Somethings cooking at Cook Rd

I was at Cook Road Children's Centre today and I want you to be the first to know that the future jewelry designers of the world are at work there..... they are creating many unique pieces from a variety of materials and will soon be "selling" these creations in their newly set up shop.

Pro D

As our second ever Professional Development Day draws close (Feb 11),  the first many of you will have experienced, there are understandably some questions.  I have included the  following video link here as I think my colleague Anne Marie Coughlin in London Ontario says what I would like to say....only better... Take a moment to listen to her words.

Why Pro D?

Always happy to hear your thoughts or questions.

Nicky

Rewards of Curiosity

Reposted from Exchange Everyday because here at the SRCC we are all about CURIOUS educators working with CURIOUS children....... November 14, 2013 The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man. -Author Unknown "Truly happy people seem to have an intuitive grasp of the fact that sustained happiness is not just about doing things that you like. It also requires growth and adventuring beyond the boundaries of your comfort zone. Happy people are, simply put, curious." This observation was made by Todd Kashdan and Robert Biswas-Diener in their Psychology Today (August 2013) article, "What Happy People Do Differently." They explain... "Curiosity, it seems, is largely about exploration — often at the price of momentary happiness. Curious people generally accept the notion that while being uncomfortable and vulnerable is not an easy path, it is the most direct route to becoming stronger and wiser. In fact... curious people invest in activities that cause them discomfort as a springboard to higher psychological peaks."

Technology Caution

We have felt concerned about technology and young children for a long time and we have made it a point not to have computers/ TV's or ipads in our classrooms - its part of honouring childhood for us - we believe children's play is rich in learning and connection and life-skill building and not in any need of technology to enhance it.

What do you think?

http://www.theprovince.com/life/parenting/Digital+detox+time+take+iPad+away+from+your/9104181/story.html

ART

We have some fabulous art and amazing silent auction items for our upcomming Starry Night Art Auction!

Please join us - its a great night for just $15 for some appetizers, music and great art!  See  and "Like"our Facebook PAGE for more items!  

Call 604-214-3490 for tickets

Open for Business

West Cambie Children's Centre will open it's doors and welcome 42 children on Tuesday September 3, 2013.

It is a huge moment for the Society.......long awaited.

The staff teams and the playground installers worked hard all week to be ready .... and we are......I will post some better shots soon but here is a little peek.

Encouraging Early Writing

REPOST from Exchange Everyday

August 7, 2013

A smile is the universal welcome.
-Max Eastman

In her article, "Encouraging Preschoolers' Early Writing Efforts: Take Another Look at That Scribble," which serves as the basis for theExchange Out-of-the-Box Training Kit:Encouraging Early Writing, Leslie Falconer provides these insights:


"If there’s one object common to pre-schools and child care centers the world over, it’s pieces of paper covered with looping scribbles made by small hands learning to hold a pencil or crayon.  The next time you’re cleaning up at the end of a busy day, though, consider taking a closer look at those scribbles.  They’re actually samples of early writing, and an invitation for you to channel those small hands into recording their new ideas and creative thoughts....

"Writing is an extraordinarily complex process for young children.  It requires children to formulate personal opinions or ideas and then translate them into written symbols that represent words they use in oral language.  Because this process is very demanding on both an emotional and intellectual level, it is important for educators to celebrate the child each time she experiments with writing.  Cultivating a child’s willingness to express herself through scribbles or inventive spelling will yield benefits in her long-term social, emotional, and intellectual development."