Hummingbird Child Care Centre
2-4111 Wood Ave V9Y 5E8 Port Alberni, BC, Canada

Hummingbird Good Bye Parade Monday June 22nd from 3-4pm **route below** We have permission from our neighbors at the Athletic Hall to use their parking lot so we can safely distance and wish our little friends well as the school year comes to an end. PLEASE NOTE:... We ask that families enter the Athletic Hall parking lot off Kendall Street (besides NIC) - any over flow traffic can be safely waiting in the parking lot as families make their way to the HCC staff ~ exiting onto Roger Street. This will be a chance to say good-bye, pick up your keepsake albums and any belongings you had left at the centre. Hope to see you there!!!!

ATTENTION FAMILIES: YOU ARE INVITED!!!!! Monday June 22nd from 3-4 in the Athletic Hall parking lot.... Hummingbird Child Care Centre is hosting a Drive - Thru / Good-Bye for our children and families. We ask that those families who can to please stop in, say goodbye, pickup your keepsake book and get any of your belongings before summer break.... Hummingbird Child Care Staff is missing all of our friends! With all the COVID-19 regulations we are not able to have our typical Teddy Bear picnic. This opportunity is a chance for some closure during this time. Any questions feel free to contact us at 250 723 4919 or [email protected]. We hope to see you there!!!

Dear child care operators, providers, and partners: The health and safety of children, families, and child care professionals is government’s top priority. While updated guidelines are in place to support child care centres, we know parents continue to have questions as they transition back to work. Please share the following information with the families you serve. A virtual town hall is being held for parents on Wednesday, March 27 at 3pm, with Katrina Chen, Minister of St...ate for Child Care, Dr. Trevor Corneil, Medical Lead, Office of the Provincial Health Officer, and moderator Jinny Sims, MLA. Parents can watch live on the Government of BC Facebook page or the BC YouTube channel. This is part of a series of townhalls government is hosting to keep British Columbians safe and informed. Sincerely, Childcare BC Stakeholder Engagement

May 15, 2020 Dear Hummingbird Families, With the anticipated altered school re-opening on June 1, 2020, we want to inform you that Hummingbird Child Care will be opening to support families during this process. We will be changing many of our practices to align with the new COVID-19 child care regulations. I will provide further details once we know how many staff and children we will have.... In order to create a plan, we need to know your child care needs. We would greatly appreciate this information by Friday May 22nd. Please contact me via email [email protected] with your child care needs. We recognize that this is a difficult decision and we want reassure you that we have been working diligently to continue to create a safe environment for your child. Please note, any parents choosing not to return in June, will not have any fees associated with holding your space for September 2020. I look forward to hearing from you all very soon. Have a fun and safe long weekend. Nicki

Wishing all our Hummingbird Moms a wonderful day!

Hummingbird News ***IMPORTANT*** Attention to all families:... With the end of the school year right around the corner, it is important to start planning for September 2020. Although we do have many children leaving our program to go off to Kindergarten, we have MANY families with siblings needing spaces in the fall. We ask that families respond ASAP. Any child who is currently enrolled in our child care program will receive priority space if needed. Please respond regardless if you are or not returning in the fall. If we do not hear from you by May 8th we will assume that you will not be returning and your space will be offered to those on our waitlist. Childs name: _________________________ Date of Birth: _________________________ Will ____ Will not ____ be returning in September 20. We would prefer full time (5 days) ____ Part time ____ care **Please include the number of days per week. **part time consists of 2-3 days per week. At this time we do not offer a 4 day a week program. Please note your preferred days: Monday ____ Tuesday ____ Wednesday ____ Thursday ____ Friday ____ **For families who are requesting part time spaces, as always we will do our best to accommodate your requested days. If we cannot accommodate your requested days, we will have alternate days for you. **Young parents who are completing their high school education receive priority child care spaces in our program. If you have any questions please feel free to phone or email Nicki @ 250 723-4919 or [email protected].

Happy Friday.... we wanted to thank our friends for reaching out over the last couple of weeks. The teachers wanted to let all our friends know that we miss them very much also!!!! Hopefully we will all be able to play together again soon. Stay healthy and safe.... see you soon friends. Nicki, Tannis, Courtnay, Karen, Cindy, Melissa, Sara, Renee, Lisa, Anjee, Julie, Kaely, Loraine,Nicole and Tonya

COVIBOOK Manuela Molina (2020) has created a short fantasy book designed to reassure children about COVID 19. The book is for children aged 7 and under and can be printed off and shared with children. You can find this resource at https://www.mindheart.co/descargables

I will be sharing resources as they come my way....Stay healthy and safe. We miss everyone!!!!!!

Hello Families... I hope all of you are staying safe and healthy! For any families who are needing any of your childs belongings from their cubbies please feel free to make arrangements with me to come and pick up. I would happily bag up any items for you. **I would ask that only one person come to pick up only.... At this time we are still following the governments directive and remain available daily for any children of Essential Service families. In addition, I will start working on HCC families needs and intentions for Sept 2020 so I can start planning for the fall. I will likely send that paperwork via email. Stay tuned. I know our HCC staff are missing the children and likely the children are feeling the same. Big hugs to everyone as we get through this unusual time. Take good care, Nicki 250 723 4919 or [email protected]

March 27, 2020 Dear Families, As Spring Break comes to an end I know many of you are wondering what this means for our Hummingbird Child Care Centre programs moving forward during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Board of Directors have worked very hard to ensure a plan that is safe and will support not only our families and but also our staff team and fellow British Columbians.... Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer is advising parents who can; to care for their children at home. The government is asking all Canadians to do their part and practice physical distancing and isolating as much as possible in our homes as a proactive measure to aid in stopping/slowing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. At this time, we are following the governments directive as we are deemed an essential service. We will continue to offer care to families who are working outside of the home in Essential Services only. Please note effective Monday March 30, 2020 our programs will merge into one building (HCC 2) to accommodate the future need to care for children of Essential Service worker families only. Meaning, for the time being our programs will remain closed to all other families which includes SD 70 Students, SD 70 Employees and all other families who are able to keep their children home during this pandemic. These are uncertain times and there is a need for drastic measures. We all want to do our part. We appreciate your support and understanding. We care about our children, staff and families. We ask that any Essential Service family in need of care contact [email protected] or call 250 723-4919 directly so we can make plans. We will arrange staffing as needed moving forward. Only those families needing care will be charged fees at this time. All other families will not be charged any fees during this closure and your spaces will be held until we can re-open and fully staff both of our programs. We appreciate everyone’s support and understanding. Please note: HCC does not have an out of school care license so we will not be able to care for any older siblings during this time. In addition, there will be very strict guidelines for drop off and pick up of your children. Staff will welcome families out on our deck. This will include a daily checklist of questions, temperature checks and no parent/guardian entry into the centre. Children will need to wash their hands as they enter the building. We will be maintaining sanitization and cleaning procedures in our environment with support with SD 70 maintenance. We are also following a recommended ZERO Tolerance for illness. Our staff will have the right to refuse care to any child that has any fever, cold or flu like symptoms. We need to air on the side of extreme caution. If you have any questions please contact us at anytime. Stay safe, Nicki Bezanson Program Coordinator

Hello Families, As we finish our first week of Spring Break in isolation and practicing social distancing, the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be on the rise. We understand many of you have questions and are feeling uneasy. Please Know our Board of Directors will be working hard over the next few days to come up with a plan for our programs March 30- onwards.. ... We do not know what this means at this time. We will take directions and recommendations from our Government and Island Health considering the health and safety of our children, staff and families as our main focus. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time. Stay safe and stay tuned for future updates. Any questions please do not hesitate to ask. Nicki [email protected]

Hello Families.... As Spring Break 2020 begins we want to keep you all informed on the latest information we have received in regards to COVID- 19 global pandemic. We will be sure to keep you up to date with any changes that will or could affect our programs during this time.... Just a friendly reminder that we will be closed March 14-29 2020 for Spring Break. Enjoy and stay safe :)

Hello families.... Just a friendly reminder of the upcoming time change this weekend. Clocks go ahead one hour Sunday March 8th @ 3am.

Just a friendly reminder that we are closed today for Family Day. Enjoy your day!

Attention Families.... I have completed your income tax receipts for 2019. Please check your childs cubby for this important tax info.

Free Family Workshop

SPRING BREAK 2020 IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.... Just a friendly reminder to our families that our Hummingbird programs will be closed from March 16 - 27 2020 as per the SD 70 operating calendar. We will re-open on Monday March 30 2020.

It's Pajama week at Hummingbird! Join us for a week of PJ comfort and activities.... Monday Jan 20-Fri Jan 24 2020

Happy New Year!!!! We have all enjoyed getting back into routine this week. We hope everyone enjoyed their holiday break. Our staff wanted to extend heartfelt thanks for all the wonderful acknowledgements from our familes. It was so thoughtful and appreciated. We are truly lucky to be apart of your childs life and learning. SNOW.... I have attached our weather policy below. Please note, if our staff can get to work safely and our buildings have power, we will open our pr...ograms regardless of the SD 70 closures. We will do our best to be here for our families. Snowfall and storms: In the event of major weather conditions, HCC staff will do our best to maintain the child care programs. In the event of school closures, HCC staff will make best effort to open our facility. **Please see our Facebook page and listen to the local radio station for updates. In the event of extreme weather and circumstance (such as a power outage lasting more than 1 hour) HCC will close our facility as we will not be able to maintain our program and health standards. Families would then be contacted to pick up their child immediately. For the safety of all families and staff, we would ask that in extreme situations to please stay home and not travel city roads unless absolutely necessary. Please note that in event of weather closures, HCC does not refund child care fees for that day as these situations are beyond our control.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year! All the best in 2020! Just a friendly reminder Hummingbird programs will reopen Monday January 6 2020. Enjoy the holiday break!

Just a friendly reminder of our annual cookie and carol party at Hummingbird. Please join us from 3:45-5pm at HCC #1. Everyone Welcome ** please note all children must be accompanied by an adult as this event is held after hours.

TIS THE SEASON.... HCC is currently accepting donations of holiday decorations. If any of our families are have any old decorations etc they are getting rid of ...please think of us!

Our staff team was busy doing our First Aid recertification this weekend. Thank you Ryan Hall for sharing your knowledge and expertise with us.

Just a friendly reminder that Hummingbird Child Care Centre will be closed on Monday November 11th.

Happy Friday Families.... just a friendly reminder of this weekends time change. Have a great weekend!

Wishing our children and families a fun and safe Halloween!

Just wanting to share.....

October News.... families just a friendly reminder that we will be closed on Friday October 25th as our staff will be attending a Provincial wide Young Parent Conference. Have a great weekend.

Congratulations to Hummingbird Child Care Society on your 25th Anniversary! At our AGM last week we had a chance to celebrate! Thank you to everyone who made it. We also celebrated and bid a fond farewell to our long time board member and friend Pat Dahlquist after 27 years of service. Pat was one of the founding members of the Port Alberni Planning Committee who worked hard for two years to establish our Young Parent Program which opened in 1994. Enjoy your retirement Pat.