Year: 2018 – Province: Alberta
Certificate of Excellence Recipient
Edmonton Northwest Child Care Centre
12823-116 Avenue NW
Edmonton, AB T5M 3C8
Telephone: 780-454-6353
Website: Edmonton Northwest Child Care Centre
Type of setting: Child care centre for children ages 2.5 to 4 years
Born in Iraq, Ashwak Bawa-morad sees the children, families and staff of the child care centre as her extended family. She brings to her work with young children the love, nurturing and attention to detail of a mother caring for her family, and acts as an ally and strong guide, and support for parents.
Philosophy of care
Ashwak understands that children develop best when they have a secure and consistent relationship with their caregiver and a positive relationship with other children. With quiet grace and a detailed plan for each day's activities, she ensures each child receives her undivided attention and encouragement.
Support of child development
- Focuses on daily play (indoors and out) as most important vehicle for developing physical health, imagination, building and creative skills, and language, sensory and fine-motor skills
- Creates stimulating and engaging masterpieces—provocation tables, sensory bins and an indoor garden—focused on themes and children's interests to challenge but not frustrate little hands
- Emphasizes children's emotional health and literacy: children identify their emotional state on the "How Are You Feeling?" board; by signing in on the "Who's Here Today" board, children develop a sense of belonging and awareness of others who are absent
- Fosters inclusion through language: Sign language and simple words help children with limited language skills or whose home language is not English feel included, as does teaching basic vocabulary and counting in the various languages children speak with their families
Involvement with parents, families and the community
- Respects families' heritage and culture: "All about Me" questionnaires solicit information about customs and practices at home; Ashwak incorporates these through music and meals at the centre
- Employs many ways to communicate with parents: daily and weekly observation sheets capture important events and developments to share; documentation panels in centre feature pictures (with captions) of what children have been learning; portfolios contain samples of children's work
- Works one-on-one with parents in response to children's behaviour, sharing ideas for addressing problems and ensuring a consistent approach at home and at the child care centre
- Reaches out to the community for its and the children's benefit: established pen pal program with seniors home; partnered with university food literacy research program; supports local food bank
Rave reviews
"True leaders inspire. Ashwak inspires the children each day but she also inspires the parents to be better versions of ourselves … . We are thankful that Ashwak chose to come to this country, to our daycare and to share her life experiences and knowledge with us."