SCHOOL DISTRICT5SOUTHEASTKOOTENAY

Early Learning and Child Care

Welcome to Kindergarten activities are planned each May & June and are separate from Ready, Set, Learn events. For more information and dates, contact your local neighbourhood school. 

Parents and caregivers will receive helpful tips for supporting their preschooler's learning and development. They will also be given information about local services available. 

Four-year-olds, those children who will be entering Kindergarten in September 2026, will be invited to Kindergarten Orientation at their neighbourhood school in spring 2026.

Helpful links

Our Early Years Learning Community is a great source of resources for you and your family.


Child Care

School District No. 5 (Southeast Kootenay) works in partnership with local, third-party providers to offer after-school care programs in several of our schools. School District No. 5 does not operate these programs. If you are interested, please see below for each child care centre's contact for more information on programming.

Just 4 Kids (Group School Aged Care)just-4-kids.8c7a3017201.png

  • Located at Highlands Elementary School, 3300 - 7th Street S. Cranbrook.
  • Operated by Community Connections Society of Southeast BC
  • For more information or to register your child, please contact Candice Bennett at j4k@ccssebc.com or Nancy Reid at executivedirector@ccssebc.com 

Stay and Play (School Aged Care)stay-n-play.977bf917203.jpg

  • Located at Gordon Terrace Elementary School, 1200 - 5th Avenue S. Cranbrook
  • Operated by Stay n' Play Association
  • For more information, please contact Corra Scoville at gt.staynplay@gmail.com

Steeples Clubhouse (School Aged Care)cranbrook-steeples-clubhouse.f0dde417200.png

  • Located at Steeples Elementary School, 700 - 24th Ave. N. Cranbrook 
  • Operated by Cranbrook Boys & Girls Club
  • For more information, please contact Christine Harvey at christine@bgc.cranbrook.ca 
  • To get on the Interest List, please email Jessica Wilke at admin@bgccranbrook.ca

 TM Twisters Before and Afterschool Progam (School Aged Care)

  • Located at T.M. Roberts Elementary School, 10 Wattsville Rd. Cranbrook
  • Operated by Stay n' Play Association
  • For more information, please contact Corra Scoville at tm.staynplay@gmail.com

Griz Kids Care (School Aged Care)

  • Located at Rocky Mountain Elementary School, 2500 A Balmer Dr. Elkford
  • Operated by Elkford Women's Task Force Society
  • For more information, please contact Kim Bauer by email at ewtf@telus.net or by phone at 250-865-2031

Bright Beginnings Preschoolbright-beginnings-fernie-child-care-society.2376ab17202.jpg

  • Located at the Fernie Learning Centre, 1602 2nd Ave. Fernie 
  • Operated by Fernie Child Care Society
  • For more information, please contact Stacey Bell by email at brightbeginningsferniebc@gmail.com or by phone at 778-519-5288

Elk Valley Kids Club (Group School Age Care)elk_valley_kids_club_logo-002.d26a2117214.png

  • Located at Fernie Learning Centre, 1602 2nd Ave. Ferniev
  • Operated by Elk Valley Kids' Club Society 
  • For more information, please contact Mandy McArdle-Potter at elkvalleykidsclub@gmail.com 
  • Find them on Facebook

South Country Preschool

  • Located at Jaffray Elementary School (portable), 7355 Jaffray Village Loop Rd. Jaffray
  • Operated by Fernie Women's Resource Centresouth-country-kids-care.7638cb17215.png
  • For more information, please contact Nicky Benzie at nicky@ferniewomenscentre.com

South Country Programs (School Aged Care)

  • Located at Jaffray Elementary School, 7355 Jaffray Village Loop Rd. Jaffray
  • For more information, please contact Krista Damstrom at southcountryspc@gmail.com 

Sparwood Treehouse Daycaretreehouse-logo-002.b2d92d17204.png