Hamilton Best Start Inter-professional Education

Today’s Family is proud to be involved in Hamilton’s Best Start Initiative.

There are many levels to the Hamilton Best Start Initiative, one of which includes inter-professional education opportunities.

Please join us for a conversation with Dianne Riehl and Rod Peturson from the Ministry of Education.

“Early brain development benefits from interactions with adults who are responsive ( ELECT, Early LEarning for Every Child Today, 2007)”

Together Rod and Dianne will explore this idea and what it means for all children in early learning and care settings and the relationships they have with

Rod Peturson is an education officer with the Ministry of Education and is currently working on the provincial team coordinating the implementation of the new full-day early learning  kindergarten program with an extended day component. He has also worked as a teacher, program consultant and superintendent of program and instructional services with the Greater Essex County District School Board.

Dianne Riehl is currently seconded to the  Ministry of Education as an education officer working on the full-day early learning kindergarten program. She has also been the program coordinator of the early years department in the Toronto District School Board..

Join us:

November 16, 2011

4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Ontario Early Years Hamilton Mountain

Hill Park Secondary , 465 East 16th

Register at: ascy@ascy.ca

Inside Hana’s Suitcase – One Year Later

On October 4 2010, Today’s Family was proud to partner with a number of local community organizations and businesses to bring Inside Hana’s Suitcase to the Hamilton and Halton communities.With many partners in the City of Hamilton and with the Brady Family themselves, we had the honour of sharing Hana Brady’s story. We called it the Hana’s Suitcase Project and it reached thousands of children and adults in Hamilton and Halton and promoted learning and sharing around issues of inclusion, discrimination and community. We are very proud of the success of the project.Though the Hana’s Suitcase Project was not direct child care service, it is in alignment with Today’s Family’s core values. One of our guiding principles is caring. Caring is the essence of who we are. We care for the children who take part in our programs, for their families, for our staff, for our community and for our environment. This is reflected in all that we do at Today’s Family and Hana’s Suitcase, with its messages of non-discrimination, equality and human dignity powerfully reflected our core beliefs.  

The project has sparked an important conversation about values and about how we want to live with each other in a caring and supportive community. In a way, they ask simple questions:

What’s in your suitcase?

What are your core values?                                

What do you deem precious in your life?

In your community?

In your world?

One year later, the project still resonates in our community. Many people have shared the impact of the Inside Hana’s Suitcase Project with Today’s Family:

Classroom Values: The Impact of Inside Hana’s Suitcase – LINC program is a video created by the students at Mohawk College in the Language Instruction for Newcomers sharing the impact of the project from a newcomer perspective.

One of the letters from a LINC student shared with Today’s Family following the Hana’s Suitcase Project:

In my suitcase

There are many fears and anxieties in my suitcase. When I was in Jordan, before I came to Canada, I was worried about what would people say when they see me in hijab? How will they treat me? There were many questions I thought about. I thought all kinds of things would change about me, because I was moving from a Muslim society to Christian society, and I would work, speak and mix with different people. All of that was very difficult for me. When I was a child, I heard my parents talk about French people and how they hate Muslim people, especially the people who wear a hijab. They don’t like those people and treat them in a bad way. Even now, I remember my parents talking. But now when I came to Canada, I changed my point of view about those people. When I hear someone talking about this subject, I don’t hear them, because now I am living with them, dealing with them. They treat me as they do other people. They don’t have discrimination between the people. All people are same, regardless of their race, religion, or color. Really, I feel comfortable now between them and l love them a lot.

Countless facebook messages and letters were also shared with the Brady family by the children who came to the October 4 screening. One of the many letters shared:

Dear George,

What was it like in Auschwitz camp?  Was it Sad?  Angry?  Scary?

You are a great hero for her.  I went to go see the documentary of Hana’s Suitcase at the Hamilton theatre, on Tuesday Oct 5th 2010.

The movie made me feel emotional and angry.  What was childhood like with Hana and the family?  Was it Fun?  Loving?  Boring?  When you and Hana used to fight, who would win?  Would Hana win most of the time, or would you?  Or did both of you just equally win?  If there was one thing you had to say to Hana, what would it be?  It must’ve been so hard losing a sister like Hana, and all you’ve been through until she was killed.  If there was memories you would never forget in your life with Hana, what would they be?  George, thanks for reading my letter to you, and I hope that you live the rest of your life with love and peace and joy, and I will stand up for what is right and always make a difference!

From,

Jake

More letters and details about the impact of the project can be found in our Annual Report

We hope that this project will be part of a larger, community-wide conversation that will lead to real action to help to make a stronger, more cohesive community and to contribute to the quest to make Hamilton the best place to raise a child.

Number of Hana’s suitcase educational toolkits donated to the Hamilton and Halton boards of education (with the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation and many other generous donors): 364 

Number of Hana’s Suitcase books distributed: 3640

Number of audio books to support English learners hear Hana’s story: 370

Number of children who attended the screening of Inside Hana’s Suitcase with George Brady, Fumiko Ishioka and Lara Brady on October 4 and 5, 2010: 4100

Number of community members that attended the evening screening of Inside Hana’s Suitcase with George Brady, Fumiko Ishioka and Lara Brady: 2000

Number of businesses, and community organizations coming together to support the Hana’s Suitcase Project: 36

Number of individuals from the community contributing to the project: 126 

Today’s Family – Report to the Community

It is such a pleasure to report back to you our staff, caregivers, volunteers and colleagues, that we, Today’s Family has had a terrific year.

Each year brings change, new challenges and new opportunities. We would like to report that this year is no different. In fact, there have been significant changes with Today’s Family and with child care in Ontario.

We are pleased to announce that in 2011, the Ministry of Education is now responsible for child care in Ontario.

As we move forward, we must have a focus on quality. Ontario needs a strong, healthy and sustainable child care sector to provide high quality care for children.

Leadership and collaboration:

On our own we can teach, help and care for the children in our midst. Together, with other organizations in our city and our province, we can help to make change and chart new directions for all children.

On that note, we are proud to report that Today’s Family is a member of the Quality Early Learning Network. The Quality Early Learning Network (QELN) represents 18 multi-site, not-for-profit child care agencies across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Halton, Hamilton, and London.

With many local and provincial partners, Today’s Family can help Ontario build a strong, integrated child care system for families.

Our year in just a few words is not going to be easy. The Annual Report highlights our past year. It tells our story.  Please read it, read it often and share it with those who are interested in knowing us and knowing what we are thinking about and doing regarding children and their families….. Our book tells it all.

Let me briefly tell you about Today’s Family and what makes us so special in the early childhood field.

• We run excellent Early Childhood Education programs for children and their families

• We work with over 50 community partners

• More than 80 youth have worked, volunteer or had coop experience with us this year, enriching our programs

• We have been lucky to have the support of over 8000 hours of youth volunteer time in fact I am pleased to report to you Brenda Ferguson is a recipient of a “Hamilton Employer Champion Award”. At a breakfast this year for Partners in Education sponsored by The Industry-Education Council of Hamilton (IEC), with over 500 people in attendance, Brenda received this award. Well done Brenda and thanks for representing us so well!

• We sent 45 children to overnight camp at Mount Nemo, yet another new partner. A big Thank you to Scout Leader Pat Hall and many volunteers

• We sent 2 of our management team to Reggio Emilia, Italy to further their knowledge and understanding of the Emergent curriculum

• Our gardens are flourishing

• We served more children this year than we did last year, opened new camp locations and a new before and after school program in Halton, a partnership with the Halton Public School Board

As for our wonderful staff we had a great summer, yet another year of reviewing applications, interviews, reference checks and hiring

•       Total  Applications Received 74

•       Total interviewed 39

•       Total reference checks 64

•       Total placed  in positions  23

•       A quarter of our staff in new positions

…and we created 2 new positions onto our Directors Team.  Congratulations to Deb Forster and Bernadette Noon – our newly appointed Associate Directors.

I would like to briefly give you a picture of the issues facing child care in Ontario today…

The QELN which includes Today’s Family believes urgent action is needed to achieve a sustainable integrated model for children and families in Ontario……..A modernization of child care. On October 7^th, 2011 the government of Ontario, whatever government that may be, must urgently turn its attention to child care and develop a model that is affordable and accessible for all children and families including:

• A new funding model for child care

• New legislation for licensed child care

• Developing and implementing a Human Resource Strategy to address the critical shortage of Registered Early Childhood Educators
  

Caring:

Caring. It is in our name. It is the essence of who we are. We care for the children who take part in our program, for their families, for our staff, for our community and for the environment.

Caring about staff celebrates the work of our staff and supports change.  Today’s Family would not be the innovative and nurturing organization that it is without our staff and our volunteers.  It supports our family-centred model of care. Staff are supported with balancing work and family life.  Caring allows our staff to be part of building vibrant communities; in their day to day work and in their volunteer contributions to the community.  It allows us to reflect on what we do and allows us to grow.

Caring contributes to our community.

Staff

Our Staff are leaders in the community, both in early learning and civic life. Did you know that staff from Today’s Family are active community members? Staff volunteer with: TEADS (horseback riding program for disabled), Children’s Aid Society, School councils, Bereaved Families of Ontario, and Relay for Life just to name a few. The board and management of Today’s Family would especially like to thank the staff and volunteers for their true caring, commitment and hard work.

In closing, my report back to you, as the C.E.O. of Today’s Family I would like to thank each and every one of you here to today, board members, staff, parents and colleagues. Together we can build a strong system for our children.

Please take a look at our Annual Report: http://www.todaysfamily.ca/TF_2011/index.html

Local kids explore Artasia

Today’s Family is proud to participate in the Culture For Kids in the Arts Artasia program. Over 200 children ages 7-9 from our camps are participating in the project. Their views of what they like about their neigbourhood, what they imagine for their neighbourhood and what would make thier neigbourhood a better place are being shared at the upcoming exhibit at the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts on August 25.

The following article by Terri Pecoskie from the Hamitlon Spectator appeared Thursday August 4th:

Local kids explore Artasia

A local perspective of an international approach to early learning

In the spring of 2011, an opportunity presented itself to participate in a Canadian Study tour: Dialogues in Education in Reggio Emilia Italy. The community of Reggio Emilia is internationally renowned for their approach to early childhood education. Although familiar with the approach from both a theoretical, philosophical (and a practical) standpoint; the opportunity to visit the preschool programs and immerse oneself in the culture of the community was an opportunity not to be missed.

The first opportunity to gain a perspective of the community was a walking tour of the town of Reggio Emilia.  Volunteers from the Friends of Reggio Children, an International Association, took us on the walking tour of the village. The beautiful architecture of the town hall, cathedrals, theatre and hotels that was evident and preserved with the utmost of care.  Many citizens, both young and old wind through the town on their bicycles as their main mode of transportation.  The pride of community was evident everywhere.  The rhythm of the city was harmonious. People filled the streets and cafés all hours of the day. The tour guide that led our walking tour extended his hospitality further for an opportunity for conversation at a local café. From conversation, it was evident the role and importance of democracy (in the city and the country) played in the community; leading to the responsibility of active citizenry. This role includes the importance of children as citizens.

The study group met at the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre.  Lectures from the pedagogistas and atelieristas from the Reggio Preschools were both rich and thought provoking.  More than 200 participants from across Canada came to partake in the opportunity. This included around ten participants from the Hamilton community.  Discussions evolved around the view of the child.

Our personal idea of a child determines how we will connect or relate to children. It is important as educators to be responsible and declare what our image is of the child. This influences our learning and educational choices as well as the image of the child in our community.  The pedagogistas from the Reggio Preschools described children as competent always prepared to discuss and answer questions and effective at building relationships.  A child is viewed as a researcher and socially constructs meaning in the world around them together with other children, adults, or things.  Children learn by doing, but also by reflecting on what they are doing. The journey of learning is never linear or made up of a defined sequence.  One of the main purposes of learning for educators is to try and understand how children learn.

In addition to the importance and understanding of the view of the child, much time and energy was given to the importance of the environment in which we learn. The question of whether epistemology and aesthetics are synonymous was deep. Visiting four of the preschools (in addition to exploring the town) stressed the link between the environment and the role it plays in learning.  The values of transparency and reflection were part of each school. Natural light illuminated brightly through very large windows (in some classrooms were floor to ceiling). Within each Reggio preschool great attention was given to the set up and aesthetics of the classrooms; which were created collaboratively with the children and parents and reflected the culture of the community. Every aspect of the environment has a purpose and was thoughtfully arranged in partnership with the children and families and acts as the third teacher.  Each Reggio preschool had a large space in the main foyer of the preschool called a piazza. The piazzas served as places for dialogue and are set up to encourage working together in small groups.

Further supporting the environment and the role it plays in education, was the addition of the ateliers as part of the program. The atelier is similar to an art studio with a variety of real art materials and media. The arts are used as a symbolic language for the children to express and represent what they know in different ways. Concepts and hypotheses are presented via print, art, construction, drama, music and puppetry. This is referred to as the 100 Languages in Reggio Emilia. The atelierista is an artist who works with a small group of children in the atelier to challenge the children to express and represent what they know in different ways. The artist also teaches the children how to use the different art tools and media and plays a key role in facilitating collaboration between the children as they work together on their projects.

Making the children’s learning visible is of significant importance in the preschools. Thinking was made visible in various media. From photos and scripts, to the use of technology (slide shows, videos, etc.), the knowledge of children was both well documented and represented. “Documentation is not only the process of gathering evidence and artifacts, but it is also a physical collection of evidence and artifacts, the reflection on an analysis of that collection, or part of it, in a way that makes learning visible to the children, to the teachers and other adults including families and visitors” Carlina Rinaldi (1994). Documentation identifies the problem or learning questions that a child or children or teacher may have and illustrates with evidence how that the problem or question was solved.  It includes the children’s representations as well as the teacher interpretations and parent’s reflections.

What does this mean to our community? We have the aspiration of making our city the best place to raise a child. We have embraced the importance of the philosophy- that children should participate in the direction of their learning; they must have ways and opportunities to express themselves; they are already full of knowledge and wonder. It is our role to be co-learners with them and provide rich and thought provoking experiences.

The ideas are big, but possible. Our identity as a country and as a community is unique. We have accomplished a great deal as a community that supports children and families, but there is room to grow. As an agency we will be sharing the learning with our staff and out to the community. Provocation and discussions are forthcoming.

Helping Every Step of the Way – 2011 Relay for Life

From Friday June 11 until Saturday June 12, 2011 staff from Today’s Family participated in the Relay for Life, contributing to the relay’s tenth anniversary. When you say the word cancer, everyone can put a name or face of a loved one to the word. It may be direct, or indirect, but it is inescapable. We can all mention someone we know (or ourselves) who has been through the trials of cancer.  Although the occasion is somewhat somber in nature, the sheer volume of participants coming together and the activities offered throughout the evening create a memorable event for all who attend.

This year staff from Today’s Family Hamilton participated in the 2011 Relay for Life held at ArcelorMittal Dofasco’s F.H. Sherman Recreation & Learning Centre on June 10. From event volunteers, event coordinators, children’s event leaders, relay team or coming to support the relay team as a cheerleader, Today’s Family staff were everywhere. Aptly named Girl Power, the relay team raised more than $3000 and took the lead in many of the contests held during the event. Each member of the team may have been there for a different reason, but the common thread connected each to the other.
The activities throughout the night brought fun and excitement to keep everyone going. From the pie eating contest (of which Shannon from Today’s Family Hamilton won, by the way!), to stacking cups games, fashion shows (we did not win the Dude Looks Like a Lady contest for obvious reasons) and  the early morning rooster call contest, Today’s Family was active throughout the overnight event.

And the winner of the pie eating contest…Shannon from Today’s Family!

The event was both amazing and memorable. The survivor walk was touching and awe-inspiring. The sheer number of people affected by the disease – from children to seniors from every age, race and walk of life was a strong reminder of the importance of the event.

The lighting of all of the luminaries at sunset was profound. The light surrounded the track, and covered the grass areas with the words hope and cure. To think that each luminary was in memory of someone lost to cancer reminded all of the need to find a cure. The first lap walked while the luminaries were lit was matched by the sounds of silence, as everyone paused to remember someone.

Although the event was from 7:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m., it paled in comparison to a day in the life of a person affected by cancer, or their family members. When it came time for the final lap at 7:00 a.m., it brought us back to the reality of why everyone was there. A sense of camaraderie was felt by all who attended.

Since its inception in 2001, Relay For Life Hamilton has raised over $2.3 million dollars for the Canadian Cancer Society. Thank you Today’s Family staff for contributing to the success of the relay.