreation, and more.

The G.R.I.T. program is a non-profit home and community-based early childhood program for young children with disabilities.

The Learning Disabilities & ADHD Network provides free resources and helpful, reliable information for individuals with a Learning Disability and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), as well as for those who live, play, and work with them. The Network is a collaborative group which fosters action towards meeting the needs of people with LD/ADHD. This non-profit operates through Foothills Academy and is supported by the Calgary Foundation. We're here to help!

New Heights School & Learning Services is a registered charitable organization and a Designated Special Education Private School. We opened our doors in 1999 to 12 students in our preschool and early intervention programs, with the simple goal of giving families a safe and friendly community to support their needs and build their capacity. Our goal is to equip each student with the skills they need to engage in and contribute to the community around them.

Providence offers two unique Alberta Education-funded program streams: those based in our own six schools across Calgary and those based in approved community preschools or child care programs (our LEARN Program). Both programs are designed to support children identified with a delay or disability from ages two years and eight months to six. To attend, a child must qualify for special education funding (Program Unit Funding (PUF).

Rundle is a private, post-secondary preparatory, co-ed, day school. Small class sizes, an enriched curriculum, and diverse co-curricular opportunities are pillars of our three distinct academic programs: the College (K to 12), Academy (4 to 12), and virtual Studio (7 to 9). Our Academy and Studio programs specialize in teaching students with diagnosed learning disabilities and/or ADHD.

Fueling Brains Academy is an award-winning daycare and preschool that accepts infants and children up to kindergarten-age. We offer parents a safe, clean, caring environment with a strong educational program, based on the latest in brain development research. Our learning environments encourage the wonderment of play, physical movement, and social interaction. Our educational approach integrates right brain, left brain, and movement learning into a program designed to build strong, healthy, whole-brain children. There are seven locations in Calgary and one in Strathmore.

Kids@ Churchill Park is proudly in our 51st year of offering accountable, trust-based early learning and child care to Calgary families. With eight different programs in the city, we have options for everyone including part-time care, out of school care, and Family Day Home options. Kids@ Churchill Park has been Calgary’s best-kept secret for over 50 years! Join our family and experience the difference that loving and compassionate care makes.

We believe that children are inspired & engaged through child care professionals that support their development at an individual level. Maple Roots can provide the opportunities and emotional support to achieve these inspirations in a collaborative approach.

Banbury Crossroads School, established 1979, is the oldest self-directed learning school in Calgary. We offer collaborative education from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12, with class sizes averaging eight students per teacher. We value mutual respect, communication, and understanding rights and responsibilities. Our students learn to mastery, and work in vertically-mixed age groupings. We excel at meeting students’ individual needs, and we develop self-confident learners who are competent, resilient, and motivated. Choose to Succeed at Banbury Crossroads School!

Offering preschool, Kindergarten, and Grades 1 through 9. Central to Waldorf education is a deep respect for childhood. Our enriched curriculum is designed to meet children’s specific developmental needs. Movement and time in nature is built into every student’s daily rhythm. The Waldorf learning experience is hands-on, with low-tech classrooms. The arts - music, story, drawing, painting, and drama - are interwoven through all subjects. Students learn two world languages: French and German.

A Calgary’s Child Parents’ Choice Award winner for “Best Preschool” and “Honorable Mention” for 14 years! We offer STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math), Jolly Phonics, Learning Without Tears curriculum, weekly music classes, science experiments with Captain Science, Spanish classes, daily gym equipment and games, creative movement, and yoga. Our literacy-rich program includes an Author of the Month study, author readings, journaling, and a home reading program. We have a monthly virtues program, environmental awareness program, outdoor education, cultural and art presentations, and class field trips. Register for two-day preschool (for three year olds); two-, three-, or five-day Jr. Kindergarten (for four year olds); or Kindergarten.

Fueling Brains Academy is an award-winning daycare and preschool that accepts infants and children up to kindergarten-age. We offer parents a safe, clean, caring environment with a strong educational program, based on the latest in brain development research. Our learning environments encourage the wonderment of play, physical movement, and social interaction. Our educational approach integrates right brain, left brain, and movement learning into a program designed to build strong, healthy, whole-brain children. There are seven locations in Calgary and one in Strathmore.

Our preschool has been established for more than 30 years. We offer a learning through play program for 3- to 5-year-olds, offering two, three, and five half-day programs. Caring, qualified teachers (two teachers per class) provide a happy, stimulating environment for children to learn and play. We offer a non-volunteer program, but parents are always welcome in our bright and cheerful classroom. We supply a healthy snack and water. The facility is equipped with a large gym, where we play games and use a variety of gym equipment for the last 15 minutes of every class. A Subsidy Program is available.

Heart Smart Montessori, a dynamic pre-school program, gives your child all that is needed to unlock their full potential. Based on Dr. Maria Montessori’s ‘Help to Life’ method, the environment is carefully prepared to nurture and enhance your child’s joy of mastering basic academic, practical life, social, motor, and artistic skills.

Pinpoint your child's unique academic needs. A scientifically valid learning profile assessment opens the door to your child’s mind and provides actionable insight through a personalized coaching program that will lead to life-changing outcomes both in and out of the classroom. With a focus on skills as opposed to curriculum, we teach your child HOW to learn. Executive Function Coaching available for kids, adults, and everyone in between. Discount for parents with children enrolled in coaching.

We offer preschool and Jr. Kindergarten programs for children ages three and four. Since children explore, discover, and learn through play, we offer an enriched environment for this exploration. Our programs include music and movement, gym time, crafts, sand/water tables, numerous play-based centers, and much more! For more information, visit our website. Voted Best Preschool by parents in the 2018, 2019, and 2020 Parents’ Choice Awards.

We are a non-profit, community-based preschool with Christian values offering an affordable and well-rounded program for children from 33 months to five years old. We believe that a balance of child-directed and purposeful play helps children grow and develop.

A unique, innovative, and integrative approach to early childhood education for children ages two to six featuring literacy, math, science and STEM, arts education, nature play, gym and outdoor stewardship. Our program combines the best of the early childhood methods of Montessori, Reggio, and Gardner Multiple Intelligences Theory. Small class sizes, qualified and experienced staff, beautifully appointed classroom environment, and a comprehensive and enriched curriculum are hallmarks of our approach. Our integrative education program prepares children for life!

Programming includes Kindergarten, half-day Kindergarten Enhancement, and Out of School Care. Please check the website and choose the school location for specific programs available. Pre-Kindergarten is a three to five-year-old program combining play with learning. We nurture emergent literacy and each class includes music, large motor movement opportunity, circle time, and center time in our well-equipped and child-centered classrooms. Kindergarten Enhancement is an early literacy part-time program which combines with the child’s Kindergarten schedule to create five full school days each week. Out of School Care is for children in Kindergarten to Grade 6.

River Valley School is an inclusive independent school providing exceptional education and character development to children in preschool (age 3) to Grade 6. Students are immersed in play, inquiry, and project-based learning that challenges them to question, explore, and create! Our adaptive model of educational delivery supports different learning styles to ensure that each individual student flourishes.

Educating preschoolers for 32 years, The Think Sun Preschool offers an enriched learning program including art, music, play, and intro-French. The playroom is a vital part of the program and is where your child will develop social, decision-making, and independent judgment skills and have fun while learning. Your child will graduate as a confident learner prepared to read and write, ready for Kindergarten. Registration is ongoing. Virtual Tours and Zoom meetings are available.

At TRAIL Kids, and within our preschool group, we view each child as a Mighty Learner. Current neuroscience indicates that engaging children in interactive, meaningful, and socially interactive playful learning experiences sets them up for future success. Our holistic view of early learning encourages fundamental development with equal focus placed on physical, social, cognitive, creative, and emotional skills.

Help your child experience the fun of learning in one of our preschool programs. We offer multi-day programs where children enjoy play-based learning activities which encompass all developmental areas; some even include a weekly swim lesson. Single-day experiences are also offered which provide you and your child the opportunity to play and learn together. Relationships form the foundation of all that occurs within our preschool programs with children learning about YMCA Calgary’s four core values of honesty, caring, respect and responsibility. Time at the YMCA helps young children build important social and physical foundational skills, value an active and healthy lifestyle, and have a positive, safe place to belong and grow!

It’s not uncommon for parents to believe they will know if their child has a vision problem. However, vision and eye health issues can be hard to spot, particularly if there is a problem in only one eye. As 80 percent of learning is visual, annual comprehensive eye exams with your doctor of optometry are recommended and there is Alberta Health coverage available towards these eye exams. Use the “Find an Optometrist” search tool on our website to locate an optometrist close to you.

Early detection of tooth, jaw, and bite problems is essential for ensuring your child’s dental health. No referral is required, and consultations are Free. At Brooke Orthodontics, we are doing our part to keep Calgary’s children healthy - One Smile At A Time.

Are you concerned about your child’s social, emotional, or behavioral wellbeing? Are you looking for concrete ways to help your child thrive? If so, our team of experts can help! We provide full psychoeducational and gifted assessments for children and adults, play therapy (ages three to six), and personalized counseling services for the whole family. Call our client care team today to book a complimentary consultation or first appointment. No referral needed, and no waitlist.

Learning French is fun with Alliance Francaise! Whether your kids are complete beginners or can already converse in French, they will enjoy the friendly atmosphere and the diverse activities. Small group sizes allow for more interaction and the communicative approach will immerse kids into the language with lively activities. These classes are available for children from three to 16 years and they are designed to develop fluency and confidence in French!

Lycée International de Calgary is the city’s premier private French school (preschool to Grade 12). We are the only school in Calgary to teach the French Ministry of Education and Alberta Education curricula, offering students a unique bilingual education. No prior French experience needed to enroll in our preschool, kindergarten, and French Language Intensive Program (Grades 1 to 2).

The Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) is the largest Catholic school district in Alberta, serving over 56,000 students in 117 schools located in Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane, Chestermere and Rocky View County. CCSD educates and empowers students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 through its mission of Living and Learning in our Catholic Faith, so that students, centered in Christ, realize their full potential. Contact your nearest CCSD school to register. All families are encouraged to inquire.

Conseil scolaire FrancoSud operates 15 Francophone schools throughout Southern Alberta, eight of them being in Calgary. We offer Francophone public and Francophone Catholic education from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Furthermore, bus transportation is free and we provide full-time Kindergarten. Registrations are open at all times, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us or with one of our schools! 

Want to start school in September? It’s not too late! MaKami is still accepting registrations for: massage therapy, business administration, medical office assistant, health care aide, and more! Flexible schedules with online and in-class options available. Enroll in one of MaKami College’s programs this September and pay no registration dates or tuition deposit fees. Why wait? Start your future now at MaKami College.

Alberta grown since 1994, we at Amaranth Whole Foods have been fueled by our vision to create an inclusive health food store where making the best choice for your families health and local communities go hand in hand.

At Beaners Fun Cuts, our experienced stylists give the whole family great hair in a fun-filled atmosphere. Maybe it’s the themed chairs, movie screens or the fun extras like braids, color spray or clipper art, but we love kids, and they love us. We also offer ear piercing, up-dos, specialty braiding, baby’s first haircut, and professional hair care products. Book online at one of our three Calgary locations. Experience our haircuts!

Located in Northwest Calgary, Country Hills Village is your neighborhood shopping centre. Our convenient location makes it easy for you to shop, dine, or take care of you and your household with a variety of professional and health services. Choose Country Hills Village Shopping Centre to help make life a little simpler.

We bring you great prices on your favorite products and services all together under one roof. Discover our great quality and variety of foods, stylish products for your home, and a complete pharmacy to serve all of your family’s needs.