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Encouraging Risky Play at Terra Nova Park

Hello,

Over spring break, Jr OSC had the opportunity to play at the fabulous Terra Nova Adventure Play Environment. The kids love it, and honestly it is my favorite park to visit as well. This park is a great way for kids to explore a risky play environment.

The kids had a great time exploring and climbing everything, and the zip line is everyone’s favorite (including leaders!)

Risky play is fundamentally important in a child’s development, and we are so lucky to have these amazing play spaces right here in Richmond to facilitate this with our OSC children!

I can’t wait until our next visit!  

Hope you all had a great Spring Break!

All the best,

Nicola

Let it Snow!

FEBRUARY IS THE MONTH OF HEARTS, LOVE AND SNOW!!!!

Queen Elsa’s superpower reached West Richmond Community Centre, telling us that Winter isn’t quite ready to “Let It Go”, pouring us with some flurries of white snow.

Of course, Jr OSC didn’t miss the chance (and the fun) to accept the offer of “Do you wanna build a Snowman? Come on, let’s go and play!”from Princess Anna.

The kids truly enjoyed building their very own Olaf!

Some even went on and played a little soccer game on the snow.

It was truly a winter wonderland and of course a little overdue "White Christmas" feeling.

In addition, what else is a perfect match for snow & holidays? 

Well, this month the children enjoyed some Valentine’s treats, goodies, and crafts.

This month was perfect for red cards, and the overuse of glitter and hearts.

Ericka Bawar

Story time with Brianne

Hello,

For this month's blog I thought I'd give the children a chance to use their imagination and build a story of their own.

Here it is: 

Once upon a time there was a girl named Anna. One afternoon Anna decided she wanted to go for a walk in the forest. On her walk she found a beautiful unicorn named Samantha. Anna and Samantha the unicorn both started walking together, when all of a sudden Anna bumps into a girl named Chloe. "OUCH!" said Chloe and she fell on her head. Anna said "sorry" and they both became friends and started on their journey through the forest. On their walk they started to hear something in the sky. It was an airplane!

A pilot named Matthew flew over the forest and spotted a monster heading straight for a group of people. That's when Matthew lands the plane straight onto the monster, not knowing that the monster was actually a boy named Myles. Myles then picks up the plane with his super strength powers and throws the plane into the trees. Myles shouts "I'M NOT A MONSTER!" "Sorry!"says Matthew and they all become friends.

Now that everyone is together they decided to throw a party.  They invite Jakota, Keira and Shreya. Keira baked a beautiful unicorn cake and brought it to the party. Samantha the unicorn saw the cake and gobbled it all up! Samantha got a tummy ache because unicorns don't eat cake. 

Then everyone said "Silly unicorn.... cake is for kids."

I hope you liked the story,

Thanks for reading!

Yours truly,
Brianne

Family Fun Night

Hello OSC families,

It’s hard to believe that we have just wrapped up the holiday season, and yet another year. It feels just like yesterday that we were entering 2018, ready to tackle another year of adventure, and now here we are again. I‘ve enjoyed looking back on the year, and remembering all that was completed, experienced, and explored in our program.

It was just over a month ago, that we had our Family Fun Night at West Richmond. This event has taken place annually, for a few years now, and has been a great way for the staff in both our JR and SR programs, to get together with our amazing families, and celebrate the holiday season.

It’s always exciting being able to spend time with the children and their families outside of program hours. It was definitely a great evening, full of fun and challenging games, holiday crafts, and yummy snacks.

I really enjoyed this event, so thank you to all the families who joined us for it. I wish you all the best in the year ahead, and hope you’re ready for all it has in-store!



Erin

Our Fall season by Ericka

Hello OSC Families,

My name is Ericka, and I just started working at OSC Program this School Year! I’ve volunteered at West Richmond Summer Program when I was in High School, 4 years ago. I’m so glad to be back in this Community as part of the OSC staff team! It has always been a wonderful experience for me, working with children and being surrounded by people who share the same passion with me. Working at OSC always excites me and gives joy to my day! So let me share you some highlights of OSC this month.

November was a high peak of Fall, so the children spent the few dry days outside, before the snowy and cold season! We did some fun scavenger hunts around the park and of course the usual favorite, Ball tag!

The children also enjoyed making some sweet treats as they make their own Do It Yourself Caramelized Apples! They definitely enjoyed enjoying these sweet treats!

A lot more of fun and and exciting days are coming up as we approach the Winter season and we can’t wait to share all of them with you!

Ericka

Belated Happy Halloween!

 Hello OSC Families, 

I hope you all had a wonderful and safe Halloween! The month of October has flown by and I can’t believe another Halloween has come and gone in the blink of an eye. This past week has been filled with fun festivities such as pumpkin carvings, reading spooky Halloween themed books, and eating lots of sweets! Our week began with our Sr OSC program joining us in an afternoon filled with pumpkins guts and oh so spooky jack-o-lanterns! It is always so amazing to see both our Junior and Senior Program collaborate with one another in fun activities such as this. 

Our room was filled with so many amazing costumes on Halloween day such as unicorns, ninjas, witches and so much more! Our staff embraced the Halloween spirit with this years theme of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Pearlena was Doc, Kevin was Sleepy, Dustin was Snow White which got quite the reaction from many kids, Zach was Sneezy, Nicola was Dopey, Ericka was Bashful, Erin was Grumpy and Brianne was Happy. I hope everyone had a great time trick-or-treating! Until next time!

Cheers,

Sarah A

All About Erin

Hello OSC Families,

I would like to take this opportunity to share a little bit about myself, and what it is that I love so much about working in the Out of School program. First off, my name is Erin Waterman and this is my fourth year working in the OSC program. I joined the West Richmond family in my first year out of high school, and I could not be more happy that I did.

There is something so special about watching children grow and develop over the years that they are with us. Most children who join us when they are in kindergarten start off a little shy and hesitant to try new things. It’s amazing how quickly they gain confidence in themselves, and an understanding of their likes and dislikes.

All Being able to to be apart of a child’s development, and help them learn new skills, and overcome challenges is incredibly rewarding. I have enjoyed getting to know the children individually over the years, as they all have so much to offer the world. Their individuality, quirks, and creativity continue to amaze me everyday. I look forward to many more enjoyable experiences with the wonderful children who attend our program!


Erin

Friday Yoga

Hello OSC families,

Afternoons here at Jr OSC can often get a little crazy, and especially when it’s a Friday. It’s always fun to change it up and bring in a new activity, which is why I have recently begun leading yoga on Friday afternoons. I was nervous at first to try something new with the kids but they ended up really enjoying our afternoon meditation sessions.

A couple different activities have been incorporated into our relaxation time, which include stretching, deep breathing exercises, different yoga poses, massage circles, and show and tell, where the kids take turns showing the rest of the group a new pose, stretch, or skill. As a group we have spoken about how we can use these exercises in our everyday lives, when we feel frustrated, upset, or stressed. The kids have enjoyed creating a happy place in their minds where they can go when they are feeling these emotions.

Valentina: My favourite part of yoga is the part where we do show and tell.

Lily: That is also my favourite part.

Evani: My favourite part is the massage train.

I have really enjoyed seeing the kids support one another and help each other learn new skills. The children in Grades 1 and 2 have done a great job of looking out for their younger friends, whether it be learning to do a somersault, get into a pose, or staying balanced.

I’m looking forward to our next yoga session!


Erin

Fluffly Unicorn Slime Frenzy!!

This art led by leader Mackenzie was a huge hit with the kids this week so here’s the recipe for fluffy unicorn slime:

Ingredients:

2/3 cup of Elmer’s white glue

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup water

2-3 cups of shaving cream

1.5 tbsp contact solution (1 tbsp in mix, ½ tbsp. for kneading)

Food Coloring

Directions:

1. Add glue to bowl
2. Add water & baking soda, mix together
3. Add shaving cream and mix till it is blended in
4. Add food coloring and mix again
5. Slowly add contact solution and knead with hands

The final product can be very sticky, but the more you play with it the more it will stay together. To save it, you can put it in a plastic sealable bag and save it for later!

 

Enjoy!

Pearlena

 

 

 

 

DIY Snack Mix: Heart Day Edition!

Happy VERY belated Valentine’s Day, friends and families! I always enjoy watching the kids get so excited for Valentine’s Day activities: inspecting their ‘mailboxes’ to see which friends or crushes left them a card, sneaking 1, 2 or 3 treats, and sucking on the cinnamon hearts to see who can last the longest with the spicy treats on their tongues. That said, I could definitely do without the simultaneous sugar crashes that come with the lollipop binge.

My art activity day happened to land on the day after Valentine’s Day, but that didn’t stop me from continuing the celebration! As a super simple, festive treat we popped some popcorn and made our own snack mix! To jazz up our kernels, we threw in some Smarties, sprinkles, melted the brightest pink wafers (white chocolate that’s been food-dyed PINK) and shook it all up until it looked marbled. The kids personalized a paper bag and filled it up – I love doing DIY snack mixes with the kids because it looks like a treat and tastes like a treat but it’s not nearly as sugary as your regular Valentine’s giveaway.

Upon finishing our activity, I briefly spoke with a group of girls about crushes – most of them kept mum on who their crushes were, if they had one at all. We talked about how Valentine’s Day is also about showing our friends and family how much we love them too.

Onto the next big holiday – spring break and Easter!

Hasta luego,

Sara

Grade 2 Integration

Hey parents! This is a friendly reminder that every Thursday, starting on March 1st, will be Grade 2 Integration. This is where the Grade 2s join our Senior Out-of-School Care program, where they slowly start transitioning into the Senior group. This means a new room, new staff team and new experiences.

This new space is located at Gilmore Elementary School in the multi-purpose room. We have printed out directions and are happy to help you easily find your way. There are some changes when you first arrive at the Senior location that differ from the Junior program. Some of those differences start right as you arrive at Gilmore. Instead of parents signing in, we like to teach the children the responsibility of signing themselves in. As well as an adjustment in the routine, there is a noticeable change in the setup of the room- bigger chairs, comfortable seating area, pool table, and a variety of older-age games and toys for the children to play and explore. We understand that getting comfortable with this transition takes time for some, and we want to make things as accommodating and easy-going for everyone.

To aid in the Grade 2s transition period, we have asked Alicia from Jr OSC to assist them. We want to ensure they have a smooth and exciting time experiencing the "senior life." Along with Alicia, we have our (awesome/amazing) Senior staff team who are more than capable to support and teach the Grade 2s to develop the skills needed for positive growth.

Being given the opportunity to help shape each of our Grade 2s and to soon watch them start a new chapter in their life is truly an exciting time. I hope each child continues to learn and grow and strive to be the best version of themselves.

If you need any further information about Grade 2 Integration, please do not hesitate to ask one of our staff members :)


Thank you,

Corey

Dream-Dough

Looking for a simple yet fun indoor activity to occupy the kids during these rainy days? Try this safe and easy 2 ingredient playdough at home. Due to its soft, fluffy cloud-like sensation, I like to call it Dream Dough.

I challenged each child to mix the ingredients to form a dough that is pleasing to their individual sense of touch. To some children, the softer texture was a more satisfying feeling, while others preferred to form a tougher consistency similar to playdough.

To enhance your dough mixture, you can add a variety of different ingredients like food colouring, and other stimulating textures like glitter or pom poms, etc. However you wish to form your own individual dough, I hope you enjoy this activity with your kids :)

Corey

Cup Building Chaos

Cheers!

In a world where rain is the norm and the gym space is booked by other programs, an active alternative is needed to keep the children challenged.

Taking a page from our pals at Gilmore, Dustin and I bought approximately 1500 red party cups as building blocks for the children to explore and play with. Children can compose crazy cup creations when calmly calculating construction concepts. Over the years, I have acquired a lot of affectionate appreciation for awesome alliteration.

The kids were great at finding new and creative ways of using the cups and we even managed to work as a team and trap Dustin in a "TOWER OF DOOM".

One great benefit of this building activity is that it encourages different groups of children to play together. Once a group has finished a project, they are encouraged to go explore other groups' designs and combine cups with another willing team.

Cordially,

Emmett

Snowcraft

Happy holidays Jr OSC crew!

Even when there's snow on the ground, don't let that stop you from moving it outside this winter! Pinterest is my go-to when looking for fun crafts to do with the kids. It is a great resource for finding unique and engaging activities. Here are a couple simple and creative ideas for the snow!

All you need for snow paint is food colouring and some squirt bottles, if you don't have squirt bottles you can just poke a hole in the lid of a plastic water bottle and it'll work just as well!

 

The snow volcano is a cool way to incorporate a science lesson into your winter break! All you need is:

• cup/plastic bottle
• baking soda
• vinegar
• food colouring! 

Here's the link if you're interested! http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/12/how-to-make-snow-volcano.html

We hope you all have a wonderful winter break, and we are looking forward to seeing you all again for some more winter fun!


Mackenzie H

Snow

Hello all,

A few weeks ago for art, Henaxi and I led a snow making activity. While many of us may not like the snow, this snow was a real winner for the children. The children were separated into two groups, and each group made one batch of snow. While making the snow, children took turns measuring, pouring and stirring the ingredients. The snow was quite easy to make as it only consisted of 2 ingredients: baking soda (~ 1cup) and hair conditioner (~ 4 cups). I found that adding the baking soda to the conditioner bit by bit to get the consistency needed was the best method to do this.

While it was my first time making snow, I was pleasantly surprised by the texture. The snow was very soft but did not stick to our hands or the table. It was also quite moldable and flexible, which allowed the children to create mini snowmen and snowballs. Since slime is so popular with children these days, this art project is a nice alternative. The snow is also a great sensory activity which allows children to stimulate their sense of touch.


Warm wishes,

Alicia

Family Fun Night

Hello everyone,

Hope everyone is having a wonderful start to December. Last Thursday was our Family Fun
Night. We would like to thank all the families that joined us and we hope you all had a wonderful
time.

This was the second time we have hosted this event and we hope to continue the tradition in the
years to come. This year we had many different activities for the children and parents to enjoy.
One of the activities was our “Minute to Win It Games: Holiday Edition.” To begin, children were
given a passport with pictures corresponding to different games. Then children chose a
challenge to try. Once the children completed one of the challenges, they were able to stamp
their passport. When they received all 5 stamps, the children were able to select a prize. Some
of the Minute to Win It games included apple stacking (the record was 7 apples), marshmallow
slingshot, and ping pong toss into Wow Butter. Special thanks to Matt for organizing these activities. It was great to see the children’s excitement and willingness to take on these challenges.

We also had a gingerbread house making station. Children were able to create their own
gingerbread houses made from graham crackers, icing and a great amount of candy. It was
wonderful to see the children’s creativity and their unique take on their houses.

Lastly, a hot chocolate bar was on offer for maximum indulgence. Nothing is better than ending the day with a warm cup of hot chocolate and marshmallows!

We hope to see everyone join us for our Family Fun Night next year!


Cheers,

Alicia

May The Force Be With You!

Hello OSC families!

This week the kids were extra excited to make lightsabers for Thursday's activity.  Who isn't a fan of Star Wars!  As Darth Vader said “Luke, I am your father.”

Here is a recipe if anyone would like to recreate it at home:

- empty water bottle
- glitter glue (any colour)
- water
- duck tape
- 2 glow sticks

However, fair warning to those that decide to take upon this activity...it is messy!!  You may find glitter glue everywhere as this is what happened to us from our clothes to being stuck to the furniture.  After the activity finished, the glow sticks turned out to be a huge hit.  The kids thought it was a really fun idea to turn off the lights on one side of the room lights and perform a talent show to the audience using the glow sticks.  This was quite a sight to see and entertaining for those of us watching.

Until next time, thanks for reading!

Henaxi
WRCC 

Trick or Treat!

Hello West Richmond families!

We hope that you all had a safe and spooky Halloween this past week. While we are recovering from all of the sugar that we have eaten recently let’s take a moment to look back at the wonderful week we had here at West Richmond. We had so much fun with all of the activities, from pumpkin carving with our friends over at SR OSC, to dressing up and eating endless amounts of sweets. 

All of the costumes that we saw were so impressive. It was great seeing some new and creative ideas as well as some classics. There was such a variety, from the Joker to Elsa and everything in between. The kids who participated in the pumpkin carving activity loved getting messy and covered in pumpkin guts. 

We even got the chance to cook up some pumpkin seeds for a super fun and yummy activity. With Halloween over, we are now patiently awaiting the wonderful winter holidays. May our candy last us until then, although we all know it won’t.

Warmly,

Erin

Get Out To Get Better

With this season expected to be a cold and wet one, it is easy to dread going outdoors. The leaders at West Richmond are geared up and ready to play outdoors regardless of the weather and here is why your children should be too.

Benefits Of Outdoor Play:

Improved Motor Skills- Children exposed to wet and slippery surfaces will gain valuable experience controlling their bodies under different circumstances. A slip or fall in the playground serves as an important lesson for managing risk and ultimately helps keep children safe over time.

Improved Immunity- Playing outsides exposes children to different germs and can help boost their immune system resulting in being sick less often.

Physical Activity- Consistent exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and getting outdoors regardless of the weather 

keeps your body active and helps prevent heart disease, obesity and other health issues.

Play and Learning- Children who are outside are more likely to use imaginative play, interact with nature and learn about the natural environment around them.

Please send your child with appropriate gear so that outdoor play can be an option even if it is wet and cold out.

Cheers,

                                                             Emmett