Early Learning Program

ELP classrooms are available at all six elementary schools in the Medicine Hat Catholic School Division.

• St. Louis School
• St. Michael's School
• St. Patrick's School
• Mother Teresa School
• St. Francis Xavier School 
• Ecole St. John Paul II School

All programs will be 5 day/week half-day programs starting in the 2025-2026 school year. 

Students will be registered for 5 mornings OR 5 afternoons, mornings and afternoons cannot be mixed or combined. 

The cost per month will be $230 per child.

Early Learning Program fees are subject to change based on Alberta Child Care Licensing regulations, government funding, and other applicable provincial guidelines.

2025-2026 ELP will be a standard 5 day a week half-day program (mornings OR afternoons), costing families a total of $230/month with Alberta grants and subsidies already applied. 

ELP fees will continue to be managed and paid monthly through School Cash Online. 

Early Learning Program fees are subject to change based on Alberta Child Care Licensing regulations, government funding, and other applicable provincial guidelines.

Children aged 3-5 can enroll in ELP! Children must be 3 years old and potty trained by the first day of school.

Children in ½ day Kindergarten can register for ½ day ELP for a full day of learning and fun at school!

Medicine Hat Catholic’s Early Learning Programs offer an affordable, accessible start to your child’s educational journey—all within a nurturing, faith-based environment. Enrolling your child in school-based ELP comes with many benefits, including:

• Smooth Transition to Kindergarten – Students learn routines, expectations, and the rhythm of the school day before entering Kindergarten.
• Building Relationships – Children form connections with peers and staff while becoming familiar with the building and school environment.
• Social and Emotional Growth – Through a balance of play and structured activities, children develop key social and emotional skills.
• Access to School Resources – Early learners participate in special events and benefit from school-wide supports.
• Faith-Based Foundations – Students begin their journey in a Christ-centered environment that supports their spiritual development.
• Use of School Facilities – Children enjoy access to enriching spaces like the gymnasium, music room, library, and outdoor play areas.

ELP is an early introduction to kindergarten, classrooms use a combination of structure and play-based learning to best prepare students for Kindergarten!

Skills we focus on in ELP include:

• Social-Emotional Learning: learning to interact with others and to self-regulate.
• Cognitive Development: learning to reflect, problem solve and imagine.
• Language Development & Literacy: learning to communicate and develop emergent literacy skills such as listening, speaking and story-telling.

Alberta’s Early Learning and Care Framework: Flight Framework

Yes! Out littlest learners are immersed in a nurturing, faith-based environment that integrates Catholic values into daily activities. 

Faith-Based Experiences in the ELP:

• Daily Prayer and Faith Integration: Children participate in regular prayers and are taught about Jesus' love, helping them to see the presence of God in everyday life.
• Participation in Religious Celebrations: Students attend school Masses and religious celebrations, experiencing the seasons of the liturgical calendar– including Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and more!
• Visits from Clergy: Local priests and deacons visit our schools to engage with students, celebrate liturgies, and support the spiritual education of the children.
• Inclusive Environment: Early Learning Classrooms provide a supportive setting where every child can explore and grow, learning and knowing they are perfectly and wonderfully made in the image of God.

Through these experiences, the ELP aims to nurture the whole child—academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually—laying a strong foundation for lifelong learning and faith development!

Children do not have to be Catholic to attend a Catholic school! Medicine Hat Catholic warmly welcomes all children. Children enrolled in our schools will be included in faith-based activities throughout the school day.

Catholic education is publicly funded in Alberta, meaning there is no tuition to attend a Catholic school.

The options listed in the 2025-2026 ELP Registration Form will be either 5 mornings per week OR 5 afternoons per week. Mornings and afternoons are not interchangeable.

ELP absences should be communicated directly with your child’s teacher and school secretary. ELP attendance will be logged through PowerSchool, aligning with grades K-12 throughout Medicine Hat Catholic schools. 

The full amount of $230 per month will be required, even if families choose not to send their child on select days.

We encourage families to register for the 5 half-day per week program with the intention of meeting the 50 hours/month minimum attendance.

In 2025-2026 ELP fees will be $230 per child/month with Alberta grants and subsidies already applied). 

Additional division subsidies/reduced fees will be managed on a case by case basis based on factors including:

• Qualified assessment
• Household income thresholds

There are no changes to PUF programming and support

Yes! Children registered in Kindergarten can attend a combination of 1/2 day ELP and 1/2 day Kindergarten in the same school day.

Parents can send non-perishable snacks for their child each day. Fruits and vegetables must have an ice pack to maintain freshness.

Students will continue to be supported/ access services through the Program Unit Funding (PUF) framework.

Program Unit Funding (PUF) is available to provide individualized programs to meet the educational needs of children with significant/severe delays. This is available for eligible children based on assessments and qualifications.

Learn more: Early Intervention and Support Services.

2025-2026 ELP Registration Forms will be available on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

Student registration will be managed on a first-come first-serve basis. Waitlists may be required due to limited spots in ELP classrooms.

Mid-year registration will be handled on a case by case basis, dependent on space.

To register a new student online, please create an account in SchoolEngage. After you have created your account, you will be able to select a registration form.

If needed, please refer to the instructions provided on the New Student Online Registration Guide.

Note: Please have a clear digital (photo or scanned) copy of your child's Birth Certificate or Proof of Citizenship documentation for registration. Registrations cannot be fully accepted until the proper documentation is provided.

Visit our division website to learn about online registration: www.mhcbe.ab.ca/registration/