About Us
Mission Statement:
At South Drive Children’s Circle, our mission is to provide a flexible, play-based child care program that is designed to meet the needs of each child and family. We pride ourselves on providing child care services that meet the individual needs of each child with a creative, developmental program in an educational, caring and safe environment.
Our goals are:
To provide dependable child care services
To provide a safe, nurturing environment
To encourage social, cognitive, and physical development
To provide learning experiences for our children
To provide a preschool program, readying children for lifelong learning
Overview of Programs
We operate two Centres – one at Rosedale Public School (South Drive) and one at Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) Catholic School (Garfield Drive). Both programs has a daily schedule/program that is unique and targeted to the student population that it serves. Hours of operation are different at each Centre.
Getting in Touch with your Child’s Teacher
South Drive Children’s Circle strives for a successful partnership between parents and staff members, with the well-being of your child as our primary goal.
Parents are welcome to discuss their child with their teachers at drop off and pick up each day. Please note however that the teachers are responsible for several children at this time and may not be able to devote a great deal of time to a discussion.
Please be aware that all staff members have signed a confidentiality agreement and are not permitted to discuss other children or confidential issues with parents.
Philosophy
At South Drive Children’s Circle, we provide a creative, developmental program in a caring and safe environment. We pride ourselves in providing a flexible, school- based program that is designed to meet individual family needs.
Programming
At South Drive Children’s Circle, we promote all facets of child-development: emotional, social, physical and cognitive. To facilitate these aspects of a child’s growth and learning, we have created a well- balanced program that includes both teacher and child-directed and free-play activities. We aim to foster and enrich a positive self-image, the ability to think and reason, good communication skills and competence in physical co- ordination. We carefully nurture each child’s independence and each individual is encouraged to explore all areas of creative and cognitive play. We provide a warm and supportive environment in which children are able to explore their surroundings, learn from new experiences and gain the confidence to handle many different situations.
Children spend time with the teacher and his/her peer group, thus encouraging relationship building and emotional growth with both adults and other children. The children will be expected to respect the basic rights of others and be made aware of acceptable and unacceptable behaviours. Teachers also help the children to recognize, deal with, and express emotions positively.
In addition, teachers lead age-appropriate activities such as cognitive circles, art, books, games, music, science and cooking lessons.
Daily activities and program sheets are posted on the hallway bulletin on the parent board at each Centre.
Parent Involvement
South Drive Children’s Circle is a non-profit corporation. The Board consists of parents of children enrolled in one of the Centres, together with the Executive Director, Kindergarten teachers attend regular monthly meetings as guests of the Board of Directors to provide input on programming and integration with the classrooms. All parents are welcome to attend any Board meeting as an observer.
History
In September 1983, South Drive Children’s Circle opened to meet a growing need for daycare facilities for Kindergarten- aged children.
In 1998, Circle introduced an After-School program for elementary school children, aged 6 to 12 years. Rosedale Public School, where our programs are located in rooms 12, 10 and 2, works in association with Circle to provide and enriched and varied curriculum for all participants. We have access to all the school’s facilities, including the playground, gym and library. As well, Circle partakes in the school’s special events, including its art show, steel pan and annual play.
In 2006, Circle expanded into a second neighbourhood facility – Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School on Garfield Avenue offers an expanded before and after school program called Garfield Avenue Children’s Circle.
South Drive Children’s Circle is a non- profit corporation. The Board consists of parents of children enrolled in Circle, together with the daycare supervisor. Kindergarten teachers attend regular monthly meetings as guests of the board to provide input on programming. All parents are welcome to attend meetings as observers.