Newsletter
April 2018 Newsletter
March 29, 2018April 9, Monday (AM Drop-In) & April 12, Thursday (PM Baby Drop-In):Storytime with the VPL Librarian Come meet our librarian and enjoy songs, rhymes, and stories!
April 24, Tuesday: STAFF PROFESSIONAL DAY The Family Centre and all CCC programs will be CLOSED.
Looking for Keen Gardeners!
The Family Centre has a plot in the community garden near the playground and we are looking for parents who are interested in exploring growth and development from a gardening perspective! Ask Flora for more info.
Literacy through Music Program
We are very pleased to welcome Adam Smith to our playroom to sing, dance and play. No registration required and everyone welcomed!
Circles of Care and Connection Program & Update
The CCC team would like to thank everyone who made donations for our newly arrived refugee families.
On March 15, UBC Teddy Bear Clinic came during our AM Drop-In. Children brought their favorite stuffed animal (or borrowed one from the UBC program) and, together with a medical student, took care of their stuffy using many of the real gadgets that doctors often use. This clinic is a way of addressing fears a child may have about their medical care, by providing a fun, positive, and interactive play experience at a pretend doctor’s visit.
Looking forward to May....
May 1 - June 8, Tuesdays 1-3 PM and Fridays 9:30 -11:30 AM: ABC Time On these days, we close off part of our playroom to run a small kindergarten readiness program. The drop-in is still open, but the play space is smaller! For more information about our ABC program, please speak with Ewa or Maria. A family centre membership is required in order to participate.
May 14, Monday: AM Drop-In Toddler Round Up Come speak to a Public Health Nurse regarding toddler development (i.e. nutrition, speech, behaviour, teeth, vision).
March at the Family Centre
February 27, 2018fabulous fundraiser!
March 8, Thursday: 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM Savour Our Neighbourhood Leave your kids at home and join us for this event, featuring a sampling of bites from a variety of local restaurants, paired with local craft beer and wine. This is a 19+ event. Tickets available here
Don't forget to add your WestJet draw ticket at Eventbrite checkout! 1 in 200 chance to win a return flight to anywhere WestJet flies.
*Important Closure Information
March 8, Thursday: Drop-In Program will be will be CLOSED all day in order to prepare for our event.
March 9, Friday: The Family Centre will be CLOSED on this day as we recover from putting on our fundraiser.
March 30, Friday & April 2, Monday: Drop-In Program will be will be CLOSED - Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Regular Programming Info
March 13, Tuesday: 10:30 AM Fire Drill This will happen during morning Drop-In Program. It can be a fun and/or interesting experience, but it will definitely be a different sort of day for everyone. We will use a hand-held bell to alert the beginning of the drill.
March 15, Thursday: UBC Teddy Bear Clinic during AM Drop-In Program. Children can bring their favorite stuffed animal (or borrow one from the UBC program) and, together with a medical student, take care of their stuffy using many of the real gadgets that doctors often use. This clinic is a way of addressing fears a child may have about their medical care, by providing a fun, positive, and interactive play experience at a pretend doctor’s visit.
March 16 - May 11, Fridays (no session March 30) : 9:30 - 11:30 AM Circle of Security This parenting series is a relationship based early intervention program designed to enhance attachment security between parents and children. Participants must be current members of the Family Centre. Please speak with Flora for more information.
March 19 - 29: VSB Spring Break The Family Centre is OPEN through Spring Break.
We have a variety of books in our library, resources from parenting to child development. A current membership is required in order to check out the books. We also continue to sell Deborah MacNamara's book, Rest, Play, Grow. Deborah is senior faculty at the Neufeld institute. The book is based on the popular Neufeld course "Making Sense of Preschoolers" which we offer here at the centre. For more information about this book, please ask Flora.
Circles of Care and Connection Program & Update
Donations needed
We are still looking for baby gates for our refugee families, if you have one, that you do not need any more, please email Laila - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or phone 778 372 6604.
If you would like to donate clothing for boys 3 and 8 years old and 10 year old girl, double stroller, single stroller (for a one year old) and size 6 diapers please contact Manjit - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., phone 778 372 6602.
The CCC team would like to thank everyone who made donations for our newly arrived refugee families.
February 2018 Newsletter
January 31, 2018Deadline February 8.
1/200 chance to win a Gift of Flight from West Jet!Join us for local beer, wine and bites from many of our Mount Pleasant eateries accompanied by live music on Thursday, March 8.
February 12, Monday: Family Day The Family Centre will be CLOSED. Enjoy this time with your family.
February 13 - March 23, Tuesdays 1- 3 PM, and Fridays 9:30 - 11:30 AM: ABC Time On these days, we close off part of our playroom to run a small kindergarten readiness program. The drop-in is still open, but the play space is smaller! For more information about our ABC program, please speak with Ewa or Maria.
February 22, Thursday: Dental Visit during PM Baby Drop-In.
February 28, Wednesday: Dental Visit Screening during AM Drop-In for ages 1-3 years old who don't have regular dental check ups.
Donations needed
The CCC team would like to thank everyone who made donations for our newly arrived refugee families. If you would like to donate a single bed and mattress to one of CCC families, please contact our child and family settlement worker Narsmeen, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., telephone 778 372 6602. We are also looking for baby gates, if you have one, you do not need any more, please email Laila - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., phone 778 372 6604.
Tuesdays, until April 3: 1:30 - 2:30 PM Sound, Movement, and Play is a fun folk song approach developed by the Living Language Institute that engages children and their parents and caregivers in singing, movement and social play. It is easy and fun to participate for parents and their young children!
Wednesdays, until April 11: 1:00-3:00PM Healthy Together is an innovative and unique family education program that brings families together to learn to make healthy choices and build healthy relationships. It is offered thanks to financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada. To register please call Sanja, 778 372 6552.
Have you lost something? Please check out the Lost and Found bin next time you are at the Family Centre. There are many things that need to be claimed such as hats, diaper bags, hoodies and enviro mugs. If you don't know where the Lost and Found bin is, please ask a staff and they will direct you to its location.
December 2017 Newsletter
November 29, 2017
The Baby Drop-In Program will be open Thursday Dec. 14th for the last session before the holidays. Program will reopen on January 5, 2017.
The last day for Family Drop-In is Thursday, December 21 - AM Drop-In only.
December 21 (afternoon) - January 1: The Family Centre will be CLOSED for Winter Holidays. We will be reopen on Tuesday, January 2 with regular program hours.
Survey Results
Thank you to those who filled out our annual survey. We appreciate all your feedback. Here are some program responses to your inquiries and statements:
For Family Drop-In Program
1. More books that describe diverse families
- Staff will be purchasing some new books for the child and adult library. Stay tuned! Any parent suggestions are always welcomed.
2. Infant Program 2 times a week - We are unable to expand our program due to funding and time, however, here are some other Baby Drop-In and Regular Family Drop-In Programs in the community:
- You and your infant are welcome to attend our regular drop-in hours, where we provide a baby space downstairs and babies can go upstairs during singing time.
- Raven Song Community Health Centre
- Creekside Community Centre - Infant Sing and Grow Program (scheduled program)
- Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House - Just Play! Family Drop-In
3. Garden program outside - We do offer a family garden program in the summer. We usually look for interested families in the spring via newsletter or face to face. Please talk to Flora if you are interested in gardening.
4. Parents could re-do some parenting courses - Please talk with staff regarding specific interest.
- Retaking in the Circle of Security and Neufeld courses is possible.
- Nobody's Perfect Program is set up for one time only due of funding. Please ask staff if you have any queries that come up regarding parenting challenges.
- We also need to acquire more funding in order to expand parenting group times.
5. Name tags - Staff is taking this into consideration. Thank you!
For Circles of Care & Connection Program
1. Please expand your program for children older than 6 years
- In partnership with Boys and Girls Club and ISS of BC, the program for Tweens is offered on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
2. Please extend the hours of the program
- We are currently unable to extend the hours due to funding, please check with staff about programs for families offered by other agencies
3. English classes that can teach our kids the letters in English and Arabic would be amazing, if possible
- More English songs and activities would help us to improve English language skills
- Staff will continue developing new appropriate language activities for children.
5. I wish you can do a workshop on grocery shopping. Sometimes after I buy things I discover they are different from what I wanted.
- We have started planning our 2018 parenting/settlement workshops, several workshops on nutrition/grocery shopping will be offered next year.
Circles of Care and Connection Program
For the December Calendar - CLICK HERE
The CCC team would like to thank everyone who made donations for our newly arrived refugee families. This time we are looking for a stroller suitable for babies and a double bed comforter/duvet. Please contact Sanja: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., phone 778-372-6552
Looking forward to January...
January 2, Tuesday: Welcome Back!
January 20 - March 3, Fridays - 7 WEEKS: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM Making Sense of Preschoolers Gordon Neufeld Video Course provides insight into their shyness, separation anxieties, aggression, resistance, oppositionality and more. Making sense of these confusing yet wonderous creatures lays the foundation for intuitive and rewarding parenting. A current Family Centre membership is required. Cost for the program is $70. For more information. contact Flora.
January 27 - March 17, Saturdays: 10 - 11:30 AM 1-2-3 Jump! Physical Literacy for 2.5 - 3.5 yr olds. Have fun with your child moving and learning in new ways. Registration is required.The program is offered free in partnership with Little Mountain Neighbourhood House. We ask that you have a current Family Centre membership to participate. To register, please contact Flora.
wishes you and your family
a very happy and prosperous holiday!
November 2017 Newsletter
October 31, 2017November 13, Monday: Remembrance Day The Family Centre will be CLOSED.
Circles of Care and Connection Program & Update
Pumpkin Patch at Drop-In
We are looking for a volunteer who is handy that can help out with fixing little things at the Mount Pleasant Family Centre. Currently, we are looking for help to take down the 40th Anniversary sign from the building. If you are interested or know someone who is, please contact Theresa, Program Manager at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 604-872-6757.
Looking ahead...
October 2017 Newsletter
October 2, 2017October 10, Tuesday: In honour for Vancouver Family Place Day, there will be a special craft families can do together. Hope to see you there!
October 10 - November 24, Tuesdays 1-3 PM and Fridays 9:30-11:30 AM: ABC Time On these days, we close off part of our playroom to run a small kindergarten readiness program. The drop-in is still open, but the play space is smaller! For more information about our ABC program, please speak with Ewa or Maria.
October 11, Wednesday: Fire Drill During morning Drop-In, we will have a fire drill at 10:15 am. This can be a fun and/or interesting experience, but it will definitely be a different sort of day for everyone. We will use a hand-held bell (not our building's alarm bell) to alert the beginning of the drill.
October 17, Tuesday: 5:30 - 7:30 pm Annual General Meeting All current members are welcome to join us for a potluck dinner provided by the existing Board Members) upstairs in the playroom. After dinner, the adults will go downstairs for the meeting and the children will stay upstairs to play with the childcare providers. Please register your attendance by calling the Family Centre 604-872-6757 and include your name, your child(ren)'s names and ages and your member number.
Program in progress...
CLICK HERE to view the October schedule and families are welcome to check out the Family Drop-In Program (see below).
Annual membership runs until May 2018, and costs $45. Membership fees are a much needed part of our annual revenue and help fund our Family Drop-In program, parent education, workshops, special events and seasonal celebrations. Membership is an integral part of community participation and an effective way to contribute to our sustainability. If you did not have a membership or renewed, please go directly to our membership page. To renew your membership please go to CanadaHelps.org. When you visit the Family Centre, you can pay using cash, credit card, or cheque. Please speak to our staff and they will help you.
September 2017 Newsletter
September 21, 2017
September 16 - November 4, Saturdays: 10 - 11:30 AM 1-2-3 Jump! Physical Literacy for 3 years olds. Have fun with your child moving and learning in new ways. Registration is required.The program is offered free in partnership with Little Mountain Neighbourhood House. We ask that you have a current Family Centre membership to participate. Please ask Flora or Theresa for more info and to sign up.
September 28, Thursday: Storytime with the VPL Librarian during Baby Drop-In. Come sing,rhyme and enjoy stories with the librarian.
The Conversation Circles program will continue on Mondays so that parents who came to Canada as refugees can practice English while their children participate in our early childhood development program.
On September 13 (Wednesdays), the new Healthy Together Program starts. Healthy Together is an innovative and unique family education program that brings families together to learn how to make healthy choices and build healthy relationships. It is offered thanks to financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada. Let’s learn, move, cook, and eat together! Space is limited, to register please call 778 372 6552 after September 8, 2017.
On September 19, (from 1:30pm to 2:30) the Sound, Movement and Play Program starts again. Through this fun folk song approach developed by the Living Language Institute, children and their parents/caregivers are engaged in singing, movement and social play.
Board Recruitment
I look forward to hearing from you! Gini
August 2017 Newsletter
July 31, 2017
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