Can you believe we are already in February! I hope the new year has been good to you so far.

I would like to say a big thank you to all of you who attended the two evenings of Mandatory Revised Standards Core Training. Your participation, questions, and discussions were very much appreciated. Your consultant will be bringing your certificate out to you at their February visit.

This month I would like to focus on some reminders relating to attendance sheets.

Attendance Sheet Reminders

Your attendance sheets are more than just a way of telling your consultant how many hours you have cared for children, they contain important pieces of information that gets sent to the government pertaining to children’s hours, top up hours, subsidy and affordability grant, and other supports your families may be using.

· Before you send your time sheet to your consultant, use the Payroll Request Form as a checklist to ensure you are sending a completed timesheet.

· If you are providing Back Up or Respite care to children, put their names on your attendance sheet. Even if they don’t attend, you will need to record their information as a way of agency staff tracking where the child should have been.

· If you are going away on vacation and you won’t be giving care for a month or more, please complete your attendance sheet with all the children’s and your information on it. If you are on vacation, please try to be available for your consultant to contact you should they have questions.

· Write your time sheets neatly and clearly. The information on those sheets should be legible and accurate and completed (e.g. Full names of children and parents).

· If you are sending your timesheets by taking a photo, please send photos that are clear, light and not blurry.

· If a child has been absent for more than three days, please notify your consultant, especially if the parent hasn’t contacted you to explain why they are absent. Absences can affect parent’s subsidy. Knowing ahead of time that the agency may have to prorate their subsidy credit is useful in ensuring correct withdrawals are taken.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your consultant.

Have a great February.

Emma Dajavs

Coordinator

Happy February Educators! My name is Megan Dettling, I am excited to be returning to my position as a Consultant since leaving for maternity leave in 2021! I look forward to reconnecting with my previous Educators and getting to know all the lovely new faces that have joined us while I was away. My family and I moved this past summer to the small community of Morinville, AB. So I will be taking on mainly a new group of Educators and I look forward to making those new connections. I hope to see you all around! -Megan.

Hello to all the Educators. My name is Jessica, I have been with Southgate Medallion since 2018. I have my Bachelors in Child and Youth Care. I have experience working with various age groups as well as vulnerable populations. I enjoy working with Educators and families collaboratively to meet goals and support quality care.

The children expressed curiosity in multiple ways. They got out for another day of playing in the snow. "Chilly" the children said and "lt is cold" as they first stepped out in the backyard. But as they started to move around, they had a smile on their faces. The children were struggling to walk on the snow. When they lifted one foot, the other foot got stuck. But they showed their full effort while moving around. Sometimes they fell on to the snow and crawled on. H started to collect snow from both hands, and the other child also followed her. They started to collect snow and threw snow all around. "Whoosh..." they were laughing to see powdery snow blowing. "Oh no, snow on her head" the child said. H helped her to wipe off snow from her head. H laid on her back on the snow and started to move her arms and legs as fast as she could making prints on the snow. She giggled and laughed, "Look! | made a snow angel" After a while everybody was tired and looked around. H exclaimed "Look there is something hanging" pointing to the corner of the deck fence. Educator said, "lt is an icicle." "icicle" H repeated the word. Educator added "lt is a long-pointed stick of ice that is formed by the freezing of dripping water." "Can I touch it?" she asked already touching it. lt fell onto the

snow. "Oh no I cannot find it," she started to dig in the snow to find the ice stick. "l found it"

She held it so tightly this time. After exploring with others, she started to draw on the snow.

with the ice stick. We found another one hanging on the other side. They were really enjoying.

those icicle sticks. Finally, H asked "Can I take this inside?" At that time, it was almost

melting as she was using it.

What is that hanging stick? What is it made with?

Educator helped children make connections "l noticed that children were engaging because the learning was connected to something in the real world."

How children benefit from learning actively in the outdoors.

They run, jump, hop, crawl, and write on the snow developing fine and gross motor skills. They

look at their learning area differently and appreciate the freedom and take in all this learning

with wide open eyes. Children benefit from fresh air, also a change of scenery. They are happier and more creative with one another. Also, their learning connects to math, science and geography.

It is indeed possible to make frigid temperatures enjoyable or manageable even if you hate winter!

Here are some tips for surviving winter:

Invest in warm winter gear

Invest in a warm winter coat and boots, and don’t forget to always keep a toque and mittens in your pockets.

Work toward a goal

Take the time to ask what energizes you. Revisit goals, then plan out what you would like to accomplish during the next few months, such as traveling to new destinations, or volunteering for a worthy cause.

Stay connected

To combat isolation, connect with others in person, by phone or email, after work or over the weekends.

Vitamin D3

Canadians don't get enough vitamin D during the winter months. Consult with your doctor about taking supplements. Mushrooms, eggs, fortified orange juice, cereal or tofu and fish are also a good natural source of vitamin D.

Keep your skincare routine in check

A skincare routine is always important, but it’s especially important to keep your skin well-hydrated during winter.

Call your doctor

Speak with a physician if feelings of being down and not interested in the things someone used to be continue to linger.

Find a favourite hot drink or soup

Whether it is your classic coffee or a hot chocolate, having your go-to hot drink will warm you up and make you feel even just a bit better about the cold. Find a great nutritious comfort soup to savor.

Be active

Exercise is great for the cold months. You should consider trying ice skating, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing -- or building a fort in the snow and going sledding with children. Getting outside and exposing the body to sunlight while exercising can improve energy, mood levels and lead to better sleep.

Dance, dance & dance

Dancing is not just a great activity for your physical health, but also your mental well-being. As we wait for more snowfall in Edmonton, get outside and follow the dance steps in the video below:

Thursday 9th February – 6.30 to 8.30 – Communication

Thursday March 9th 6.30 – 8.30 pm – Business Ethics