Workside Early Childhood Education Centre
99 Woolwich Street N1H 3V1 Guelph, ON, Canada

In Flanders Fields BY JOHN MCCRAE In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row,... That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

For one week, Mabel's Labels is offering 30% OFF their new Pacifier Labels and Baby Bottle Labels! These dishwasher safe, waterproof labels are the perfect tool for parents to keep their baby’s soothers and bottles from getting swapped at daycare. Visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com and select Workside from the drop down list to order :)

Workside is currently hiring for supply staff! If you or someone you know loves working with children, is enthusiastic and has past experience working in an licensed child care setting, we'd love to hear from you. Qualifications required:... Past experience in a licensed caste setting with children 0-4years. Current Vulnerable Sector Check (current within 6 months) Up to date immunizations Standard First Aid and CPR level C Early Childhood Education Diploma and registration with the College of ECE's (preferred) Resumes can be forwarded to [email protected] We thank everyone for applying, but only those who meet the criteria will be contacted. Please share

Happy Halloween

Today, the Ontario government launched a webpage that will show COVID-19 cases in schools and child care centres which will be updated every weekday at 10:30 am. Visit the website to learn more. https://bit.ly/33gKrLa

Even if your child dresses up as a zombie this year, remind them not to get too close and to keep six feet away from others! If you decide to trick or treat this year we have other advice on our website. https://bit.ly/34f5Vd2

Workside is fundraising through Fundscrip again! Since most businesses prefer a cashless transaction due to COVID-19, we felt this would be the perfect way to fundraise while supporting your favourite retailers. Purchase gift cards just in time for the holidays or for everyday purchases such as gas and groceries and the Centre receives a percentage back towards fundraising. How awesome is that?!... This year we'd like to replace our outdoor wooden benches that are unfortunately deteriorating and will soon be removed. Families of the Centre will receive ordering packages next week but if you'd like more or would like to support our Centre and are not a current family, please email me at [email protected] and I can send you all the info. Thank you for your support!

Wishing everyone a safe and fun long weekend! Workside will reopen Tuesday September 8th at 7:30am.

Today is the very last day for a few of our friends heading off to JK. This morning we were gifted this amazing canvas stitched with the Workside logo and it is gorgeous! The thought, time and effort that went into this will forever be remembered as it hangs in our upper hallway. A big thank you to Lauren Wright Vartanian for this beautiful piece. Check out Lauren's website to see her amazing art!

Today was a big day! We welcomed back more children, including some new families. We know the enhanced protocols are a difficult adjustment for all and it's something we're following dilegently and managing as best we can. We thank everyone for their patience and understanding as we face these changes together. ... Know we are here to support you

Early morning view of our screening area. Thank you to all our current families who have done an amazing job embracing the new drop off routine. We can't wait for more families to join us September 1st ... Happy Weekend!

Wishing everyone a safe, healthy and happy long weekend! Workside will reopen Tuesday August 4th

It's International Self-Care Day! International Self-Care Day is a worldwide campaign held annually on July 24th (7/24) as a reminder that the benefits of self-care are experienced 24 hours a day, seven days a week. How will you celebrate and take time for yourself this weekend?

Do you live in Guelph or the surrounding area? Do you have a child 2-5 years? Join the Family Stress Study to help researchers understand how stress affects young children! Workside Early Childhood Education Centre

Thank you to the County of Wellington Capacity Building team and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health for putting together this helpful home monitoring visual resource.

Delivery! A huge thank you to Nemcor Home Textiles for their generous donation of 250 blankets!! We'd also like to thank Kim Stahlbaum who was our liaison with Nemcor and delivered the blankets to the Centre. ... Due to COVID protocols, we've been using blankets as a barrier. This allows us to continue to offer close support to the children without distancing. We'll also be replacing some of our program blankets that have been well loved over the last 5 years. This donation was shared with several child care Centres within the County who could also benefit from having these blankets in their program.

Reopening day went really well! Thanks to our front door screeners Patti, Katy and Megan

Some adorable photos of mud play at it's finest! Thank you to one of our staff for sending us photos of their little one celebrating International Mud Day

We have some pretty amazing supporters that we'd like to recognize for their contributions to help our Centre over the last 2 months. For donation of sheets and blankets I'd like to thank: Ann Roberts Becky Grieves... Melissa Spencer Linda Cunningham Elizabeth Steggles Kim Stahlbaum Alison Bell-Smith For making reusable gowns for the Centre: Elizabeth Steggles Linda Cunningham Lois Cherry Saverina Mauro and Maria Faienza For financial contributions: Colleen Best Heather Finn Meghan Simpson We appreciate you all willing to pull together so that we can reopen and have the supplies we require to make our environment healthy and safe for the staff and children. THANK YOU!

The Mabel's Labels Back to Class Sale is here! Labelling is more important than ever to ensure there are no mix-ups and to reduce the spread of germs. From now until the end of July, the entire line of school products are $5 off and have free shipping! Make sure you visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com to support our fundraiser and get your savings!

Wishing everyone safety and good health while celebrating our country. HAPPY CANADA DAY!!

Tomorrow is International Mud Day! This would have been our 5th year celebrating this great initiative. Unfortunately due to COVID-19 we won't be able to celebrate and participate together BUT you can do this from home The ingredients are simple: Mud Your hands to explore... Optional are scoops, bins, tarps, paint brushes, canvas... Whatever you'd like to add to highten the experience. Why play in mud? The open ended mud play encourages creative thinking, boosts the immune system and increases awareness of our senses, can improve hand eye coordination and social emotional skills. So many wonderful benefits of this openly free play For anyone who will be engaging in mud play tomorrow we'd love to see your photos! Here are a few photos of our past years of celebrating International Mud Day! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/international-mud-day/

Today seems like a great day to build a fort! Grab your coziest pillows and blankets, stuffed animals, books, imagination AND... Have fun!! ... If your family decides to make a fort this weekend we'd love to see them! Please share via messenger or email to [email protected]

Watch flowers and vegetables drink up water and colour change with this simple science activity. What you'll need: carnations or lettuce Containers... Water Food colouring Children will be able to see how flowers, plants and vegetables absorb their water to grow and survive. The colour travelling through the veins of the lettuce can be seen and through the flowers petals as they colour change.

A great indoor activity for preschoolers is learning to sew. Sewing improves fine motor skills, hand-eye-coordination, patience, imagination and creative expression. To start you'll need: - large yarn/tapestry needle (plastic to start) - yarn... - burlap or plastic canvas - large plastic buttons (to learn to sew buttons) Happy sewing!

To all Father's, Step-Fathers, Grandfather's, Pet-Fathers, Foster-Fathers or to anyone who cares for someone like a father... today we thank you. Happy Father's Day!!

DIY chia pet plants! Thanks to a Workside family for sharing their creative gardening project. What you need: Pots... Markers (to draw on facial features) Soil Water Grass seed Scissors for trimming your grass Sun to grow! See more

Arranging pick ups this week! Please message or email [email protected] if you have any old sheets you are willing to donate.

We are incredibly fortunate to have such a wonderful community of people who are making caps, masks and gowns for not-for-profits. Today I picked up 6 reusable handmade gowns made for Workside Staff. Deepest thanks to Jennifer Cameron who is the volunteer coordinator with Guelph COVID 19 Surgical Cap Sewists. She took our request for gowns and coordinated with individuals in the community who are dedicating their time to make these essential PPE for those in need. ... Their group is dedicated to continue making these products as long as they have the donations to do so. If anyone has cotton sheets (flat sheets preferred), I will be collecting and dropping off at Jennifer's place next weekend. Please message or email [email protected] to arrange donation pick up.

Workside is in need of reusable/washable gowns for when we reopen. We've connected with one group who is making them for not-for-profits in Wellington County however there are 350 orders ahead of ours. If anyone is able to sew gowns or knows someone who could help out, please have them email us at [email protected] Thank you!

Our COVID-19 Call Centre hours have been updated starting Monday, April 20. If you have health-related questions about COVID-19 including symptoms, close contac...ts, travel or you are a health care provider, call 519-822-2715 ext. 7006, Monday-Friday 9 a.m. 6p.m. and Weekends 9 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. If you have non-health-related general questions about COVID-19 including business or workplace concerns, social distancing questions or non-emergency reporting questions, please visit our website, or call our non-health-related call centre line at 519-822-2715 ext. 4020, Monday-Friday 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Please note, our 1-800 number continues to experience technical difficulties, please use our 519-822-2715 number.

Many have asked us how they can support us in our efforts to reopen. Please consider signing the open letter to Premier Ford and Minister Stephen Lecce from the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care. We are asking the government to fund child care Centres so we can cover our enhanced costs due to COVID-19. https://www.childcareontario.org/open_letter_to_ford_and_le

Wow look at the giant bubbles! Thank you to a Workside family for sending in their photos! Looks like so much fun!

It's an exciting time when bubbles come out to play! Bubble play is so much fun and has so many developmental benefits for children. Gross motor movement, balance and muscle tone development Fine motor development... Hand-eye and Foot-eye coordination Body and spatial awareness Visual tracking and much more. See the pictures below for a big bubble recipe

Some fun and healthy food kabobs to try with children! Lots of different ways to make meal or snack time fun and engaging. You can even prep. The food and have children assemble to make their own!

Singing songs is always a big part of our day at Workside. Singing songs with children has so many wonderful benefits such as: Improving language development Improve self confidence and self-esteem Strengthens memory skills Builds motor skills and allows them to practice ... self-expression Helps regulate emotions Here are a few of our favourites below

Healthy rainbow popsicles anyone? These are a healthy and cool treat for hot days ahead all made with real fruit

Gardening with young children has so many wonderful benefits such as: *Enhances fine motor skills *Engages all of their senses *Teaches responsibility *Introduces them to scientific concepts and much more!... Activity idea: Planting seeds in egg shells You'll need egg shells with most of the shell intact, soil, seeds and water. These are great organic seed pots that enrich the soil and help your plant grow. The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle is a Workside favourite that comes with seed paper to grow your own flowers. I've attached the YouTube link for a video book reading of The Tiny Seed. https://youtu.be/ls6wTeT2cKA

Happy Pride Month! Love is never wrong #morelove

With resources for children, youth and parents/guardians, adults, seniors and caregivers, employers and employees and healthcare workers, Here4Help is full of useful tools and techniques to manage the stresses of dealing with #COVID19. http://here4help.ca