We aim to join the children on their journey of growth, change and development as individuals, through their discovery of self and their relationship with others. We hope to guide the children to see and be confident in who they are, to find their place in their world and to have awareness of their strengths.
We see children as able, caring, and affectionate people, and we aim to nurture their kindness and love in their friendships.
We regard the child as a theorist, who is constantly creative and transforming their own theories, their ideas, and their thoughts.
We strive to foster co-construction and collaboration among children, to recognize and respect similarities and differences in the perspectives of others.
We want to support the children as explorers; to be curious in their play, active in their thinking and reflective in their thoughts. We value the culture of the child and we aim to nurture and preserve their customs, traditions, and values of their family culture. We see children as adventurers full of life, excitement, and enthusiasm, and we want to join the children in holistic living – in this love for living each day in mind, body, and spirit.
Maria Cortese, a junior kindergarten teacher at Vancouver’s Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, was recently awarded a Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Early Childhood Education in recognition of her role in focusing attention, in her junior kindergarten, on educating the whole child.
Burnaby North Secondary High School students recently produced the video above, illustrating the friendship between Maria’s class and a local senior, Jim. It’s a touching and inspiring story of human connection—and that all generations have the potential to teach, learn from and bring joy to each other.
Watch the video and click here to read Maria’s Five Ideas for Building Intergenerational Relationships.