Wesbrook Parent Participation Preschool

We love Wesbrook! The teachers are kind, caring and fun. The arts and music program is outstanding! Huge, bright classroom and the park across the street is good for daily outdoor time.

I love this school! The teacher, Jasmina, is enthusiastic and engaged and is so interested in the children; who they are and what they can accomplish. I believe my children are the kind, generous people that they are in large part due to what they have learned at Wesbrook. In addition, this school builds the most amazing community and lifelong friendships….both for my children and myself. It is truly a special place!

It's not easy finding a good play-based preschool. I have no words to express just how much I wish I found Wesbrook when my son was 2. The class starts outside across the street from the school. It's a sizeable play park with many different play areas. There is a shed full of trikes, a triple wagon and sand toys. The teachers often bring a new element of play outside (ie: tents, parachute, even setting up the sand area to dig up dino bones!). The teachers conduct head counts repeatedly during outdoor time. After an hour or so, earlier on music Tuesday's, the class walks in formation to the huge preschool room. A great deal of thought, organization and care goes into the indoor program. There's a new theme every month (ie: space, insects, etc). A new art or craft to do daily. What I love the most is how much Jasmina encourages discussion during story time and show and tell. In fact, what sets her way above other preschool teachers is how much she encourages communication between all the kids. I noticed immediately on the day I first checked out the school, the incredible difference between this group of kids compared to those of my previous preschools, and I have observed many different preschools in the city. I was truly impressed by the way the kids readily and respectfully communicated their needs, intentions and resolutions to conflict. Of course, the teachers would intervene on occasion but again, mostly to facilitate communication between the kids. Sometimes, Jasmina would have to find out what was bothering a child and then would walk the child over to the other child announcing that she had something to say. She would guide the discussion between the kids to the end. Sometimes, she would have to sit down with a child to discuss her actions. I have never seen a preschool teacher so actively guide children in communication. Children really need this hands-on guidance. Children can work out many conflicts on their own if given the chance, but not always. Jasmina will always provide guidance and modeling when needed. I have never known a teacher to know her kids as well as Jasmina knew her kids. I have never known a teacher to know what was going on in her classroom as much as Jasmina did. The preschool room is huge but not so huge that she can't keep a watchful eye on everything, which she does more than any other preschool teacher I have met. She's human, of course. She doesn't see absolutely everything and for anyone to expect it is unrealistic, but she catches most things. I have also never known a teacher to put so much care and thought into a preschool program. There are many field trips (ie: library, fire hall, beach days, UBC gym). The Mother's Day and Father's Day events are so lovely and wonderful, and a significant amount of work for the teachers. There is so much of a variety in the activities at Wesbrook compared to my previous preschools. My son has been around the block. He started at VSOCC and I pulled him out after a month. I pulled him out of Waldorf after 8 mos. He lasted 3 mos. at another PPP school. At each school, my son had bad experiences with another kid. By the time my son started at Wesbrook he was always intensely anxious and did not trust other kids at all. He started at Wesbrook in February. He trusted Jasmina and Ann. He came out of his shell during story time and show and tell, especially. He grew to trust some of the other kids. Kids would act out in this class, too, of course, but Jasmina was all over it. In just a few months, under Jasmina's vigilant influence, my son's anxiety started to ebb for the first time since he started preschool at 3 years of age. Jasmina is the teacher of the 3's class in the morning and 4's class in the afternoon. She has been teaching at Wesbrook for almost 20 years. You couldn't ask for a better, more loving, more experienced preschool teacher or a better program with so much variety in activities. I drove to Wesbrook from downtown. It was worth it.

Wesbrook Preschool is wonderful. The teachers are excellent and create a nurturing, fun-filled environment which really instills a love of learning. The facilities are bright and well-equipped and the parent community is fun. I can't say enough good things about it!

My son started his preschool experience in 2011 at Wesbrook in the 3's program, and has continued through the 4's class. This program has been very rewarding for him in a multitude of ways, and has been an invaluable experience for me as a parent. He is such a confident, happy and curious little man - very much supported and nurtured by the play-based learning program and the wonderful teachers at Wesbrook. I am grateful for the opportunity to be involved in his preschool education and social network - Parent Participation is definitely worth the (surprisingly manageable/flexible) time and effort. The location is wonderful - right beside a large park, which is used extensively by the program, and well integrated into the community. The indoor space is quite large compared to other preschools we "shopped", and the staff are both creative, affectionate, encouraging and supportive to students and parents. Bonus - being new to the area, I've also met some wonderful parents and made some lasting relationships myself! Thanks again Wesbrook Preschool - I know Kindergarten will be a much easier road to travel, with your influence under my son's belt!

Our family LOVES Wesbrook Preschool. We started at Wesbrook in 2012 and have really loved becoming involved in our son's education and the community. The school itself is fantastic with two large classrooms, a kitchen, and is located directly across the street from a playground that they visit often. The teachers approach each child as a unique individual, taking time to know how to best support each and every child. We truly love Wesbrook and look forward to being apart of the school for many years.

Our family has found Wesbrook preschool to be an incredible school for our children. Through Jasmina's careful and thoughtful teaching techniques she allows the children to express themselves, and helps them to discover new areas of learning, play and social fun. My kids could not wait to get to school, and never wanted to leave at home time. I would absolutely recommend this preschool to any parent considering it.

We love being a part of this parent involvement preschool. We remain super connected to my son and have found some amazing friends in a new community of families. Teacher Jasmina is a wealth of knowledge and experience. She was amazing at helping my cautious boy become comfortable in the classroom. It took us a few months but with patience, kindness and a slow approach we were able to leave our son for the morning class and he felt safe and happy being there. He was always very happy when my partner or I came for duty days but he felt safe in Jasmina's care when we were not there. Very excited to start the 4's class this fall.