Here is your October EYMPD newsletter that I hope finds you healthy and happy, and looking forward to celebrating Child Care Worker and ECE Appreciation Day on October 22nd, 2020.
I am aware that not all of you who are receiving this newsletter are either a child care worker or an early childhood educator, however I am confident that you are all in some capacity contributing to the well-being, growth, and education of the youngest members of our Muskoka community, and for that I want to thank you. I want to thank you especially for accepting our children, for welcoming them into your circle unconditionally, just as they are, for wanting the best for them, for seeing their potential, for letting them be who they are, for in other words practising in an anti-oppressive manner.
On a personal note, thanks to a friend of mine, I discovered Fish Hatchery trail. It is simply breathtaking; a real Muskoka treasure. I hope you get to discover it as well, if you have not already. Do you know of a spot in Muskoka worth exploring? If so, please write to me about it!
|
|
Kasia Oxley, Children’s Services Community Facilitator, Children’s Programs and Services
Work Cell:(705) 644-1533
|
|
Please note that the information contained in this newsletter is intended to encourage conversation and self-reflection and is not to be considered as advice. |
|
Stand Up to Bullies
Learning format: article
Time commitment: 5 minutes
Areas of interest: relationships, anti-oppressive practice, self-reflection, transformation, leadership, ethics, professional responsibility
Bullying and bullies are widespread. At all scales, from homes and schoolyards to boardrooms, they create a vast amount of human suffering. What can we do?
|
We Matter Campaign
Learning format: various (videos, articles, etc.)
Time commitment: depending on level of exploration
Areas of interest: Indigenous community, racism, support, mental health
We Matter is a place to help Indigenous youth get through hard times, whether they need support themselves or want to support someone they know.
|
|
Anti-Oppressive Practice as a Transformation Tool Lecture
Presented by Donna Hinds, MSW, RSW, RSSW
Learning format: video
Time commitment: 54 minutes
Areas of interest: relationships, anti-oppressive practice, self-reflection, transformation, leadership, ethics, professional responsibility
This presentation aims to position Anti-Oppressive Practice (AOP) at the personal level (Micro); specifically, using AOP as a transformational tool for self-governing in everyday practice relationship.
Donna Hinds holds a Bachelor and Master of Social Work from York University; her Master’s thesis explored the lived experiences of single mothers and poverty in Toronto. She is currently completing her Doctor of Education in Organisational Leadership.
Donna is a full-time professor; her areas of intellectual curiosity of research and teaching both qualitative and quantitative include single mothers and poverty, leadership and social work, anti-racism, transformative learning, power, privilege, and oppression, understanding of the self, social injustices, poverty and marginalization of the poor. She reviews social work-related textbooks for some of Canada’s leading publishers and is a motivational speaker.
Please note that even though Donna speaks to social workers in this lecture, this presentation can be easily applied to any profession that is based on relationship building.
|
|
|
Please write to Kasia to let her know your thoughts on anti-oppressive practice or discrimination for a chance to win a resource of your choice
(value of up to $50.00)
|
|
Here is a reflection on anxiety submitted by Angie Soos, a local RECE.
Thank you Angie!
|
|
I am writing to let you know how we deal with anxiety. We love the outdoors, spending as much time outside as we can. Being together as a family is number one. We also spend lots of time caring for our animals. One of our favourite things is nature hikes with our dog Mini.
Currently we are raising pigs and chickens at my parents’ farm. Over our time off we raised day old chicks at our home and then they go to our farm. This has been a wonderful experience. Watching the growth and the changes has taught my son so much. Eventually he’ll be selling the fresh farm eggs as well. He used his own money to purchase the chicks.
We do lots of physical activities like biking, running, yoga, dancing, parkour, etc. The list goes on. Fingers crossed we can hit the slopes with skiing and snowboarding. Social visits with close friends has also been a huge part of us being healthy. This is how we are keeping our mental health intact. Working is also a great therapy.
|
|
EARLY YEARS PROFESSIONALS IN MUSKOKA |
|
What is your current job, and how did you arrive at it, in other words why do you do what you do?
I am a Therapy Assistant with One Kids Place. I spent many years as a client of children’s rehab services and I knew very early on I wanted to work with children. It only took 5 years post university when OKP opened and an opportunity in Muskoka presented itself just as my husband was starting his new career here. That was almost 15 years ago so I guess it was a good move.
|
|
Without disclosing confidential information, please tell me about how your involvement within the early years profession created a better outcome for a child/family?
I hope that any involvement I have with families will help them. What I try to do is give the tools for the families to help their children reach their goals. And then I am always there to cheer them on and always love celebrate every little accomplishment.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
In my spare time I get to be a mom to a very active 4-year-old. As a family we enjoy the outdoors in all 4 seasons, skiing, swimming, atving, snowmobiling etc. And when I get a moment of quiet I enjoy sewing, knitting, reading and yoga.
What's your favorite quote?
"No matter how much I get done, or is left undone, at the end of the day I am enough.”
-Brene Brown
Which famous person would you like to have lunch with and why?
I’ve recently started reading and listening to Brene Brown. So I would love to have lunch with her. Through her books she has taught me a lot about courage, vulnerability, shame and empathy. So picking her brain in person would be amazing, she also has a great sense of humor so I’m pretty sure it would be a blast!
In the last couple of years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your life?
In the last few years I have found restorative yoga. It teaches you to stop and see the importance of being enough which is a very tough lesson that I continually work on. Life is fast and very precious, sometimes just stopping to reset just helps the body and mind.
|
|
For a chance to win a resource of your choice (value of up to $50.00), please submit a reflection of yours to Kasia on a topic of your choice that you would like to be considered for publication in one of the upcoming newsletter editions.
Your submission does not have to be in a form of an essay, other forms of expression are welcome, such as: poetry, video footage, note, opinion piece, interview, photos accompanied by a short text, review, etc.
|
|
|
Was the content in this newsletter helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
