Dear Families and Friends of Creating Together,
It’s time to welcome May here in Parkdale – and with it, we mark one successful month of drop-in programs! This month we acknowledge CMHA Mental Health Week May 2-8, 2022. We also wish a Happy Mother’s Day to all of the Mothers in our community, and Eid Mubarak to the Muslim Community! We look forward to celebrating and acknowledging these days in the centre this month. The warmer weather brings some exciting changes at Creating Together. Read on below for further programming updates and news.
Inside this Newsletter
COVID-19 Protocol
Program Updates
Virtual Program Updates
Call for Board Members
Resource Boxes
Welcome New Students
COVID-19 Protocol
We have returned to mandatory masking in the centre, and encourage the same for children over the age of two, should they be able to comfortably mask. We will no longer be screening upon your arrival, yet we invite you and your family to self-screen using the following tool or our posted notice at the door. We wish to remind families who have travelled outside of Canada, that Ontario Public Health requires that you wear a mask in public spaces for 14 days, monitor symptoms, and track all close contacts.
For the safety and respect of all of our community members, we continue to ask that you remain at home if a member of your household feels unwell. For families who continue to feel well enough to join us at the centre, please ensure you sign yourself in and out of the program on the attendance sheet.
We are thankful for your continued cooperation.
Program Updates
Thank you to everyone who has joined in as we re-opened the drop in program for the first time in two years. The gravity of how important this space is for children and families to gather and connect has never been clearer. We are grateful to rebuild our practices together and build new understandings of what we all need to feel safe, welcomed, and represented in this space as we support young children who are growing and learning within a complex world.
As staff and families re-acquaint ourselves with the program we would like to invite more collaboration back into the centre.
- Would you like to lead circle or story time?
- Would you like to plan a special day or celebration?
- Do you have feedback or suggestions on how we can better represent and support you and our community?
- Do your children have questions or inquiries they would like to explore at Creating Together?
- Help us represent your home language at the centre by making labels for items in the centre!
Over the next few weeks Leah will be checking in with families in-person, emails, and phone calls to connect on how we can meet your needs going forward. Please feel free to connect with Leah during drop-in program for an informal chat about ideas or ways you might want to contribute to the program.
With drop-in program re-established we would also like to provide some updated community guidelines:
- Please ensure food/eating/chewing takes place at the tables and hands are washed before returning to playtime.
- Creating Together is a place for caretakers, parents, and guardians to connect and play with children. Play is an essential way young children learn. We discourage cell phone use and encourage you to instead focus on following your child’s joy, curiosity, and interests while joining our programs.
- Thank you for participating in cleanup routines and modelling collaboration. We are looking into the future and considering how we can safely return to a more open kitchen policy for families. Thank you for your patience as we continue to limit kitchen use and take gradual steps to ensure we re-open safely.
Announcing: Outdoor Programming!
Our new Outdoor Program will begin on May 2nd and will be held on Mondays and Tuesdays. Drop-in program will be provided at 9:00am-10:30am at Beaty Avenue Parkette (66 Beaty Avenue, a two minute walk from Creating Together).
Please bring (as needed) water bottles, sunscreen, and weather appropriate clothing.
After the outdoor program ends at 10:30 am, the Creating Together staff will stroll back to the centre to continue the program and provide snack at 11:00 am. We welcome families to join us on our stroll back to the centre, and for those who wish to join at the centre, we encourage you to come at 11:00 am or later.
**Masks will not be required for outdoor programs however our staff will remain masked. During Outdoor Programming Creating Together indoor space will be closed for drop-in, however if you need to use the washroom during the outdoor program you can head to the centre.
Rain, rain, we love you – however if the outdoor program is rained out, we will instead open the indoor drop-in program at the centre.
We continue to offer programs Monday to Friday 9:00am-1:30pm and two Saturdays a month 10:00am - 2:00pm, yet please note the location of programs!
Monday & Tuesday
9:00am - 10:30am- Beaty Avenue Parkette (Outdoor Program)
10:30 - 11:00 - Family Transition Time
11:00am - 1:30pm - Creating Together (Indoor Program)
Wednesday - Friday
9:00am - 1:30 pm - Creating Together (Indoor Program)
Two Saturdays a month:
10:00am - 2:00pm - Creating Together (Indoor Program)
You can view additional program details and special events on our monthly calendar, linked here.
Special Guests in May
We are lucky enough to welcome two special guests this May for circle time! Mark your calendar and join us for these exciting guest visits at Creating Together:
Natalija from Parkdale Library, will join us May 4th from 10:00am - 10:30am
Nina from Glitterbug 2SLGBTQ+ EarlyON Program, will join us May 11th from 10:00am - 10:30am
Virtual Programs
With the expansion of our in-person programming, our virtual programming will be slightly reduced, however we still offer the following programs:
Live Circle Time
We invite you to join our live circle time Fridays at 10:00am using the following zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5199316471
We’ll also be continuing our new science program…
May Dates: Science with Sal
Looking for some interactive live virtual science? For the month of May we will be continuing our virtual live science program “Science with Sal”. This month the sessions will alternate between live and pre-recorded.
Join Salvina for interactive science programming from the comfort of your own home and take advantage of the live or pre-recorded sessions as is most convenient for your schedule. This program offers opportunities for you to embark on a hands-on learning experience no matter where you are, using easy-to-find at home materials. All are welcome -- whether your desire is to participate hands-on, or your preference is to observe and enjoy!
The first virtual live session will be May 5, 2022 at 2:00p.m. and then alternate the following week into a pre-recorded science. The schedule is as follows:
May 5th 2:00am - 2:30pm (Live Session)
May 12th 2:00am - 2:30pm (Pre-Recorded Session)
May 19th 2:00am - 2:30pm (Live Session)
May 26th 2:00am - 2:30pm (Pre-Recorded Session)
Join using the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5199316471 .
*Adult supervision required for all live sessions
Call for Board Members
We are still accepting applications for our Board of Directors! Are you passionate about strengthening families and making a difference in the Parkdale community? Consider supporting the Creating Together Family Resource Centre by joining our team as a volunteer member of our Board of Directors. The Membership and Board Development Committee is currently accepting applications from individuals interested in being recommended at our spring 2022 Annual General Meeting. You can find more information on the Board, and how to apply here.
Resource Boxes
With the expansion of our in-person services, Resource Boxes will be limited in materials moving forward. Resource Boxes will still be available for families actively using our program, in the first two weeks of May, until May 13th.
To book your pickup time, please contact Creating Together by phone or email: (416) 537-1004 / creatingtogether@rogers.com.
Welcome New Students
New friends are always welcome at Creating Together – and this month we’re excited to greet two new students completing learning placements with us. We look forward to being joined by an Early Childhood Studies student from Toronto Metropolitan University, and an ECE student from Humber College. Let’s give them a warm-Creating Together-welcome!
From all of us at Creating Together, we wish you a wonderful May. To see some of Creating Together’s daily sunshine, give us a follow on our new Instagram account @creatingtogetherearlyon – catch all of our centre updates, shared activities, and unforgettable program moments!
Welcome May! We’re so glad you’re here.