Wednesday 5 October 2011

Awards of Achievment to the Team of ECEs at Creative Minds

It is with great pleasure that I can share with you that 3 members of the team at Creative Minds Early Learning Centre have been granted the  
Prime Minister's Award for Achievement for the 2010-2011 year.

Wendy McPhail
Mary Fai
and
Kathryn Dula

were sent Certificates of Achievement from the Prime Minister's Office yesterday. 
It is a great honour to have received this recognition.

The rules of the award prevented Dr. Monika Naus and I from nominating any of the other members of the team (there was a maximum of three members allowed per team).  
I would also like to show my appreciation to  
Deb Grant and Anamaria Girtonea 
and all the quality ECEs who have worked at Creative Minds over the years.  Working in this field is certainly achieved with collaboration among colleagues, parents, children, Southlands School and community supporters.

We especially thank the families who wrote letters of support last year and to Dr. Naus (Anna and Ivo's mum) for pulling the details together to build a fine nomination package.

We will be hosting a gathering in the near future at 5 p.m.  
I'll keep you posted.

Teaching Art with Books and More

Hello Families,

It has been my pleasure to listen to the children describe their art explorations over the last three Fridays.  The teachers have been helping the children learn about line in art.  A line has more length than width and can be straight, curved or jagged.   A line can be made with a pencil, stick, marker, or other items.  The outside edges of objects can be lines.  Lines are used to show direction and communicate moods and feelings.  

The smart board has played a role in helping the children trace lines and explore famous works of art.  Books have been central to the process.  

The Children have looked at the work of Kenneth Noland, Piet Mondrian, Paul Klee, Pablo Picasso. Joan Miro, Edgar Degas, Henri Matisse, and others.  

We suggest that on your next library visit you see if you can pick up:
Smokey night by Bunting
The Girl who Loved While Horses by Paul Goble
Hush!  A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho
A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni
Mirette on the High Wire by Emily McCully
Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe
I imagine you have quite a gallery in your home with all that they have been bringing home.