About Us
Rio Terrace Community Preschool is a warm and welcoming space where each child’s natural curiosity is encouraged to blossom through play and exploration. Our dedicated and engaging teachers passionately create environments, experiences, and opportunities for the preschoolers that spark engagement and wonder. By implementing the Flight early learning framework, we provide our mighty learners with a comprehensive play-based education that encourages creativity and fosters holistic growth.
What Makes Our Program Special?
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Two enthusiastic and experienced preschool teachers with specialized diplomas in early childhood education, bringing expertise and a deep understanding of child development to all of our programs.
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A bright and sunny classroom filled with natural light, featuring an indoor climbing wall and slide for active play.
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Emergent and play-based learning inspired by the Flight framework, fostering creativity and exploration.
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A large outdoor playground and a full-sized indoor gym, providing diverse spaces for movement and play.
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Plenty of opportunities for outdoor play and exploration, connecting children with nature and the world around them.
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A parent co-operative that values collaboration, community, and active involvement in our preschool environment.
We’re more than a school—we’re a community.
Through play, children at Rio Terrace Community Preschool explore, imagine, and create while building critical skills and developing a deep love of learning. Whether engaging in music, stories, STEM, outdoor experiences or art, play is at the heart of everything we do. Families and teachers collaborate to create a safe, welcoming, and inspiring environment where every child can thrive. Through hands-on experiences and active exploration, children connect new ideas to their own interests and experiences, building confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning
Spaces are available!
Come and discover an amazing, supportive environment for your child to learn and grow!
Your Role
Parents play a vital role in our cooperative preschool, taking on key tasks like fundraising, advertising, and classroom support. Every five weeks, parents join as “special helpers,” connecting with their child’s classmates and seeing their growth firsthand. Our parent-run model fosters a strong community and ensures the best experience for our children. Thank you for being part of our preschool family!
To better understand your role and how the preschool operates, please read our Parent Handbook below:
Our Teachers
Teacher: Julianna Van Soest
(Ms. Jules)
I have always loved to sing, play, and imagine. For the past 20 years, I worked in Toronto and then Edmonton, teaching children of all ages in drama, music, and musical theatre. Being a SAHM to my own children inspired me to go back to school and learn about early childhood education. I graduated last year with honors from Norquest College with a diploma in Early Learning and Childcare and was fortunate to do my working practicum with the incredible educators at Jasper Place Family Resource Centre.
I am passionate about the field of early learning and believe strongly in the power of play to support young children to grow and learn. Children are naturally curious and eager to learn about the world around them, and at preschool, we create environments and opportunities to engage and create wonder for these mighty learners. By providing developmentally suitable, hands-on, and meaningful play experiences, children are actively honing essential social, emotional, cognitive, and physical skills. These experiences foster their growth and serve as the foundation for their success as lifelong learners.
I center my practice around attachment theory, emphasizing the cultivation of strong connections with children to support their learning and well-being. Respecting the ideas, needs, and feelings of every child is of utmost importance to me.
I am the proud mom of two lovely little humans, James and Cooper. In Edmonton’s warmer seasons, we love to camp, bike ride, and explore the outdoors. In colder weather, you might find us cuddled under fuzzy blankets, reading books, playing board games, or in epic Lego battles with my husband, Dave. I still love to sing and play ukulele or piano. I have two silly kitties named Luna and Nova. Their favorite thing to climb is the Christmas tree!
Assistant Teacher: Jeni Muddle
(Ms. Jeni)
I have my degree in Elementary Education from the University of Alberta, I worked in the school system before I had my children teaching kindergarten, grade 2, 4, and 5. In 2020 I started teaching again but this time in playschool teaching the 3- and 4-year-old programs over
in Callingwood.
I have always worked with children whether it has been teaching, coaching or running camps. Currently I coach Karate out of the Derrick Club.
I have four children of my own they are 22, 20, 17 and 13. As a family we love to hike, ski, swim and bike, if its outside we will do it. I look forward to working and exploring this year with the students and families of Rio Terrace Playschool.