Statement of Philosophy

The goal of our centre is partnership with families in caring for their children, and in enhancing the children’s emotional, social, physical, intellectual and language development throughout the preschool years. We believe that a secure, nurturing environment promotes well-being and respectful relationships, and we encourage lots of interaction between children and adults, and between children of different ages.

While exploring the environment and learning through play, every child has opportunity to experience independent play, individual time with grownups, small group interactions and membership in the large group.

In our centre multi-age groupings, inclusion of children requiring extra support and the honouring of diversity contribute to the provision of a safe, supportive setting where individual needs and interests can be met by our qualified early childhood educators. Our program is flexible, and a wide variety of stimulating, open-ended activities and materials are provided. We believe that with support and guidance young children learn to make choices within reasonable limits of safety and consideration for others and things.

Parent Handbook

Click here for a copy of the Parent Handbook

Learning Through Play

The programs at Centennial Day Care follow a philosophy of “Learning Through Play”. Play is considered so vital a part of the learning and development of young children that the UN Commission on Human Right’s has included it as the right of every child. Play is the “work” of children.

Through play they learn about themselves, the world around them, and their place in that world. This includes developing the use of their imagination, their ability to be flexible and problem solve both with others and with materials, learning how to cooperate with others in working towards common goals, and how to express their emotions and thoughts in creative and constructive ways.

Play also gives children the opportunities to develop muscle control, spacial awareness, sensory awareness, language skills, numeracy and abstract thinking abilities. All vital skills needed for children to later succeed in school.

So the next time you see a child playing, stop and ask yourself, “What are they learning?” You may be surprised by the answer.

Sources:

‘Why Play is Important’, ExchangeEveryDay,March 7, 2008, www.ChildCareExchange.com

‘The Child’s Right to Play’, ExchangeEveryDay,September 17, 2008, www.ChildCareExchange.com

Daycare Staff

Board of Directors

Centennial Daycare Society has been providing quality early childhood learning and care programs since 1976. As a non-profit society our mandate is to provide a quality environment for young children, families and staff. Apart from funds set aside to ensure operational security, yearly budgets carefully allocate our revenue to sustain and improve the child care program and to pay worthy wages & benefits to our staff.

A small executive or Board of Directors is elected each fall at our Annual General Meeting (AGM). Directors include former staff, current and former family members, and interested community members. Our centre’s manager and two program supervisors also sit on the Board of Directors. The work of the board of Directors is to identify and clarify important policies that support the everyday functioning of the daycare; to collaborate on yearly administrative tasks; to support fundraising events; and to network with other community organizations. The Board meets approximately every 1 ½ - 2 months throughout the year, or as issues are raised that need attention.

All families with children attending Centennial Day Care Centre become members of our non-profit society, and their family has one vote at the Annual General Meeting or any Special Meetings.

Please consider joining the Board of Directors. Our Board is stronger when we have a diversity of backgrounds and skills, and family and community perspectives are extremely valuable to our decision making. Parents, grand-parents, aunts, uncles, friends, and community members interested in contributing to the well-being of young children are always welcome.

I look forward to working with you to build sustainable, quality child care in Victoria.

Karin Macaulay,

President

Families: Please consider joining our Board of Directors. Your point of view is important to us.

Our History

Centennial Day Care was the brainchild of a woman named Wilna Thomas. Born in Ogema, Saskatchewan in 1917, she moved to Victoria in 1974 after first serving as a missionary, a teacher in such places as India, Japan, Angola, Zambia and the Congo, and an army chaplain during the second world war and the Korean war. On arriving in Victoria she helped set up and teach in Camosun College's brand new Social Work program.

Wilna along with Nora Lutton, then director of the Early Childhood Education program at Camosun College, together worked to form the Camosun College Group Day Care Society in 1977 and began operating that society's first daycare program in that same year when they took over the existing operations of a provincial government run program (begun in 1966) located at 612 David Street in Victoria and called it Centennial Day Care Centre. Later, in 1990, the non-profit Centennial Day Care Society was formed and this society then took over the running of the Centennial Day care Centre's programs.

Since first opening our doors on September 6, 1977, our programs have always strived to keep true to Wilna's vision of providing early education and care that supports families and enhances children's emotional, social, cognitive, and physical development through an inclusive and caring environment. For nearly 30 years, from 1977 to 2006, the programs at Centennial were guided in this effort by the passion and tireless work of the centre's manager, Sukhvir Sidhu, who even after retirement remains active on its board of directors.

Centennial Day Care has seen its fair share of ups (increasing societal recognition for our work as Early Childhood Educators) and downs (government funding cuts) during its long history, but through it all it has held true to its vision of quality care. To all the many staff, board members, ECE students, and families that have contributed their talents and passions to our programs over the years we extend our many thanks.