COVID-19: Centre Closure Extended

Dear Emmanuel Families,

The safety of our families, children, and employees continues to be our top priority at Emmanuel at Brighton Child Care Centre.

In accordance with the State of Emergency in Ontario, Emmanuel at Brighton must remain closed until May 19, 2020. Another two-week extension on the State of Emergency is anticipated to align with the announcement that schools will remain closed until May 31, 2020.

The Emmanuel leadership team and the Board will reassess further closure as the situation continues to evolve.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

COVID-19: Centre Closure March 16 - April 3

Nothing is more important to Emmanuel at Brighton than the health and wellbeing of the children, families and employees who attend and work at our Centre.

At this time, the Board of Directors, Leadership Team and Joint Health and Safety Representatives have jointly made the decision to close the Centre effective Monday, March 16th through to Friday, April 3rd. This is in alignment with Ontario School Boards, local universities, and other child care centres, as well as many other organizations within our community.

As communicated by Public Health Ontario, the risk to Ontarians is still considered low. We are committed to taking proactive measures to minimize the risk posed to our community by COVID-19. Prior to making the decision to close our Centre, we spent the day in close contact with the Region of Waterloo and other child care centres.

We are working to minimize the financial impacts this decision may have on all stakeholders. The Board of Directors will receive and consider further information from Regional and Provincial authorities regarding what resources may be made available to support families and child care centres in the face of this quickly evolving issue.

Many thanks for your patience and understanding as we protect our Emmanuel at Brighton community together and contribute to the national and global effort to contain the spread of COVID-19.

We will continue to provide you with updates over email and through the website as new information is available.

Sincerely

Kelly Birch-Baker RECE, AECEO.C
Director of Operations

Leadership Announcement: Dana Bernhardt to serve as new Executive Director

The Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Dana Bernhardt as Executive Director at Emmanuel at Brighton Child Care Centre. Dana will start her role as Executive Director on April 6, 2020.

Dana is a visionary and people-focused leader with the ability to provide strategic oversight, leadership, and support. Dana currently serves as Director of Operations, Child Care at the YMCAs of Cambridge & Kitchener-Waterloo where she has developed strategic work plans, provided coaching to supervisors, and developed strong partnerships with employees and community members.

Dana has previously held supervisory roles at the Region of Waterloo where, in part, she coordinated and implemented Raising the Bar. Dana has also worked as Supervisor at Moppet Parent Participating Preschool and spent nearly ten years as an educator at Waterloo Infant Toddler Daycare Association and Owl Child Care Services.

A dedicated lifelong learner, Dana has been a RECE since 1998, holds an Honours Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Early Childhood Studies from Guelph-Humber, and completed her Master of Education at Wilfrid Laurier University in 2019.

The Board is confident that Dana’s leadership, commitment to employee engagement and wealth of experience will support the Centre’s work in fulfilling the strategic plan and that she will be a valuable addition to the team.

The entire Board would also like to extend our gratitude to Kelly Birch-Baker for her leadership and contributions in fulfilling aspects of the ED role as part of the interim leadership plan. Her work in supporting employees, children and parents has been so greatly appreciated. We know that her passion and commitment will continue to support the Centre in meaningful ways in her continued role as Director of Operations, and we look forward to seeing her continued impact as the strategic plan is brought to life.

Eve Nadler
Board Chair, Emmanuel at Brighton Childcare Centre

Forest School Practitioners' Network Meeting, March 31st, 2020

FNS Practitioners’ Network Meeting

March 31st, 2020 at Emmanuel at Brighton Forest and Nature School, at 6:00-7:30 pm

We will gather around the Fire Outdoors (weather permitting). Please bring a nut and mango free snack to share with the gathering.

Stephen Jackson, the CEO of the Anishnabeg Outreach Centres in Kitchener and Guelph, left us with an Invitation to contemplate:

He talked about the Truth and Reconciliation Process and the definition of Healing. He proposed that we think about what Healing means in different contexts. We are going to continue brainstorming and contemplating how we nurture this concept of Healing in our FNS practices.

We will brain-storms future locations for FNS Practitioners' Network Gatherings, and future topics of interest.

Please RSVP: eva@emmanuelchildcare.ca

Looking forward to seeing you!

Dr. Jean Clinton at the Kitchener Public Library, Tuesday March 24th. 2020

Amazing Free Event at the Kitchener Public Library!

Dr. Clinton will begin to connect the dots for parents and professionals about the links between early literacy, healthy brain development, self-regulation, co-regulation, trauma and the ways we can address these at a community level.

Bannocks in The Rain at Woodside National Historic Site

Bannocks in The Rain

March 2nd. 2020 at Woodside National Historic Site

The Forest School Children arrived with specific interests and plans in mind to Woodside National Historic Site on a rainy Monday morning. We followed in the footsteps of a group of families from our community. A group of families visited Woodside on the weekend and we were excited to explore the “great big jump” the children built with their families. We heard stories about an “enormous icicle that looked like an ax and was as tall as a child”…

"Purple Stew" at Woodside National Historic Site

Woodside National Historic Site is a magical place where ideas and inquiries emerge from our connections to the Land. During a conversation around the fire the children were contemplating what delicious foods we could create next. The children suggested we cook “purple stew” from the famous rhyme. Borscht came to mind as a wonderful purple comfort food. The children nodded in agreement: “It is worth a try.”- someone concluded.

Forest and Nature School Practitioners's Network Gathering February 25th. 2020

The Forest and Nature School Practitioner’s Network will gather at the Anishnabeg Outreach Centre on February 25th. at 6:00pm. - 7:00 pm. for a tour, at 236 Woodhaven Road, Kitchener, Ontario

Spaces are limited for this visit, please RSVP eva@emmanuelchildcare.ca to confirm your space and attendance.

February weather can be a challenge, please follow this website for possible rescheduling.

Looking forward to seeing you at this magical Community Centre.

Flag Day at Woodside National Historic Site on February 5th. 2020

Flag Day Celebration with Parks Canada Staff and Winter Adventures at Woodside National Historic Site on February 5th 2020.

Forest School Flag Day Celebration

at Woodside National Historic Site, Parks Canada

The "Snow Mountain" and Lunch with a View

On January 23rd. The Canada Parks Staff at Woodside National Historic Site surprised us with a large mountain of snow created specially for us! The children were delighted to explore. Snowboarding, sledding, and freestyle jumping became the order of the day. Smaller projects emerged as the children explored a variety of art media on the canvas of snow.

Summer Camp News

Our Forest and Nature School Summer Camps are Full!

The JK Camp is full.

The School Age Forest School Camp is full.

Our Forest and Nature School Camps are full!

Reserve your spot soon!

Snow Adventures at Woodside National Historic Site on January the 8th. 2020

The Magic of Snow

“Exploring the science, magic, and art of Snow at Woodside.”

Leaders in Training Opportunity

Looking for Leaders In Training (L.I.T.) for our 2020 Emmanuel at Brighton Summer Camp in July and August. L.I.T.-s must be 14-17 years of age and enjoy being in the great outdoors with children 6-10 years of age. If interested and wanting more information please contact Lindsey Hartung RECE and Forest and Nature School Practitioner at summercamp@emmanuelchildcare.ca

Celebrations and Holiday Schedule

Holiday Favourites

From around the World.

Heartfelt thanks to all our families for joining us at our Holiday Social. The children have been busy with the preparations and planning of the event. What a wonderful evening of joyful creativity and celebration! Many thanks for the wonderful food we shared!

We wish you peace, love, joy and happiness throughout the holiday season and a Happy New Year!

Emmanuel at Brighton Child Care Centre will be open 8:00 am. – 3:00pm. on December 24th. 2019.

The Centre will be closed from December 25th 2019 – January 1st 2020.

Forest and Nature School Information Evening

Tuesday January 7th. 2020, at 4:30pm, we invite parents from our community to explore Forest and Nature School Research and Programming at Emmanuel at Brighton Child Care Centre for our JK and SK program, for children born in 2015-2016, for the School Year starting in the Autumn of 2020.

We will introduce Canadian research specific to the benefits of Forest and Nature School Practices. Our presentation will be followed by a discussion.

Forest and Nature School Information Evening

Tuesday, January 7th. 2020 at 4:30pm

Summer Camp, Important Notice!

Dear Families,

It has come to our attention that some JK and School-age Forest Summer Camp Applications were submitted to the Onelist.

• Please note: Our Forest Summer Camp is filled on a first come - first served bases and not through the Onelist.

• Summer Camp registration will be available - Online Only - on:

  January 11th. 2021, only for families from within the centre (8:00am)

  January 20th. 2021 for public registration (8:00am)

Welcoming the Snowflakes at Woodside National Historic Site

The Emmanuel at Brighton Forest and Nature School group welcomed the freshly fallen snow at Woodside National Historic Site on December the 10th . The children explored the creative possibilities snow provided for exploration.

A group of children observed the unique beauty of snowflakes through magnifying glasses. The fluffy layers of snow on wood and grass became surfaces to “write names and messages on“. The children explored the creative possibilities the white surfaces provided.

Dramatic play emerged on a grand scale when a group of children discovered fungi in a tree hollow that resembled a “talking mouth”. The group sculpted eyes, noses and mouths for the trees and incorporated them into their dramatic play. The trees took on roles as “walking Giants” in the stories the children dramatized.

The group created bird-feeders and decorated the bushes with tasty invitations for the birds. The children discussed the importance of providing food for the birds during the Winter months.

To keep ourselves warm and comfortable, we made Cedar and Lavender tea and roasted “smoky apples and pears” on our fire.

Through discussions we expanded on our previous experiences and knowledge regarding seasonal changes and the ever changing natural systems that surround us. We explored our relationship to Nature and our connections to the animals, plants, and fungi that share this magical space with us.

Registration Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

We know many families have questions related to day care registration. Based on the questions we frequently receive, we have compiled a few answers below. Full details on our process can be found under Registration.

How long will it take to obtain a spot?

It is hard to give an exact answer as each year the movement in the centre is different.

How soon should I put my name on the waiting list?

It is never too early to put your name on the list. If a spot becomes available and your child is too young to attend we will simply go to the next person on the list.

Do I need to reapply if my child ages out of one program?

Once you are on the waiting list you will remain on the waiting list, and automatically get transferred to the next age group.

When does enrollment happen?

We start looking at enrollment in January for the upcoming September. We ask our existing families to fill out their needs first. After we gather all this information, we go to our waiting list and fill in our remaining vacancies. If a space becomes available during the year we fill it with the next person on the waiting list.

What are the minimum days we can enroll for?

The minimum is currently 2 days a week. We do not offer a half day program at this time.

Emmanuel at Brighton does not show up on the One List?

Emmanuel does not offer infant care and so if your requested start date is before your child turns 18 months we will not appear. To correct this, put your requested start date as the day your child turns 18 months.

Fall Adventures at Woodside National Historic Site

Our Maygwayyawk Forest and Nature School Classroom has been exploring the forested areas at Woodside National Historic Site in Kitchener. The children have been exploring under the canopy of the ancient Oaks, Hickories, and Tulip Trees of William Lyon Mackenzie King’s childhood home.

Fall Adventures

Explore Woodside National Historic Site with the Maygwayyawk Classroom

Mabel's Labels Fundraising

You will never have to look for lost mittens again with these washable labels, they are durable and will stay on the clothing items for a long time. These labels have been tried and tested by Emmanuel Families!