Mo’West Newsletter #2– spring/printemps 2014

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Mo' West Hi everyone, Over the winter we received lots of positive feedback from the small group of people on our initial mailing list. In September 2014, we’re going to officially launch the website and we’ll be adding to the blog and reaching out to the community as a whole. Look out for our special back to school issue for September 2014 which will include Kindergarten and daycare tips. Any contributions or ideas are more than welcome. Send them our way! Please email us at moremowest@gmail.com and check out the website at mowest.weebly.com. Newsletter #2 is being sent to a large, but close, circle of friends and neighbours for feedback. Don’t forget to share with your wider daycare community. We are excited to connect with you   Happy reading, Emmanuelle and Samantha    

 

Mo’West Newsletter #2– spring/printemps 2014

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EDITORIAL Having a voice and being heard Living in a community like Montreal West has been a dream come true for us. We have spent endless hours pushing our kids in their strollers, watching our kids play in the park, and spending summer afternoons at the pool. About 8 years ago, we sent an email to the Town Hall because the path between the tennis courts and Percival Park was decrepit and dangerous. In a matter of months it was fixed much to our pleasant surprise. That is one of the great aspects of living in a small town – you can make your voice heard. The thing is that we, along with other parents of young children, noticed other possible improvements – broken playground equipment, overgrown trees, day camp traffic concerns, to name a few. How come we were the only ones who noticed this? How come the Town wasn’t addressing these issues? Fast forward to the 2013 municipal elections. At one of the many meet and greets we attended we met Elizabeth Ulin. She immediately picked up on the concerns that are specific to young families. She also seized the opportunity to give a voice to this demographic. After winning her seat for another term, she remembered the conversations we had over coffee months earlier. True to her word, along with Paula Cordeau and Chris Kearney, she founded what is now the Young Families Round Table. As Elizabeth explained in a previous Informer edition, this open committee of 8 or so parents, serves to give a voice. Although this is an advisory committee, it is extremely satisfying to see our ideas go from the table to the community in a matter of a few short months. The purpose of this letter is to say thank you to Elizabeth, Paula, Chris and the

Town. We have had 3 meetings since February and every single idea or concern brought forth is taken seriously. Moreover, most suggestions for improvement or change have been brought to fruition. Just a few examples: At the pool:

- A new, larger shade over the wading pool

- beautification and tree trimming of the grassy area behind the diving boards

- more benches at the pool - addition of Rubber Duckie

program later in the day on weekends (out of high sun)

- addition of Toddler and Parent swim lessons on weekends

- Sports Fitness program for parents during swim team

In the parks:

- beautiful gate at Dave Reid Park to improve day camp safety

- revitalization of chalet at Davies Park (paint, bathroom, toys)

- four new swings, including an adaptive swing, and a new slide at Strathearn Park

- new climbing structure at George Booth Park as well as structure for younger children

Communication and community: - link for Civic Recreation

Association on Town website and listing all of the programs managed and conceived by CRA

- animated birthday parties at Town Hall

Thank you for taking the time to create a space for the voices of young families, to listen  to  those  voices,  and  to  act  upon  them.   Collaboratively yours, Samantha and Emmanuelle moremowest@gmail.com

Mo’West Newsletter #2– spring/printemps 2014

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ECOLE  BILINGUE  DE  MONTREAL  OUEST  

www.ecolebilingue.ca  Bravo  à  tous  les  petits  qui  ont  chanter  à  "tue  tête  comme  un  jour  de  fête"  à  notre  récital  de  fin  d'année.  Une  présentation  trilingue  a  été  appréciée  par  tous  nos  invités.      Félicitations  à  Azélie  Pouliot,  une  de  nos  anciennes  élèves  qui  vient  juste  de  lancer  son  premier  CD,  "Something  Good"      Evidement  l'initiation  à  la  musique  porte  fruit...      Bonne  Vacances  à  tous,  Madame  Rina      Kudos  to  all  our  little  ones  who  performed  beautifully  at  our  end  of  the  year  show.  The  recital  showcased  the  children's  progress  in  three  languages,  as  it  featured  songs  in  French,  Italian  and  English.      Congratulations  to  Azélie  Pouliot,  one  of  Ecole  Bilingue's  graduate  who  just  launched  her  first  CD  "Something  Good".  Evidently,  something  good  comes  out  of  all  that  practice.      A  great  summer  to  all,  Madame  Rina    

Greetings  from  Little  Learners  daycare!  Bonjour  de  la  part  des  

petits  debutants!  The   long-­‐awaited   spring   has   finally  arrived.  After  what  seems   like  an  endless  winter,   we   can   now   enjoy   the   warm  sunshine  and  be  outdoors  to  discover  and  explore   the  wonder  of  nature  as   it  bursts  to  life.  

A   few  months  have  passed  since  our   first  edition.  Here  are  the  updates  from  Little    Learners   daycare.   We   recently   held   our  second   Parent-­‐Teacher   meeting.   The  objective   is   for   parents   and   teachers   to  discuss   and   evaluate   children’s   progress,  learning   experiences   and   goals   for   the  next   level.  This  meeting  takes  place  twice  a  year,  in  the  fall  and  spring.  Parents   also   received   a   portfolio   of   their  child.   This   portfolio   is   an   important   part  of   our   program   as   it   features   the  developmental   milestones   of   each   child  throughout  the  year.    It   is   a   documentation   of   children’s  artworks,   photographs   and   ongoing  assessment  of  their  learning  based  on  the  following   categories   of   development:  initiative   and   social   relations,   physical  development,   language   and   literacy,  creative   representation,   music,  classification,  number,  seriation,  time  and  space.   The   meetings   went   successfully  and   the   parents   expressed   their   sincere  appreciation  for  the  remarkable  portfolios  that  were  developed  and  put   together  by  our  dedicated  Educators.      The   next   event   is   the   graduation   for   our  Pre-­‐Ks.  There  will  be  performances  by  the  three  groups  (songs,  dances,  poems,  story  performances).   It   will   be   followed   by  presentation   of   diplomas   to   our  graduates.   Graduation   pictures   have   also  been  organized.    In   addition,   the   Pre-­‐Ks   have   special  activities   namely   Little   Hands   Cooking  Class   at  Loblaws  and  Bowling.  All   groups  will   also   participate   in   planting   flowers  and   vegetables   in   our   garden.   Also,   our  annual  BBQ  and  corn  roast  are  coming  up  soon.  Finally,   our   summer   program   will   begin  on   the   week   of   June   23,   2014   to   August  

Mo’West Newsletter #2– spring/printemps 2014

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22,   2014.   There   will   be   lots   of   fun  activities   for   children   to   enjoy   such   as  park   play,   swimming,   sports   and   library  visits.  We  wish  everyone  a  happy  summer!  By  Emilia  Sihombing,  Lynx’s  educator    Le   printemps   longtemps   attendu   est  finalement   arrivé.  Après   ce  qu’il   semblait  un   hiver   sans   fin,   nous   pouvons  maintenant   se   réjouir   des   rayons   chauds  du   soleil   et   aller   à   l’extérieur   pour  découvrir   et   explorer   la   merveilleuse  nature  qui  revient  à  la  vie.    Quelques   mois   sont   passés   depuis   notre  premier   compte   rendu.   A   continuation  voila      quelques   nouvelles   de   la   garderie   Les  Petits  Débutants.  Récemment  nous   avons  tenu   la   deuxième   réunion   parents-­‐educateurs.  L’objectif  est  pour  les  parents  et   éducateurs   de   discuter   et   évaluer   le  progrès   des   enfants,   apprendre   des  nouvelles  expériences  et  les  objectifs  pour  le   prochain   niveau.   Cette   réunion   prend  place  deux  fois  par  année,  àml’automne  et  le  printemps.    Les   parents   ont   reçu   un   Portefeuille   /  Cahier   d’activité   de   leur   enfant.   Le  portefeuille  c’est  une  partie  importante  de  notre   programme   parce   qu’il   présente   le  développement  en  détail  de  chaque  enfant  pendant  l’année.  C’est  une  documentation  des  travaux  d’art  de  l’enfant,  les  photos  et  l’évaluation   continue   de   leur  apprentissage   basée   sur   les   catégories  suivantes   :   initiative   et   relations   sociales,  développement   physique,   langage   et  l’alphabétisation,   représentation   créative,  musique,  classification,  numéro,  sériation,    temps   et   l’espace.   Les   réunions   a   été   un  succès.   Les   parents   ont   manifesté   leur  sincère   appréciation   pour   la   belle  

présentation  des  portefeuilles  qui  ont  été  developes   et   mis   au   point   par   le   travail  dédié  des  éducateurs.      Le  prochain  événement  c’est  la  graduation  de   nos   pré   maternels.   Il   y   aura   des  présentations   (de   la   part   des   3   groupes)  comme   des   chants,   danses,   poèmes   et  comptes.      En   continuation   sera   la   présentation   des  diplômes   pour   les   gradués.   De   plus,   les  pré   maternels   auront   des   activités  spéciales  comme  les  cours  de  cuisine  des    petites  mains  chez  Loblaws  et  bowling.    Tous   les   groupes   participeront   dans   la  plantation   des   fleurs   et   végétaux   dans  notre   jardin.  De  même  notre  BBQ  annuel  et  rôti  de  mais  arrive  bientôt.    Finalement   notre   programme   d’été  commencera   le   23   juin   2014   jusqu’au   22  août  2014.  Il  y  aura  beaucoup  d’activités  à  l’extérieur   pour   que   les   enfants   restent  actives  et  avoir  du  plaisir.    Nous   souhaitons   pour   tous   une   été  heureuse.    Par  Emilia  Sihombing,  Éducatrice  de  Lynx    

The  Little  Red  Playhouse  www.littleredplayhouse.com  

The   Little   Red   Playhouse   has   posted  their  update  through  smilebox.    You’re  invited  to  check  out  their  smilebox  at:    http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4e4441324e4449354f546c384f5441344e7a59334e54493d0d0a&sb=1  For   more   information,   please   contact  Sharon   at   514   994   5018.   We   are  located  at  263  Percival  St.