OUR CENTRES
River Parkway Pre-School Centre (RPPC) (613-729-3129) is a non-profit daycare centre in the First Unitarian Congregation church in the west end of Ottawa, with 64 children from two to five years of age. River Parkway operates River Heights Pre-School Centre (RHPC) (613-834-8152) which is also a non-profit daycare centre; it is located in Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School in Orleans, with 41 children from 18 months to five years of age.
The majority of children attend every day, but we do have some children who attend on a part-time basis. River Parkway is open Monday to Friday from 7:30 am to 5:45 pm with the exception of statutory holidays. We have a purchase of service agreement with the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton which allows us to offer a number of subsidized spaces .
PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY AND DESCRIPTION
Our program is designed to meet the overall developmental needs of the children in the areas of socialization, emotional growth, intellectual ability, and physical maturation. The activities each day reflect a healthy balance between play and rest, active and quiet times, structured group times and individual activity, and, of course, affectionate adult-child interactions. Outdoor play is a daily feature of our program, weather permitting.
There are five classrooms at RPPC and children are divided according to age. Program planning in each room is age-appropriate. We are fortunate in having experienced and caring staff. Many children will remain at the Centre from their entry at 2 years of age until they leave for kindergarten at age 5.
The classrooms include the following basic areas:
1) creative: where children have a variety of art materials available plus some structured art activities;
2) cognitive: where children may select from among books, puzzles, games, and construction activities such as lego and unit blocks;
3) science: which includes animals, plants and other nature objects;
4) imaginative: which involves housekeeping, doll play, blocks, and dress-up opportunities. There are also other play opportunities within the classroom such as sand and water play, as well as a separate gross motor room with a play structure, tumbling mats, large building blocks, and tricycles.
Books and music play a very important part in each child's day. Field trips into the community are made on a regular basis and we have a daily time for special activities such as music, French, cooking, drama, group games, songs, and stories. Visits to the Carlingwood branch of the Ottawa Public Library are arranged periodically.
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OUR GOALS
As a community service, our aims are to:
a) provide a program of child development in a warm, caring environment;
b) complement and support parents in their child-rearing responsibilities; c) provide a bridge between home, family and the wider community.
Children thrive in an environment which is warm, safe, and stimulating. RPPC provides an atmosphere in which self-confidence is encouraged, opportunities are provided to build positive relationships, and an interest in learning is promoted through a variety of activities organized by caring, interested, qualified, and enthusiastic staff.
At RPPC, we provide an opportunity for children to develop independence, creativity and co-operation. We want to be a part of your child's formative years ... providing care which lays the foundation for children to grow into caring, contributing adults.
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OUR STAFF
The Executive Director, Program Supervisor, Teachers, Administrative Assistant, Cook, and Cook's Helper make up the staff of the Centre. The Executive Direct
or is a certified Early Childhood Educator with more than 30 years experience. The Program Supervisor is a trained Early Childhood Educator with more than 10 years experience. The Senior Teachers have completed a training program in Early Childhood Education and have at least two years experience in preschool, and the teachers are ECE trained. Assistant teachers are in training, or are trained in a related field.
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OUR CREDENTIALS
RPPC and RHPC are licensed by the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services. We receive regular visits from the Health Inspector, Fire Inspector, and a Day Nurseries Program Advisor.We fulfill all Ministry requirements as to space, equipment, staff ratios, etc. We operate under a 12-member Board of Directors which meets one evening each month. The members of the Board are drawn from parents, from the First Unitarian Congregation, and from the community. We are non-denominational in approach and the children enrolled represent all socio-economic levels.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Many people visit the centre. RPPC provides in-service training for students attending high school, college, and university in the Ottawa area. These include high school students observing day care programs as well as students placed in the Centre for work experience. We also
have observers and student teachers from the Early Childhood Education Programs at Algonquin College, Heritage Col
lege, and La Cite Collegiale, as well as the school of Nursing at Algonquin College. Service agencies such as the Children's Aid Society, Public Health Nursing and the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario refer parents to our Centre for children requiring special care. |
