Loading...
The Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-11-23, Page 24PAGE 2A=-GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, NOVEMIIER 23, 1978 Mrs. Mac loves... from page 1 A McDonagh says she really likes Goderich and coinpares it to living in the small town in •Ireland where she was born. Since coming to Canada, Mrs. McDonagh has taken some college night courses on teacher - child relationships, technique, • sociology, family life, art and music. In England, she says, her course was very practical and she feels this is important. Anyone can read books on the subject of child care and pass tests on it, but you need the actual ex- perience before you know if you are going to be effective, she says. Mrs. McDonagh isn't exactly sure what makes her like children so much. She thinks it might be their innocence. She says she finds it easier to accept the failings of the three to five -year-olds at the day nursery than those of older children. ASSISTANT , Mrs. M.cDo,nagh's. assistant, Linda Hansen, came to Canada from England seven years ago. She trained in England under NNAB which she says is equivalent to an Early Childhood Education course here and sort of like, training for an English nanny. During her two years of training, she spent three months looking after new. born babies in a maternity hospital and three months working in a nursery school. She also gained experience working with children from broken homes. She had worked in or- phanages too since she was 15. Mrs. Hansen has done some travelling. She's been to New Zealand and Australia where she spent five weeks in the outback. She had been living in Toronto and working in day care centres there. She got married in May and her husband was offered a job in Goderich. It's a big change living here after living in Toronto, she says. She likes her job at Goderich's day nursery. It's not as demanding as working in a day care centre, she says and she really likes the kids. "They are very in- teresting. You can learn a lot from them and there is never a dull moment. Every day is different," she says. FUN TIME There are 106 children enrolled in Goderich's Municipal Day _Nursery all together. Only 25 children are allowed per class. Classes are held from Monday to Friday in the mornings and af- ternoons. Mrs.. McDonagh says she and her assistant work longer hours than that though because they spend some nights preparing and planning for classes. • There are two volun- teer parents to help with each class and Mrs. McDonagh says these parents play a very big part in the day nursery. "We really rely on them," she says. Participating parents pay less to send their children to nursery school and end up being on duty about once every three weeks. Some children take longer to adjust to nur- sery school than others, says Mrs. McDonagh. Some of them cry when they first start to day nursery but eventually they all come around, she says. "Until I can make physical contact with them, like getting them to sit on my knee or cuddle them a bit, I feel -I'm getting, nowhere," says Mrs. McDonagh. The children really respond to Mrs. McDonagh's affection and this is evident as she wipes their tears, reads them stories, praises them, answers their questions, helps them button their coats, pats their heads, etc. The business side of the day nursery is run by the town but Mrs. McDonagh does ..all the rest. The nursery time is divided up into free play, creative time, circle time (when the children form a circle and are read stories and sing songs) and outside time. The children really know the routine, says Mrs. McDonagh, just try and change it! They know that they have to wear an apron when painting or . doing something messy and they know they have to wash their hands before they can have a snack. Mrs. McDonagh tries to Municipal Day Nursery supervisor, Eveleen McDonagh (or Mrs. Mac as the children call her), watches as Heather. Zurbrigg paints a picture. Mrs. McDonagh started out as an assistant to Carol Egener at the nursery in April and took over as supervisor when Mrs. Egener retired in September. Prior to coming to Goderich, she was a supervisor in a Hamilton nursery for four years. She has three children of her own. (Photo by Joanne 3uchanan) SAVE ENERGY am Insulate U.F. Foam & Fiber Insulation Serving Huron aunty years COMMARE,,.CONTACT STEWA RT' S ALUMINIUM 8. INSULATION 207 Huron Rd. Goderich 524-8821 Anstett Jewellers LIMITED 1� ALBERT ST., CLINTON 402-3901 OPEN WEDNESDAYS. For Your Convenience HOURS: Monday Through Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.: Frlday_nI htll'tIIt O'p.m. • vary ,routine sometimes and she works on a dif- ferent theme every few weeks at the day nursery. These themes usually involve some aspects, of the children's lives such as transportation or color. At present the children are working on the theme, "ourselves and our bodies." They have made silhouettes of their faces and fancy paper frames for photographs of them- selves. The children have visited a pumpkin patch and an apple orchard this year. They also visited area nursing homes and hospitals dressed in Halloween costumes recently. They will be entering a float in the Christmas parade too. Mrs. McDonagh says one must keep in mind that the day nursery represents a fun time. "You have to keep in mind that kindergarten is coming and if you teach them too much here, they will be bored when they get to kindergarten," she says. . Nursery school is good from a social point of view, says Mrs. McDonagh. The children learn to get along with other children and in some cases learn to get along without other children. For example, says Mrs. McDonagh, two boys who were neigh- bours joined nursery school together and could not be separated. They had to do everything together and each was at a„loss if the other was not at his side. They have now become independent and can do things on their own as well as with other children. Nursery school also helps to increase a child's attention span, %ays Mrs. McDonagh and kin- dergarten teachers really notice a difference in children who have been to nursery school over those who have not. Although this is not very relevant to Goderich, Mrs. McDonagh says, in some cases, nursery school provides the only loving or family atmosphere that a child has known. She always keeps room open at the day nursery for children . who are under the care of Family and Children's Services. Mrs. McDonagh thinks a, full fledged day care • centre woula be good for •Goderich with its' population size and the number of working mothers growing all the time. At a day care centre the children could be looked after the whole day instead of just part of the day. For now, Mrs. McDonagh and. Mrs. Hansen will keep on having fun with • the children and making the day nursery a credit to the town. Briefs from the old town council A letter from Joe O'Brien who owns the property on The Square at East Street where his meat market burned to the ground last year states he has found that the zoning bylaw requires a rear yard dimension of 25 feed. --O'Brien said in. his 41etteri ft was his be11 that was never intended by council for the core area. Mayor Deb Shewfelt and several members of council agreed. Clerk Larry 'McCabe said he'd talked with the author of the official plan, Dave Barber of Municipal Planning Consultants, and learned that Barber too was of the opinion that the 25 foot requirement in the core area was in error. The administration was charged with the responsibility to draw up an amendment to the official plan. In the meantime, it is understood that O'Brien can go ahead in the customary manner with any new plans he has for that lot. +++ Town councillors shook their head in disbelief when a letter from Stan .Hadden on St. David Street, noted that he'd had a fire permit to burn shop and business refuse on a continuous basis since September 1975. Clerk Larry McCabe said he had revoked the permit which had been signed by a previous clerk. "That was a smart move,” said Councillor Elsa Haydon. Hadden said he would be able to manage with a . permit that would allow him to burn refuse about three.times a month, at various times to suit the habits of the neighborhood. He said his fire container is completely enclosed in heavy wire mesh. Hadden complained that McCabe had told him he could not -have a continuous burning permit because he lived in a strictly residential area. "But we have here across from us a boat building business and a gas bar," wrote Hadden. "This surely is not a residential area, in a strict sense of the word." The matter was referred 'to the fire chief in consultation with administration. It was the opinion of council that there is no such thing as a continuous burning permit and that special occasion permits are issued only "sparingly" to citizens who for some particular reason must burn refuse instead of get.rid of it in the more conventional methods provided through the town's services. + + GODERICH AREA PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC MEETING TUESDAY, DEC. 5, 1978 7:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS -TOWN HALL 57 WEST STREP PURPOSE: To discuss the redesignation of Lot 1045, R.P. 7, located on the southeast corner of Beach Street and Harbour Street from the "in- dustrial" to the "commercial" land use category to permit the establishment of a restaurant. Comments and participation are welcomed from all interested persons. For more Information, call 5244492. IC. HUNTER ,lr•.•.•:1 Secretary EARTHSH1N• and SAGI.TTARIUS. ably e Two BesI rpet Valves 'e Have ver Offered! Last month we introduced two new carpets: Earthshine and Sagittarius, both by Constellation. one of the finest carpet makers in the industry. We believe that these two carpets represent exceptional value They cost a little more than ordinary carpets but once you buy them and install them in your home. you'll never: regret the extra few dollars they cost. Earthshine and Sagittarius= --the ultimate:ln luxury, quality and wearability. Probably the two best carpet values we have ever offered Nif 100% Nylon Here's a 100% nylon carpet by Constellation that's just right for today's look in home redecorating. The fashionable sculptured look and warm multi -colored effect blend beautifully with any decor. The attached foam rubber under - padding means easy do-it-yourself installation with no big extras to buy. And because it's treated with for TEFLON, it's easy to care . and resists dirt and. soiling; Available In nine decorator colors. 12 -ft widths. RUSSET CHINCHILLA GOLDEN GLOW RIVIERA MOCHA RUST- RVEST PE CHAMP RNDF_LL AGNS With Attached FOAM RUBBER UNDERPADDING A heavier, more luxurious carpet by Constellation that retains ts elegant good looks for years. 100% nylon carved saXOny with with beige foam rubber underp it ding that lets you save on labor cC it to because you can easily fit. it's easy to care for and it re- wr sists dirt and soiling because it's treated withuPontAvail- us TEFLON carp.protector. able in 12 -ft. widths in nine decorator color's. DUSTY BEIGE CORNISH CREAM DESERT SANDS MALECHITE PAPRIKA TUMBLEWEED DUSTY BLUE MELBA TOAST AUTUMN WOODS CHAR(,F'_\ CUSTOM INSTALLATION by•trainecj installers available at extra cost. Delivery And Credit Terms Available At Extra Cost Prices Shown are Cash & Carry 16 BRANCHES: AMHERSTBURG EXETER GODERICH GRAND BEND HARROW KINCARDINE KINGSVILLE KITCHENER OWEN SOUND RIDGETOWN SOUTHAMPTON THEDFORD WEST LORNE WINDSOR EAST WINDSOR WEST MATTHEWS 736.2151. 235.1422 524-8321 • 238.2374 738-2221 396-3403 733.2341 744.6371 376-3181 674.5465 1973245 . 296.4991 768-1520 727.8001 734.1221 254.1 143 disc&ifli cow - )=74,2, HOME CENTRES LOTS OF FREE PARKING 1 F.IrM., Awtl KITCHENER so s -, r 589 ralrway Road South.near the Mall. Phone 744-6371 OWEN SOUND ./ 'Mr, 21 On Highway 21 at Springmount Corner. Phone,376.3i81 Hwy 11140 KINCARDINE Hwy 2 North oppbshe the Sutton Park Inn.Phone396.3403