Feb 23, 2015 | Community, Early Childhood Educators, Early Learning, Kids Can Fly News, Literacy
Once upon a time in the land of Brant there was a team of people who shared a dream. These people worked tirelessly to bring this dream to life and share this dream with all the children in the land. One magical Saturday morning in February their dream came true…………….all of their favourite storybook characters came to life!!!! Peter Pan, Elsa, Olaf, Goldie Locks, Thor and so many, many more.
There were minions who worked around the clock decorating this wonderland and preparing the themed tables, serving a hot meal, lugging and slugging tables and chairs, greeting our special guests as they arrived and ensuring no small task was overlooked. These minions were led by their fearless leader who presided over the day and made sure that the sand in the hourglass never quite ran out! This magical morning was truly like it’s very own story and at the end………….the children all left with giggles and smiles and of course “storybooks”.
We are truly a blessed community to have Sharon Brooks as the Executive Director of Kids Can Fly. Her tireless efforts and never-ending positive attitude has made the difference in the lives of thousands of children. Storybook Breakfast came to life 8 years ago and continues to grow under her watchful eye. I am always humbled by Sharon’s dedication, persistence and commitment to the children and families of our community. Thank-you Sharon for letting this dream come to life for all of us.
To our characters, you were the magic of the morning! The squeals of laughter, the hidden smiles and the sheer delight on the faces of the children that you met said it all. This morning cannot happen without all of you. The gift of your time and your presence are irreplaceable and we are so grateful for this. Thank you a million times over!
To our character team, Sarah, Tasha and Janelle. We couldn’t do this without you! Your organizational skills, time management and patience go a long way.
To the ladies who worked tirelessly serving a hot breakfast to the giddy princesses, superheroes and other little storybook characters, thank-you. We had a lot of people to move through that line and we certainly wouldn’t have been able to do so without your helping hands.
To the Kids Can Fly board members and staff that rolled up their sleeves and worked so hard in preparation and on the day, thank you for your tireless efforts.
Each of you brought something special to our magnificent morning and we are so grateful and appreciative.
“Volunteers are not paid, not because they are worthless………………but because they are priceless!”
With Thanks,
Heather Wilson
Apr 3, 2013 | Community, Early Learning, Government of Ontario News, Imagination Library - Gift of Literacy
Kids Can Fly were invited to give input into the upcoming provincial budget through a pre-budget consultations that are taking place throughout Ontario.
Sharon Brooks, Executive Director of Kids Can Fly spoke to the Minister of Finance, Charles Sousa and the Minister of Community and Social Services, Ted McMeekin about the economic value of investing in Imagination Library for all preschool children in Ontario!
According to research and the World Bank, for every dollar that is invested in the early years, the Province would save $17 in social services, health, policing, incarceration, rehabilitation and other costs. To register a child in the Imagination Library, the cost is $60/per year for the first five years of their life. Therefore for a $300 investment in every child in Ontario, the Province would save $5100!
For the Kids Can Fly full submission:
Ontario Pre-Budget Consultations 2013
Please make your comments below or contact your local MPP to support this proposal.
“Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More.”
Dolly Parton
Mar 14, 2013 | Ask an Expert, Early Learning
Parents: The Most Important Teachers
… parents are a child’s most important teacher and home is the most important classroom.
There is nothing quite so magical as watching toddlers explore their world.
There are times when it almost seems that we can hear their brains whirring as they learn new things, they investigate their environment, and they seek to understand the world around them.
And yet, as magical as this is, one thing is certain: there are no magic answers to making it happen. There is only the magic of doing an awful lot of things right – as parents, as caregivers, as educators, and as a community.
It is then that we see the magic that comes in creating children whose cognitive development prepares them for what lies ahead in their lives. That’s why it is crucial that however we contribute to a child’s upbringing, we should begin with a seminal fact: there is no single button to push that ensures the healthy development of a child and there is no panacea that unlocks a bright future for every child. Rather, there is only the dedicated work every day of being a loving, nurturing parent and city.
We’ve been thinking about this lately because early childhood development seems to be on everyone’s radar at the local, state, and federal levels. As sometimes happens, rhetoric outruns reality and magical thinking overruns the research on early childhood development, so as you hear more, remember, it takes a latticework of things to develop children to their fullest.
For example, Pre-K matters and the more Memphis children who attend the better. It is inarguable that what is needed in our community is not a high-performing K-12 educational system, but a Pre-K-12 educational system. Now, children are five and six years old when they enter the classroom, but by then, their brains have grown to 80 percent of their adult sizes and events, experiences, and environment have already produced vital learning for them – both positive and negative.
In the past, Pre-K has been seen as an educational luxury but fortunately, it is more and more being seen as a necessity if we want to close the achievement gap and give every child a fair start in life. And yet, it is unrealistic to expect that our schools and our teachers should bear the brunt of the responsibility for the development of our children.
For the rest of the article:
http://www.urbanchildinstitute.org/articles/perceptions/parents-the-most-important-teachers?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=perceptions
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Jan 10, 2013 | Community, Early Learning, Events, Infant/Toddler (Prenatal to age 2), Kids Can Fly News, Kindergarten (4 to 6 years), Literacy, Parenting, Post Partum Depression, Reading & Family Storytime
January is a wonderful way to start the year off with new resolutions and new habits. Someone told me that their New Year’s resolution was to spend more time with their family. They set goals to have dinner together at least three times a week and plan one family time event, a game night, a walk at App’s Mill or a skate at Harmony Square. About Children’s Health has a great top five family New Year’s resolutions… it is not too late to start! Top Five Family New Year’s Resolutions
January is starting off to be very busy for Kids Can Fly. Here are some events and happenings in the upcoming months.
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Parachute Program -Transitioning to Parenthood
 Transitioning to Parenthood will resume meeting every Wed afternoons from 1:30 until 3:00 p.m. at St Andrews Church 95 Darling St on January 9th, 2013. This free program has child care and a free taxi if needed. Join other moms for some baby time and a break to discuss the challenges of life with a new baby. For more info call Jane 519 755 9482.
On January 16th, 2013: Special Guest Speaker Dr. Ryan Van Lieshout, MD, PhD, FRCP(C), will present on post partum depression to moms, partners or service providers at the Parachute Program on Wednesday, January 16th between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. For more information call Sharon 519 448 1713 or info@kidscanfly.ca
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The Young Author’s Project
 The Young Author’s Project, a project of Kids Can Fly, the County of Brant Public Library and the Brantford Expositor has been short listed for the Ontario Ministry of Culture and Tourism Awards and the winner will be announced at the Ontario Library Super-Conference Gala in Toronto January 31, 2013.
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The Launch Pad
 The Launch Pad, early child development and parenting centre runs Tuesday to Friday mornings from 9:00 a.m. until 12 noon with Jane Flinders RECEC. Located at Graham Bell Victoria School – 56 Grand St Brantford, this program is open to all, free and has a taxi service if needed. Come for songs, stories, creative art, dress up and many fun activities with other children and parents. Geared for children 0 – 5 years. Call Jane at 519 755 9482 for more information. PLEASE NOTE: The Launch Pad at Graham Bell-Victoria School will be closed on Friday, January 11 as a result of the Day of Protest being conducted by elementary teachers
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Storybook Breakfast
Kids Can Fly in partnership with Scotiabank present the 6th annual Storybook Break fast on February 9th with two seatings at 9:00 am or 11:00 am.
Come and meet all your favourite Storybook Characters and get their autographs. Enjoy a hot buffet breakfast and get your photo taken with your favourite character.Tickets will go on sale on Saturday, January 19th at Scotiabank’s Lynden Road location ONLY starting at 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. If any tickets are left, they will be sold at the Lynden Road location during banking hours.
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Sincerely,
Sharon Brooks
Executive Director, Kids Can Fly
Dec 3, 2012 | Community, Early Learning, Imagination Library - Gift of Literacy, Kids Can Fly News
Message from our Executive Director ~ Sharon Brooks December 3, 2012
As we enter December, the month of giving, Kids Can Fly wants to make you aware of three special options to give back to your community.
1. Give a Gift that Warms the Heart by donating to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. $60 will register a child for a full year which provides them with a quality book, once a month through the mail. Investing in early literacy lasts a life time. Any amount of a donation welcome. Tax receipts for $20 or more. More information click here. We are very grateful to the Brantford Expositor to sponsor this holiday fundraiser.
2. Telus is selling stuffed Cheetahs this month for $8 and $2 from each sale will come to Kids Can Fly to support our work. Our board members will be at the store on Saturday, December 8th. Drop by and say hi and of course purchase a stuffed Cheetah!
3. A Gift Boutique.com will give a portion of the proceeds from all orders received by A Gift Boutique where you indicate your wish to support Imagination Library in your cart at check out will go towards this program.
Other News
We are proud to announce three new Kids Can Fly Board Members who have joined our Team due to their passion regarding the importance of the early years. We welcome Tasha Brooks-Martin, Michelle Faulkner and Shannon Kingsbury to our Kids Can Fly Family.
In addition to our own work Kids Can Fly is pleased to have supported the Nova Vita Basketeer Program, the ongoing Major Ballachey iPad Fundraising and the Central School Turkey Dinner later in December.
Kids Can Fly salute our many volunteers, who make many of our programs viable. Holding babies, delivering Roots of Empathy, helping with event planning , donating skilled services etc. We our most appreciative and hope you feel special for helping children and families.
The best of the season,
Sharon Brooks
Executive Director
