More than ever, we are committed to staying connected with our students and families! We are so grateful for technology as the team has united to expand our virtual resources to provide support to you all during this trying time. We are continuing to implement creative ways to stay connected along with providing relevant resources and activities as we work through this together. All the staff at St. Gabriel Child Care Centre look forward to seeing you all and wish everyone to stay safe and healthy. Stay positive, we are all in this together!
A Message From SGCC Final
A Message From SGCC We want you to know that the staff at SGCC miss you all immensely, and hope that you are staying safe and healthy at home. We want to thank you for your understanding during this difficult time. Please stay connected with us! We are looking forward to reopening our doors, and learning, laughing and growing with you all shortly! Here is a message from the team...https://www.facebook.com/stgabrielchildcare/videos/256243555568372/
Wishing all the wonderful moms a Happy Mother's Day and hope you have a wonderful day!
We are excited to announce that Summer Camp 2020 registration is now open! All registrations will be taken through our Sandbox online platform. If you have any questions when navigating this new process please do not hesitate to reach out. Please view the link to register... https://register.runsandbox.com/?form=53f27067-46f2-4138-b9d0b033ae2154d4&_ga=2.197188523.5490417.1588960126-1450053616.1559064353 Please be on the look out for September 2020 Registration that will be out in the very near future! As our Centre remains closed, the SGCC team has united to expand our virtual resources to support our families during this trying time. Continue to look out for more updates in the coming weeks! Currently, the following assistance is available for the SGCC families during the COVID-19 closure: • • • •
Administrative staff are available to parents via email. If you wish to connect with your child’s teacher please let us know and we will do our best to make it happen. We will continue to keep you up to date on any COVID-19 updates as we know more. We are continuing to use our social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram, and Hi Mama to stay connected. Toddler and Preschool families can connect with us via the Hi Mama app. Many activities and learning opportunities have been posted and continue to be posted on this platform for you and your families
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Emails with creative and educational activities to help children continue to learn at home during the closure can be found on our website and will continue to be sent via email. We continue to be dedicated to supporting the mental health of parents and children as we are navigating this difficult time. Toddler and Preschool families and staff have connected via Zoom sessions and they have brought much joy to all the participants. Before and After school staff will be setting up Zoom calls with children next week and we look forward to seeing you all. Look out for an invite via email. Prerecorded videos from staff have been posted on Facebook, Hi mama and our website. Look out for Ms. Cosette’s yoga sessions and more storytelling from Ms. Rosa. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and our website. Leave posts as we would love to know what you are all up to. We are all in this together!
Resources: Ms. Diana added a blog post to our website under What’s New on fear and resiliency. •
Check it out on our website: https://stgabrielchildcare.com/how-to-calm-the-fear-that-changes-bring/
Hi Mama’s article “Building a Routine When Working at Home and Caring For Kids” can help parents successfully balance working from home while needing to care for children. •
https://blog.himama.com/building-a-routine-when-working-at-home-and-caring-for-kids/
Hi Mama’s article “Supporting Children’s Mental Health During COVID-19" can help parents understand their children’s feelings and how to support and discuss their current reality. •
https://blog.himama.com/supporting-childrens-mental-health-during-covid-19/
A children’s book, “My Hero is You”, was developed by Inter-Agency Standing Committee for children to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. The story should be read by a parent or caregiver, and not given to a child to read independently, so parents can have a meaningful conversation about the pandemic. •
Another resource to help children understand social distancing is the story “Time to Come In, Bear” •
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DA_SsZFYw0w&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2Y2kJkmUlpMff15NhNbD8I bsA_sn8R-Oitc88EB4dIivrbIU0Yy_FkZVE
A reminder from teens on how to talk to teens about their mental health •
https://www.facebook.com/KidsHelpPhone/videos/1119077318432692/UzpfSTEzMjkwMjMwMzQ0MzcxMDoy OTA1NjAxNjg5NTA3MDc3/
Here are some fun and engaging activities parents and children can experience together. Now that the weather is beginning to warm up, many activities can be moved outdoors. Cognition: • • •
Create a shape or colour matching mat for the younger children Use pictures of family members to create puzzles for children to put together Sight word or number matching games
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Play a game of Simon Says...
Language and Literacy: • • •
Storybook Online, a YouTube channel, provides children’s books read by various celebrities Create Mother’s Day “coupons” for Mom to use for special alone time or to help with household chores Make Mom an extra special Mother’s Day card, poem, picture etc.
Sensory and Creative: • • •
Create an outdoor car wash for children to wash their bicycles, scooters or ride-on toys Place sprinkles on a cookie sheet or tray, and have children trace letters and numbers with their fingers “Mail a Hug” - trace children’s hands, decorate them, attach them to a string, and mail the hug to someone they are missing through social distancing
S.T.E.A.M: • • • •
Teach children household chores; folding clothes, baking, sweeping Teach children how to grow their own flowers and vegetables DIY instruments out of cereal boxes, coffee canisters, sticks and elastic bands Explore colour, colour mixing and blending with paper towels, markers and water
Gross Motor: • • • • •
Ms. Cosette has created fun, engaging and mindful Yoga classes for children and parents alike. Please visit our website for the video links. Playing Freeze Dance with the children’s (or parents) favourite music Create movement flash cards, and have children perform the movements Create your own Tin Can Toss, and have children take turns knocking the cans down. This is best played outdoors Go on an indoor or outdoor scavenger hunt
Additional Activities & Resources: Please check out our latest newsletter on our website •
https://stgabrielchildcare.com/letter-to-parents/
For additional activities please visit our website link •
https://stgabrielchildcare.com/hi-parents-guardians-and-little-ones/
Visit Hi Mama’s website for additional COVID-19 resources •
For a fun way to practice hand washing with your child, please see the Baby Shark hand washing song. • https://www.facebook.com/NickJr/videos/531325737465216/UzpfSTEzMjkwMjMwMzQ0MzcxMDoyO TE5MzA3ODI0ODAzMTMw/
Please note that there will be changes to our processes in order to keep all safe. We are working on what our new normal will look like and will share this all with you prior to opening. Until that time please stay safe, be well, and embrace the joys of your family, and the beautiful world around you. Continue to visit our website, as well as our social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram, to learn more about our programs and what’s happening! We look forward to being back exploring with your children in the near future. We are available for any of your questions you may have. Please share with others that we are taking registration and look forward to sharing our community with them. Invite your friends to like our pages or follow us.
In this together with you, The staff and board of St. Gabriel Child Care Centres
www.stgabrielchildcare.com, 905-850-3358, info@stgabrielchildcare.com
