Family Learning Celebrations......Photo Blog

Twice a year we invite our families to join us at BELA in the evening for our Family Learning Celebration. This is a chance for our parents to spend some time learning from their child about life at BELA and experiencing  their daily routine . Our students are always so excited to have their parents attend! Your participation as a parent helps show your child that you value their education and are interested in their school. Parent involvement is directly linked to children's success in school. Thanks to all our BELA families for your participation.

Welcome to our BELA Family....

As September draws to a close, we are settling in to our new school year, excited to welcome back our families whose children have previously attended BELA, and meet many new families and get to know their children!  

As we prepared, with our staff, for the opening of our fourth school year, we paused to examine recent data and research and reflect on the mission of the Brooks Community Enrichment Foundation.  “ The Brooks Early Learning Academy, founded by the Brooks Community Enrichment Foundation, is dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of early learning, and to providing high quality, play-based, early learning programming accessible to all children in our community.”  

Current research regarding the importance of the early learning years, and the birth rates for Brooks & the County of Newell, indicated that our community was definitely in need of additional spaces for children to have high quality early learning opportunities.  Our Foundation was determined to provide these important learning opportunities for all children in our community, regardless of their learning needs or the socio-economic status of their families.  Since our initial year, Alberta  Education & Alberta Human Services partnered in a project, the EarlyChildhood Development (ECD) Mapping Initiative, to collect data across Alberta utilizing the Early Development Instrument (EDI) to gather information about children in Kindergarten.   The EDI developed by McMaster University, is utilized across Canada, Alberta, and Brooks & the County of Newell.

In Canada, the national norm for Canadian children indicates 25.40% of children are experiencing great difficulty in one or more of the 5 early learning developmental domains.

 The 5 year Alberta EDMap results (2009-2014) indicate that 28.9% of children are experiencing Great Difficulty in at least one of the 5 Developmental Domains.

In Brooks & Newell County (2010) the following data was collected: 32.7% of kindergarten children are experiencing difficulty in one or more developmental areas,  including 39.7% experiencing difficulty or great difficulty in Communication skills & General Knowledge; and 29.9% experiencing difficulty or great difficulty in Language & Thinking Skills

As we reviewed the mission of our Foundation and current data, and reflected on our programming, we established our goals for the up-coming year:

·      to provide programming for over 85 students at BELA
·      to increase the number of children enrolled, who are Early English Language Learners; and

·      to continue to provide programming that supports individual

learning needs, and recognizes developmental levels of all children

The BELA Learning Team is excited that we are beginning a new school year and are looking forward to sharing and supporting the learning growth and development of all of our children at BELA this year!   Our year will be filled with active, hands on learning activities, fresh air and daily exercise, science and numeracy activities, field-trips, and an environment which is rich in early literacy activities and support for the children’s character development.  Parents are the children’s first, and most important teachers, and we will celebrate with our families as the children evolve as early learners, who are excited to learn and have fun with their friends, and their teachers at BELA – Where We’re Learning & Loving It!

~JR

Little People, Big Message....(Claire)

My name is Claire and this is my message…..

When I went to the SPEC- ParentLINKCentre programs, I learned to “listen to my teachers and smile and talk with them. I look forward to seeing them and learning from them. I really like learning my numbers, letters and cooking with my friends and teachers!”– Claire(Age 4)

Claire is 4 years old and will be heading off to Kindergarten in the Fall! She is helping us to share the importance of early learning. Here we tell more of her story through the eyes of both her Mom & her program providers at SPEC- ParentLINKCenter.

“I decided to register her in the SPEC- ParentLINKCentre programs- (Messy Monkeys, Little Chefs and Little Scientists ) because  Claire needed help to socialize with other children. She needed to learn how to play with other children her own age and connect with them in a fun environment. “- Joanne (Claire’s Mom)

“When Claire started attending programs she was so shy and wouldn’t play with any of the other children. Claire would come in the playroom and sit on her mother’s lap or play with a toy by herself. If a child came to play Claire would leave and go see her mother.” – Karen Bolt (SPEC ParentLINKCenter)

The ECMap developmental domain of Emotional Maturity can be described as “the child is able to express emotions at an age-appropriate level, is able to separate from parent/guardian.” In Brooks and the County of Newell 27.2% of our Kindergarten children are experiencing difficulty in this area of development.

The emotional maturity of a child has great impact on their everyday life. It affects every relationship they have, with members of their own family, and with new children and adults they encounter in the community. As you can imagine, those children who struggle in this area will face even greater challenges when they enter school, as they will need to handle all of the changes that brings and all the emotions that come with it. We can support our children by providing them with lots of opportunity to develop emotional control while we can guide them. Attending early childhood programs which provide a variety of experiences early in life, with a variety of children and adults, can make all the difference, as they gain control over their emotions, and confidence in their ability to meet new people and make friends.  By attending early learning opportunities, they will have had practice in situations such as: separating from Mom or Dad; having to listen to another adult besides their parent(s); sharing with children other than siblings; and resolving conflict with other children; all while managing their emotions or, if needed, having an experienced teacher or program provider assist them in doing that.

“Claire now welcomes us with a smile and a “hello” when we see her come to SPEC-ParentLINKCentre. Claire has joined in on conversation during the program and asks questions when she doesn’t understand. I also see Claire playing and talking with other children during the program and while playing. Claire seems much happier now. We are continuing to focus on social interaction with other children so that when she begins Kindergarten, the transition from home to making new friends at school will be much easier.”- Karen Bolt (SPEC ParentLINKCenter)

“The biggest change I have seen in Claire since starting these programs is how happy she is to be there. She always has a smile on her face when greeting her teachers. She also looks forward to playing with other children she has become friends with instead of playing alone.

I would recommend SPEC- ParentLINKCentre  programs to the other parents because the children have opportunities to learn at their own pace. The tasks are fun and the teachers take the time to get to know the names and the personalities of the children. The teachers do not push the children to do things they aren’t comfortable with at the time. The teachers are well prepared and are a huge help to the parents as well. I am proud of Claire because she has come out of her shell and emotionally is more ready to start Kindergarten in September.”- Joanne (Claire’s Mom)

“Healthy early childhood development is the foundation to a child's life. From positive relationships with peers and family to sleep habits to kicking a soccer ball, the experiences in a child's early years are of the utmost importance. We know from the results that came out of the ECMap Project, a large percentage of our children here in Brooks and area are experiencing difficulty. At the SPEC Parent LINK Centre we have staff with many different backgrounds and expertise to facilitate early childhood activities and empower parents with the resources they need to foster the best environments for their children. We believe in learning through play and also believe that parents are their child's BEST teacher!” – Desire Veno (Program Manager, SPEC ParentLINKCenter)

Nearly 29% of Kindergarten-age children in Alberta are experiencing great difficulty in one or more of the five areas of development. In Brooks and area this number jumps to nearly 33%! (www.ecmap.ca). The five developmental domains are related, building on each other, and it is important to support children as they develop emotional maturity, social competence, and communication skills, as difficulties in these areas directly affect development in general knowledge, language and thinking skills and physical health and well-being.  Children who have well-developed self regulation skills, and are able to communicate their needs, are better equipped to learn new skills and develop their knowledge, even when something is new or difficult.  The ‘unwritten curriculum’ provided through early learning opportunities, will support their successful transition to Kindergarten. Giving our children the opportunity and time to develop in appropriately in all five developmental domains will change the statistics we are seeing for children in our community. We can improve the experience our children are having, as students in Kindergarten and beyond! For more information about the statistics seen throughout the Little People, Big Message campaign, please visit the website of the Brooks & County of Newell ECD Coalition. For  more information about the programs mentioned via the BELA Blog please see the resources below.

Resources:

Brooks & County Immigration Services

www.bcis-brooks.ca

403.362.0404

Brooks Early Learning Academy

www.brooksearlylearning.ca

403.501.0019

Brooks Preschool

http://brookspreschool.com/

403.362.4828

Duchess Preschool

403.378.4557

Les P'Tits Trésors.

403.362.2010


http://leruisseau.csud.ca/

Parents As Teachers

Grasslands Intervention Offices

403.362.8729 ext 116

SPEC Parent Link Center

http://spec.ab.ca/

403.362.5056

- CP

Little People, Big Message....(Anthony)

My Name is Anthony and this is my message….

“When I started preschool I needed help to hold my crayons and pencils correctly and needed help drawing and printing.

Now I love to paint, color pictures, draw and write my name.  I also have learned that a fiction book means "make believe" and a non-fiction books means "real facts". I especially loved learning about zoo animals at school this year.  Did you know that a herd of rhino's is called a crash?”- Anthony (age5)

Anthony started preschool when he was just 2 years & 8 months old! He is ready & excited to head off to Kindergarten in the Fall. Anthony is helping us share the importance of early learning. Here we tell more of his story through the eyes of his parents & teachers.

“We have seen tremendous growth in Anthony's development since he started preschool at the age of two “turning three in December" especially in his fine motor skills.  What was once a struggle for Anthony, now it is such a joy to see the pride and love Anthony has for drawing pictures, coloring and painting and printing his name and letters and numbers. We always look forward to Anthony's enthusiastic stories after school about what he learned that morning.”- Thelma (Anthony’s Mom)  

The ECMap developmental domain for Physical Health & Well-being is described as: “Child is well-rested, well-nourished and can sustain energy levels during kindergarten activities; is physically independent (can look after own basic needs); has gross motor skills (e.g. able to catch and throw a ball) and fine motor skills (e.g. able to handle crayons and pencils). 

ECMap data indicates 75.2% of the children in Brooks and the County of Newell are developing appropriately in this developmental domain, while 24.8% are experiencing difficulty, which is similar to percentages throughout the province of Alberta. (www.ecmap.ca) 

“We know that the early learning years (birth to age 8) are of vital importance.  Anthony has one of those very late birthdays (before the Dec31 cut-off) where parents have to make the decision of when to send them to preschool as well as when to send them to Kindergarten. Anthony could have attended Kindergarten last year, according to his birthday but would have likely been one of the youngest students in his class. This decision for parents is always a difficult one and has to made with

careful consideration based on the child’s needs and development. Anthony’s parents gave him the opportunity to maximize his potential over the last three years. The progress Anthony has made in the Physical Health & Well-being domain, particularly in the areas of independence and fine motor, has been exemplary. The time Anthony spent with us allowed him to grow and develop in all 5 domains, and as a result Anthony is developmentally ready for the excitement of new challenges as he enters Kindergarten. “ - Jody Rutherford (BELA)

Children who attend Preschool are provided with extensive experiences in relation to the 'unwritten curriculum' which helps to prepare them for greater independence as learners in Kindergarten. As well, it is often in Preschool that developmental concerns or difficulty with vision or hearing are identified, and assessment recommended, which helps to ensure that these concerns have been addressed prior to entry into Kindergarten.

Participation in early childhood programs, with other children of similar age and developmental level, gives the child more opportunity to be exposed to varied learning opportunities, staff of different backgrounds, children & families with skills and interests different from their own. Brooks has a wide variety of early learning program opportunities and staff at SPEC Parent Link, the Brooks Preschool, the Francophone school, BELA, the Brooks Library, Parents As Teachers, and others, have a rich background and extensive resources to support families in our community. We are fortunate to have choices, and to be able to make decisions, as parents, as to what programs we feel will best support our children and our families.

“We decided to register Anthony in preschool to give him the opportunity to learn through play and for the chance to play with other children his age.  We wanted to ensure that Anthony will have had a variety of play based learning experiences and to have built a very solid foundation of skills built through these experiences for when he starts kindergarten this fall. We would strongly recommend preschool to other parents because it's fun, enriching and instills a love of learning in children. Anthony absolutely loves his teachers and they know everything!” - Thelma (Anthony’s Mom)

“Anthony values his time in school and you can see that in his enthusiasm and even in his non-verbal communication. His body language on the carpet has changed from not wanting to sit there, to now wanting to sit in the front row so he can be part of the discussion! Anthony can now listen to the story and information given to him, and in return ask questions related to the topic we are focusing on.  

We are continuing to focus on his journal work encouraging him to take his time and do his best work!” – Tayler Stojke (Anthony’s Teacher)

“We are so proud of Anthony's new found independence and confidence that he has in himself when learning and exploring new concepts. It's an amazing joy to see our son love to learn.  We know that Anthony is now ready for Kindergarten and he has a very solid foundation. “- Thelma (Anthony’s Mom)

Building that foundation is one of the most important things a parent will do for their child! From knowing the developmental milestones and working towards them from birth (or working with organizations that can help, like Parents As Teachers) to choosing fun, interesting activities for them at home & outside your home, to being actively involved in their education from preschool or Kindergarten on; each of these steps helps to build that foundation.

The most important part of that foundation? A love of learning!! All things can be achieved if your child is excited about learning and being a student of the world! I had the Mom of a student at Les P'Tits Trésors (the Francophone preschool program) describe this perfectly when asked about her daughter’s preschool experience, “ V’s ability to share her life, ideas and feelings has grown incredibly since beginning preschool. V often comes home with stories of her friends, questions about the world and a keenness to learn more and share her thoughts!” That sounds like a little learner who is excited and ready to take on her career as a student!

The data from the ECMap Project clearly tells us that a lot of our children are heading off to Kindergarten without that solid foundation. Only 41.9% of Kindergarten children in Brooks and the County of Newell are developing appropriately in all five developmental domains. To me, that sounds like a very shaky foundation to be building all of our classrooms on. The community we live in is rich in resources and programs. It’s time for all of us who work in this field to be more active in reaching out to families! We hope this message reaches those who need it most.

- CP

Resources:

Brooks & County Immigration Services

www.bcis-brooks.ca

403.362.0404

Brooks Early Learning Academy

www.brooksearlylearning.ca

403.501.0019

Brooks Preschool

http://brookspreschool.com/

403.362.4828

Duchess Preschool

403.378.4557

Les P'Tits Trésors.

403.362.2010


http://leruisseau.csud.ca/

Parents As Teachers

Grasslands Intervention Offices

403.362.8729 ext 116

SPEC Parent Link Center

http://spec.ab.ca/

403.362.5056

Little People, Big Message....(Ashlee)

My name is Ashlee and this is my message….

“I love to help the teachers ring the bell and be the line leader, that makes me feel important. I like to sing songs and dance in class! – Ashlee (age 5)

Ashlee started attending preschool when she was 3 and is off to Kindergarten in the Fall. She is helping us increase the awareness of the importance of early learning. Here we share more of her story as told by her parents & teachers.

"Ashlee is a wonderful little girl who has benefited from attending Pre-School because her difficulty communicating her needs, and her anxiety in the social situation at school, made it challenging for Ashlee to share all that she knew about the world.  Fortunately with support from her family, these needs were recognized early, and strategies and supports were provided to assist Ashlee to become more comfortable in a school environment, and better able to communicate her needs."  – Jody Rutherford (BELA)

“When Ashlee went to preschool she needed help with communication, social and motor skills. She was not comfortable talking to everyone in the class and preferred to be quiet and to play by herself. Now she feels more comfortable talking to her teachers, responding to their questions. With her friends, she feels more comfortable playing with them.” – Lukkhana & Matt  (Ashlee’s Parents)

The Early Development Instrument measures a child’s development in the Communication Skills & General Knowledge domain, as a child being able to ‘’communicate needs and wants in socially appropriate ways, can tell stories and has general knowledge about the outside world that is age appropriate.

Data from the ECMap project indicates that only 59.9% of Kindergarten children in Brooks & the County of Newell are developing at an age appropriate level in this developmental area.

This ECMap data includes data for children who are learning to speak English, which is particularly important for Brooks & the County of Newell, where 16.9% of residents have a first language other than English or French. It is especially important for children learning English and / or struggling with their language skills to start early, by taking part in available programs, before Kindergarten.

“When we consider the number of children who are at risk in the Communication Skills & General Knowledge domain, combined with the Emotional Maturity domain,  and/or the Social Competence domain, we often see children who are experiencing difficulty expressing and communicating their emotions in a socially acceptable manner, which may have a significant impact in our Kindergarten and Grade One classrooms.”- Jody Rutherford (BELA)

 We know that it is sometimes difficult or even impossible to arrange transportation for children to and from programs, work schedules that are not conducive to enrolling children in outside programs, or if you have made a personal choice to keep your children at home with you. For any of these circumstances there are still programs that can offer you support in enhancing your child’s development. SPEC LINKS offers the HIPPY Program,

 (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters), some local programs offer a drop in schedule. Call & ask questions, visit programs & open houses. Design a plan that works best for your family and for your child’s needs.

“Ashlee celebrated her fifth birthday recently and has grown and improved in her social and emotional skills tremendously. Ashlee will now play with other children independently. She will sing songs and participate joyfully and willingly in games, group activities and play time at school. Ashlee will raise her hand and answer questions verbally during circle time. We continue to work on Ashlee’s communication skills by encouraging more verbal interaction with her peers during play. In addition we focus on increasing the amount of time she interacts with her peers.”– Kim McClelland  (Ashlee’s 

Teacher)

“We are so proud of Ashlee because she has improved a lot and is doing so well! We were so lucky to get help from the teachers and staff in school who have more experience with teaching and other areas that can help her to improve. We have 2 kids and we had them in pre-school since they were 3. Both of them loved to go to preschool because they can make friends, play, and learn the things that they need to know when they are in the kindergarten. We feel that going to preschool is the best thing for kids. It makes their younger years much easier.”- Lukkhana & Matt  (Ashlee’s Parents)

“With continued involvement from Ashlee’s parents and her older brother, we are confident we will be able to successfully transition Ashlee to her Kindergarten class, where she will continue to learn and grow!” Jody Rutherford (BELA)

For more information on programs and resources in our community please see below:

Resources:

Brooks & County Immigration Services

www.bcis-brooks.ca

403.362.0404

Brooks Early Learning Academy

www.brooksearlylearning.ca

403.501.0019

Brooks Preschool

http://brookspreschool.com/

403.362.4828

Duchess Preschool

403.378.4557

Les P'Tits Trésors.

403.362.2010


http://leruisseau.csud.ca/

Parents As Teachers

Grasslands Intervention Offices

403.362.8729 ext 116

SPEC Parent Link Center

http://spec.ab.ca/

403.362.5056

- CP