HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-01-06, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1999.
Brussels woman opens The Sunshine Club
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
There's a new organization starl
ing near Brussels. Its members will
leam along the way, but generally
having fun is their lop priority.
And they're all adorable.
The Sunshine Club, run by Shan
non McGavin, at her RR2, Brussels
home, officially opened for busi
ness Jan. 4. Geared to children ages
two-and-a-half to five, the pre
school program has sessions on
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday
mornings.
Many area families know
McGavin from her time as a life
guard at the BMG Pool several
years ago. And her affinity for
youngsters has been nurtured along
the years through education.
Following graduation from sec
ondary school, McGavin studied
Applied Science at the University
of Guelph with a focus on child
studies.
She then went on to earn her
Bachelor of Education in a special
ized early years program from the
University of Western Ontario.
After her marriage to husband
Jeff, having a family became a pri
ority. Son Jacob was bom in 1995
and daughter, Mackenzie followed
in 1996.
Though McGavin has done some
supply teaching, she admits that
she has "never imagined myself in
a classroom. There are loo many
children and too little lime. I don't
know how teachers can accomplish
what needs to be accomplished."
She has always been comfortable
with really young children, she
says, and after having her own an
in-home pre-school seemed a natu
ral progression.
"We had the babies and kept get
ting more toys. I have always
bought educational toys so they fit
into the idea nicely. One day I just
looked at Jeff and said we should
start a pre-school."
Having her own business allows
McGavin to limit the number of
children so they individually
receive more attention. She has set
the number each day to seven,
which includes Jacob and Macken
zie.
Sessions are $10 a day per child
with a six-monlh registration fee of
$10 or $20 for one year.
So far interest has been greatest*
Letters
from stay-at-home moms who want
a chance for their children to have
peer interaction, in addition to
enjoying a break themselves
through the week, says McGavin.
Children arrive al 8:45 for out
door play. At 9 a.m. the youngsters
write their names in a book, read
and enjoy quiet conversations in
the reading room.
By 9:15 they break into large
groups where they arc involved in a
number of activities including cal
endar math, small theme activity
and conversation. A favourite
activity is Puppy’s Adventures. In
this the children each gel a chance
to lake home a sluffed puppy. They
keep a journal by writing or draw
ing what the puppy docs during the
visit, then come back to share the
stories with their peers.
Learning centre time follows.
"Children learn best through
play," says McGavin. So there are a
number of centres established
which the child will visit on a rota
tion basis. These include computer,
math, science, crafts, painting, lan
guage and dramatic play
Al 10:35 McGavin supplies a
snack which will include al least
two and most limes three food
groups.
The large group activity is from
10:45 to 11 a.m. During this they
can enjoy things such as creative
movement, games, music, shared
reading or storylime.
Afterward, they go back outdoors
to play until departure al 11:30.
Activities for each month will be
geared to specific themes. For
example January is "Free to be you
and me".
"This is to establish a secure and
happy family environment where
young children of the Club will
develop a sense of belonging and of
self," says McGavin.
McGavin also intends to do eval
uations for the parents. "Il's not a
test, but simply to let parents know
what they're child has been doing."
Registered as a small business,
McGavin's Sunshine Club has fol
lowed provincial recommendations
and is fully insured.
Besides using her education and
talent to pursue a home business,
McGavin is happy that her children
are also able to benefit. "1 didn't
want to work out of the house. We
have the room to do this and it
allows me to stay home with our
children which was important to
both of us."
*
Play time, learning time
Shannon McGavin, with children Jacob and Mackenzie enjoy some of the fun educational
toys that are part of The Sunshine Club, McGavin's newly opened pre-school program.
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Blyth community
Continued from page 4
Radford Group publicized the drop
off point on their signs. The
Citizen's photo of the public school
students' bringing their donations to
the Hall was in that week's paper.
Janice Henry and the Blyth
Festival staff were at the hall to
receive donor's gifts all week.
And finally, Ted Quinn, Janice
and Jim Henry made sure
everything was transported to the
central depot in Clinton.
Our community continues to
reach out to its members in very
positive ways. A warm thank you
to everyone who made this village
project a wonderful success.
L. McGregor
Blyth.
THE EDITOR,
At this time, the 1998 Huron
County Christmas Bureau has
come to a close. Again, this year,
due to the generosity and kindness
of Huron County residents, we
have been successful in providing
support to approximately 500
families with young children.
On behalf of the five bureaus-,
operating from Clinton, Exeter,
Goderich, Seaforth and Wingham
and all the volunteers who provide
their time and services to help
make this a success, we extend our
sincere thanks and appreciation.
Together we made a difference.
We wish everyone the very best
of the season and a wonderful New
Year.
Karen Riddell
Manager,
Huron County Christmas Bureau
Children's Aid Society of Huron
County
519-524-7356 or 1-800-265-5198
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