january 18, 2017
News Advertiser insider PAGE 5
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CALS celebrates 20 years of positive early childhood learning!
Some of CALS Board members-sitting-left to right-Director-Renae Thiessen, Treasurer/Secretary- Laurie Evans. Standing in back row-left to right- Director-Dan Coles, Director- Carol Lynn Babiuk, Vice-ChairKristen Schultz, Chair-Sarah Marcaccio, Director- Deanne Thompson, Early Intervention Coordinator for CALS-Dee Palichuk, and Director- Dr. Dan Edgcumbe. (Rosanne Fortier/photo)
Rosanne Fortier When professionals and board members of an organization are passionate about their cause, they impact lives forever! The heartfelt testimonies and presentations by parents, professionals and board members echoed with evidence of this at Community Association for Lasting Success 20th Anniversary Celebration and Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Wilde and Company Boardroom on January 11. CALS opened on January 10, 1997, and has made remarkable progress in reaching children from birth to sixyears-old in fulfilling CALS mission statement which is to make a positive difference by responding to the needs of families and fostering an environment for life-long learning. The celebration opened with a healthy and delightful light lunch and snacks which were offered by Vegreville Breakfast Club where it was noted what each snack cost. A video was presented that stated every time you talk to or interact with a child you are strengthening the child’s brain connections. The early years are fundamental for creativity, curiosity, and adaptability for a child’s brain. The AGM began with an informative and humorous presentation as Sarah Marcaccio introduced all the board members and they read a script written by Carol Lynn Babiuk which was a story that occasionally rhymed about the various staff, locations, and history since CALS opened 20 years ago. CALS has been at their present location in the Vegreville Children’s Early Learning Centre for 13 years. Afterward, Dee Palichuk, Early Intervention Coordinator was crowned Queen of CALS while Marcaccio presented Palichuk with a bouquet of flowers for 20 years of dedicated service. Heather Giebelhaus then spoke about Vegreville Breakfast Club Program
which is a school snack program that provides a healthy snack. Karen Streets went forth to speak about VALID’s involvement for 17 years with this program where there have been at least 15 and more volunteers who have done regular work for it. Tammy Iftody’s address mentioned that the most defining features of the Head Start Program are the playfulness with language. This program prepares children to reach their own potentials and encourage learning with others. They do this in partnership with specialists and parents. Activities are set-up every day where children work on fine and gross motor skills, language and thinking skills, rhyming and many skills in a small setting and short activities. Erika Trufyn said that the Little Explorers Program is a summer camp for children from three to five years. The program is similar but less structured than preschool and develops all of the necessary skills that children need. Trufyn continued to speak about the seven programs that the Family Literacy Program offers: Books for Babies, Play Dates, 1, 2, 3 Cook with Me, Movers and Shakers, Romp and Stomp, Pool Time Rhyme, and Beyond Play. All these programs are parent/ child interactive, have no cost and have a strong focus on oral language and stimulation through songs, rhymes, and activities. Beyond Play is a new program that promotes positive interactions between children and seniors while supporting early language and literacy development through weekly activities. Palichuk mentioned that Vegreville Preschool Association has been in partnership with CALS for 20 years. She introduced Amy Yakemitz, the current President of Vegreville Preschool Association who said the Head Start Program and Preschool
Program are totally integrated. Palichuk said there is a child who used to use their program and has now enrolled their child into the program. Palichuk concluded by stating that she has a lot of gratitude for CALS.
“CALS has been a passion for me. It is not just the work we do but it is also the amazing staff I get to work with every day. The past and the present board have been the most dedicated and supportive visionary board.”