SCHOOLS
32 Glebe Report November 12, 2021
Back at Good Morning, 30 years later By Emma Gale Even as an adult, fall gives me the feeling of a new year. I came full circle this September as I started at Good Morning Creative Arts and Preschool for the second time. I first began at GMCAP (formerly Good Morning Playgroup) as a child in 1989 and have now joined the ranks as a parent. My daughter Aisling is part of the toddler program two mornings a week. It’s in the same building and the same main room as when I attended. I love that the books were where I expected. The walls continue to be covered in children’s art. Three decades later, it still has a cheerful atmosphere and smiling teachers. The familiarity brought a smile to my face on the first day. My siblings and I were part of GMCAP for eight consecutive years. It’s fun to relive it through fresh eyes and share my experiences with the family. I called my mum when I wanted to hover out of view at the window to see and hear how quickly the drop-off tears stopped;
Mom Emma Gale, who attended Good Morning Creative Arts and Preschool as a child, is now introducing her daughter Aisling to the joys of creative arts and play. PHOTO: KAREN CAMERON
she reassured me that she did the same thing many times and that my kid is fine. With COVID-19, Aisling hasn’t had the chance to see all her aunts and uncles regularly. They can now imagine her at preschool because it’s a space they all know. Being back at GMCAP is one of the ways we can connect from a distance. Endless thanks to the teachers Karen, Mikkaila and Lauren. Their positivity and kindness have made a big transition feel easy. Aisling isn’t much of a talker yet, so her reports of the mornings’ activities are limited. She does show that she’s settling in by waving
goodbye and blowing kisses to Karen at the end of each day. She brings home art, and I can see new skills developing already. I know that her generation will experience the same joy of play, learning and lasting friendships as mine did in this wonderful space. For more information about any of
Good Morning’s amazing programs, please contact Karen at 613-276-7974 or goodmorningpreschool@gmail.com, or check the website at www.gmcaps.com. Emma Gale is a preschool alumna and current mom of a Good Morning Creative Arts and Preschool student.
The Glebe Coop Nursery School playground just outside the Glebe Community Centre and St. James Tennis Club, and across the street from a busy school, allows the children to experience the world around them. PHOTO: JULIE LEBLANC
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Enjoying the simple things By Julie LeBlanc As many of us grown-ups start our days by grabbing a coffee and rushing around, little ones at Glebe Cooperative Nursery School (GCNS) start their days taking in and learning from all the hustle and bustle around them. The GCNS playground in the heart of the Glebe is a perfect spot for young children to experience the world. The neighbourhood is a busy place with lots to see. There are cars and trucks driving by. There are little babies being walked in strollers. There are bigger kids walking by or riding their bikes on their way to school. There are all the shapes and sizes of dogs being taken out for a morning stroll. So much going on gives lots of opportunities for naming and counting! Little ones love big things that move and make noise! With an elementary
school across the street, big yellow school buses arrive every morning to drop off students. The occasional sightings of police cars and fire trucks driving by always bring lots of excitement too. Spending time outdoors every morning also allows children to observe the weather and feel the changing seasons. Children learn that we all dress differently as the weather changes. They also experience how our activities and modes of transport can change from season to season. They notice the air changing, the trees changing and will soon look forward to watching giant snow ploughs on the street! Looking at the world through a child’s eyes is a good reminder to slow down and enjoy the simple things. Julie LeBlanc is responsible for the communications for Glebe Cooperative Nursery School.
