Early Learning News Bulletin
April / May 2014
Issue 33
Children’s Services, Region of Waterloo
Early Learning News Bulletin
This Early Learning News Bulletin was created to provide information
updates for the licensed early learning and child care (ELCC)
community. It is distributed six times per year by Children’s
Services, Region of Waterloo.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Child Wellbeing Dashboard
6 How Does Learning
Happen?
The Child Wellbeing Dashboard is a userfriendly, interactive tool that measures child
wellbeing in Waterloo Region. Currently there
are four indicators of child wellbeing in the
categories of fundamental needs, health,
relationships and learning. The dashboard also
links to the Early Years Services Map, an
interactive map, which allows you to map the
indicators at a neighbourhood level. The
dashboard has many uses for organizations
and creates shared measurement of child
wellbeing across our community.
7 Phase 5 FDK and
Before/After
Programs
To access the Child Wellbeing Dashboard, please click here:
http://socialservices.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/childrensServices/chi
ld-wellbeing-dashboard-home.asp
1 Child Wellbeing
Dashboard
2 Children’s Planning
Table Update
3 Redefining ELC
4 OneList Training
5 Summer Institute
Children’s Planning Table Update
An exciting opportunity recently came up for the Children’s Planning Table to apply to the
Lyle S. Hallman Foundation for ongoing financial support. This funding, if received, will help
to enhance the work of the Children’s Planning Table and allow the work to move forward at
Schools-First
Policy
an efficient and effective
pace. Community support for the application was strong, with 45
letters of support submitted from Children’s Planning Table voting member organizations.
The final report for the Parent Engagement project is now complete and accessible on the
Children’s Planning Table website (link to Parent Engagement: Learnings and Insights). The
findings outlined in the report will help inform planning processes on how to better engage
parents in system-level planning of services for children and families and also help to inform
the action planning around navigation of services and shared philosophy of practice.
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Page 2
Redefining Early Learning and Care for the Early Years
Due to popular demand, the Region of Waterloo, Children’s
Course
Services Division is pleased to announce that they will be once
again be offering the 30 hour Redefining Early Learning and Care
for the Early Years course in partnership with Conestoga College
and the Professional Resource Centre beginning in September
2014. Since 2010, this course designed for graduates of ECE
diploma programs, has been offered 5 times with 190
participants. The Region will fund the full cost of tuition,
resources and staff replacement costs. Registration information
will be sent to all ELCC programs once course dates and times are
finalized.
More OneList Training in June
The feedback survey from the March ELCC Forum indicated that operators wanted more
training on the administration of OneList. Training dates in June have been set for online
webinars designed for operators who need a refresher on OneList and those new to the
system. Both the administrator and parent experience will be reviewed with opportunities
to ask questions. If you have specific training needs, please contact Judi Neufeld at
jneufeld@regionofwaterloo.ca.
Please register by June 9th for one of the dates below by emailing Leah Clarke at:
lclarke@regionofwaterloo.ca or by phone at: 519-575-4400 x3278


Wednesday, June 11th from 2:00-3:30
Friday, June 13th from 2:00-3:30
Summer Institute - Emerging Through Emergent Practices
A Summer Institute Pilot – Emerging Through Emergent Practices will be offered by Conestoga
College and the Professional Resource Centre in conjunction with the Region of Waterloo,
Children’s Services Division. This 10 hour course will take place on July 7 and 14, 2014 from
8:30am-12:30pm with 2 hours of self study in between. The Region will fund staff replacement
costs. Registration through the PRC will be on a first come first serve basis for up to 30
participants. See the PRC website: www.eceprc.ca for further details and a course application.
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How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the
Early Years
In April 2014, the Ministry of Education released How Does
Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years.
The document is a new professional learning resource designed
to provoke deeper thinking about the delivery of high-quality
programs and services for children and families in early years
settings across Ontario. It is available online at:
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/childcare/HowLearningHappens.pdf
The Ministry of Education also hosted a webcast to mark the
release of this important document. The purpose of the webinar was to introduce How Does
Learning Happen?, share related resources and discuss how this document can be integrated
across the province. To access the webcast please click here:
http://events.digitalmedia.telus.com/ops/051314/index2.php?page=register
Phase 5 Full Day Kindergarten and Before/After Programs
All 137 elementary schools in Waterloo Region will offer full day kindergarten (FDK) this
coming September, completing the final phase of implementation.
Schools-First
Policy
Waterloo Region District
School Board – As of September 2014, 87 schools at the Waterloo
Region District School Board will offer FDK. Of these schools, 80 will offer a Before/After
school program, and 53 will also offer a Youth Development Program for children aged eight
to 12. For details on specific schools, please visit: www.wrdsb.ca
Waterloo Catholic District School Board – As of September 2014, 46 schools at the Waterloo
Catholic District School Board will offer FDK. Of these schools, 23 will offer a Before/After
school program school program. An additional 7 schools will have a program offered by a colocated ELCC operator. For details on specific schools, please visit: www.wcdsb.ca
French Public and Catholic School Boards - As of September 2014, FDK, including
Before/After school programs are available at all four French Public and Catholic schools. For
more details, please visit: www.csviamonde.ca or www.csdccs.edu.on.ca
If you have any questions, please contact Judi Neufeld or Nancy Dickieson:
Judi Neufeld
Nancy Dickieson
Manager, Early Learning Program
Director, Children’s Services
Region of Waterloo
Region of Waterloo
519-883-2111 ext. 5429
519-883-2177
jneufeld@regionofwaterloo.ca
ndickieson@regionofwaterloo.ca
To request his document in alternate formats contact tfullerton@regionofwaterloo.ca
To access EL Bulletins visit the Region of Waterloo, Children’s Services website or click here.
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