WE STRIVE TO SEE THE WORLD FROM A KIDS-EYE-VIEW
Bellwoods Playschool uses a child-centred, socially conscious pedagogy to engage young children in social and artistic thought and action. Using what the city has to offer, we empower our students with the knowledge to be socially and environmentally responsible citizens while they develop into explorers of their urban landscape.

WE THINK OF THE CITY AS OUR CLASSROOM
A valuable aspect of the Bellwoods Playschool program is to empower children as navigators of their city. We journey on regular excursions, by foot and by public transportation, to art galleries, museums and cultural events, as well as markets, parks and city landmarks.

WE KNOW ITS TAKES A VILLAGE

Our Playschool runs on a model that links a range of artists together to engage and inspire children. We like to bring in different perspectives and actively pursue a diverse teaching staff. As such, professional educators and artists trade chalkboards for personal anecdotes and textbooks for real life experiences. Together, they create an atmosphere that is at once intellectually stimulating and deeply personalized.


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Friday, January 21, 2011

January!

ITS BEEN A VERY FUN MONTH!
While the bellwoods big mama/founder has been re-discovering her roots in the Phillippines, The Twirlybirds (and Hamsters) got up to some very fun activities.

We wrote a new song called FAST MOVEMENT.  Its about.....goin fast, and the activities we enjoy in this capacity.
(******recording coming soon*******)

Dufferin Grove was home to our ice skating adventures.  Sammy and Ruby enjoyed their first time EVER skating!  We had the whole rink to ourselves for most of the day, and it was an exciting time for all.  All the Hamsters and Twirlybirds were total pros, and were great at helping one another on the ice.  I believe we stayed for close to 3 HOURS!

Most recently, we all attended the HaloHalo silkscreening studio at Dufferin and Davenport.  Hosted by the inimitable and incomaparable Jeff Garcia, a local screenprinting legend, the day was spent foraying through Jeff's living space, known as the EARTHSHIP, and generally seeing how and amazing creative force like Jeff lives and works.  We then entered the other side, where the children screenprinted in a REAL STUDIO.  I can't speak for everyone, but I'm pretty sure that this was a memorable imaginative and exciting (and hilarious) time for EVERYONE involved!

(******VIDEOS AND PICS UP SOON*********!)  

There has also been much snowflake cutting and making, bombing down hills on toboggans, and learning about arctic living (in Toronto and outside!)  

The person who wrote this entry apologizes for the delay in multimedia examples, but these will be posted as soon as the technological boundaries are crossed!

Sincerely,
Dan