Parent's News


Tuesday, June 10, 2008



FORT ROUGE CO-OP DAY NURSERY INC. JUNE 2008 NEWSLETTER

It's already mid June and it looks like we will be having a whirl-wind of a summer. The children have been gearing up with bug nets , insect cages and magnifying glasses ready to inspect each new emerging creature. The warming weather has also given us lots to look at in our surrounding parks and flower garden closer to home!

Garden Clean up and Beautification

A dozen parents and staff came out on June 7th to dig, shovel hoe, rake, cut and plant. Thank you to all the folks that showed up to turn our once overgrown and fenced garden beds into a space that is truly a work of art and inspiration. Early birds, Lyla, Fred and Christa showed up by 7:30 AM, got the coffee brewing and dug in to set the pace of the morning. By the time I arrived Fred had removed a number of rotting landscape ties and Christa had cleared a fair patch of weed (prairie turnips) from the first of many beds. Lyla was ankle deep in mud digging out and sorting out strawberry and perennials from the rest! I got busy with cutters and took out a number of small saplings. Susan and her Mom- Mary and Dad- Michael came soon after bearing hoes, rakes and spades. We knew there would be action and no turning back as Michael got busy with the wheelbarrow moving pea gravel into the play ground. Sharla and Mark arrived soon after ready to step in. Kristine soon followed and before we know it there were half a dozen busy hands pulling , hoeing and raking out the over-weeded beds. Ian and Andrea arrived and were soon part of the cleaning fray! Ian wielded an axe and cleared the stumps I had left , while Andrea and Julia swept up scattered pea gravel and sand to clear the space around the shed and cedars. Daniel and Rena arrived just in time to takeover some of the weeding as a few were ready to exchange their hoes for wheel barrows and a power sprayer and clear off the top of the roofed play area. Kirk got busy with the chain saw and circular saw to cut the new timbers that now surround the sandbox. Rick was quickly put to work repairing the picnic tables and spindles on the gate. Before long the annuals and perennials were in the beds and the rain barrel ready for use with the next rain fall. What a beautiful job. Everyone took a well deserved break for coffee and bagels and I for one, stood in awe of the transformation. It will be a few years before the plants and flowers reach their full potential but with the care and curiosity of our children it will be a "wonderland in progress". "Thanks everyone, the garden work party was a huge success!

Annual Family Fun Picnic
FRCDN will be holding the Annual Summer Fun Picnic on Thursday June 26th from 3:00 to 5:30 PM. This years Bar-b-q should prove to be exciting with a great line-up of entertainment and music. Entertainment includes "Inch the Clown" performing at 3:00PM . "Fubuki Daiko Drummers" will perform at 4:45PM. Staff have planned a variety of activities. Local MLA Jennnifer Howard will come for a visit and meet with our families. 3 1/2 year old Shane after seeing a picture of Jennifer on a poster near the top of Stradbrook Ave. said "Look it's my Mom." We look forward to seeing all our families at this yearly Sun Fun event.

SUMMER FIELD TRIPS AND OUTINGS
Staff of FRCDN are busy filling the calendar with summer time outings. Keep an eye on the calendar for postings both here and at the center. Some of these outings will include the summer time festivals at Old Market Square where the Fringe and Jazz festival offer up great entertainment for families.

DAILY HAPPENINGS
The children have been actively working on their camping skills. The once housekeeping center, has become the Fort Rouge Campground outfitted with bar-b-q and lanterns so the wee campers can maneuver through the teddy-bear infested forest! So far the indoor experience has been wonderful . We do look forward to moving the tent outdoors once the ground dries.