Introduction
Welcome to the official website of The Burford Co-op Preschool. Please use the navigation buttons above to browse our website. If you would like to find out more information regarding our establishment, simply click on the about us button above.
Program Statement
The Burford Co-operative Preschool Corporation provides quality licensed child care for children in Burford and its surrounding communities. As a licensed Child Care Centre, the Burford Co-operative Preschool Corporation meets and exceeds all health and safety requirements of the Ministry of Education and local government by-laws.
Our Early Childhood Educators believe that children are competent, capable, curious, and rich in potential. The Burford Co-op Preschool & Children’s Centre offers learning programs that are consistent with the Ministry of Education’s policy statement on programming and pedagogy.
We strive to offer programs where all children, families, and staff are valued as active participants and contributors.
Our program has been set up to fulfill the needs of all children and to provide the foundational conditions of Belonging, Well-being, Engagement, and Expression, that are required for children to grow and flourish. Our Early Childhood Educators foster the children’s exploration, play, and inquiry by observing, engaging with, and listening to the children. This allows educators to be able to plan for and create positive learning environments and experiences in and out of the classroom so that each child’s learning and development will be supported.
Early Childhood Educators encourage the children to interact and communicate in a positive way and support their ability to self-regulate. Much eye contact and close proximity assist the children while they learn these lifelong skills.
Early Childhood Educators attempt to create their classrooms to be an extension of the child’s home. Safety is paramount, but each child also needs to be happy and feel loved while they are at the Centre. If they need snuggles, they get them; if noses are runny, they get wiped, if the zippers on coats begin to slide down, they get done up right away, etc. The children are to be treated, at all times, as if their parent were standing two feet away.
Early Childhood Educators will follow the children’s lead. Whatever they are able to do to make a child feel welcome, they will do. If a stuffed toy, gives the child comfort, the children are able to carry that stuffed toy everywhere; if they have a favourite blanket that gives them comfort, that blanket can be with them. Some children feel more comfortable having a picture of their family close by. That is alright too. Whatever makes the child feel secure and welcome, our Early Childhood Educators will accommodate.
Each child’s health will be assessed upon their arrival to the Centre. If ill health develops during the day, parents/guardians will be notified immediately. In the event of an allergy in the program, every effort will be made to ensure that the Preschool is free of the allergen, and/or causative agents. The Preschool Cook is able to accommodate the children with special dietary needs by cooking the same foods that are being served to everyone else, but using the particular ingredients that individual children require.
Early Childhood Educators want to make sure every child and family has a successful experience, in all programs, at the Burford Co-operative Preschool Corporation. No concern is ever too small. We want to make sure that families feel as comfortable as the children they leave in our care. Parents are encouraged to call, and email, the Centre as often as they like. We do have an open-door policy. Staff are happy to share updates with families and forward photos to put a concerned parents’ mind at ease.
Our Changing Preschool
In addition to the Before & After Program at the Mill Street location, the Burford Co-operative Preschool Corporation also operates Before & After Programs at Burford District Elementary School and Blessed Sacrament Schools, in Burford, Ontario. The Mill Street Program opens at 6:30 a.m., and the Burford District Elementary & Blessed Sacrament Before School Programs open at 7:00 a.m.
School-aged children enrolled at any of our Before & After School locations are able to sign up for Camp Days, at the main location, on P.A. Days, Snow Days, March Break, and for care during the summer months. A simple email is enough to add your school-aged child to the attendance on any camp day provided enough notice is given. Children are accepted on Snow Days on a first come, first served basis.
All Programs close at 5:45 p.m.
Burford Co-op Preschool & Children’s Centre
Infants: 6 spaces
Toddler: 10 spaces
Preschool: 24 full time spaces
Half Day Preschool: 16 spaces
School-Age: 13 kindergarten children & 25 primary/junior school-age children
Blessed Sacrament Before & After School Program
Kindergarten: 20 (44 months up to 68 months)
Primary/Junior School-age: 15
Burford Co-op Preschool Before & After School Program
@ Burford District Elementary School
Kindergarten: 26 (44 months up to 7 years)
Primary/Junior School-age: 30
Mhairi Frommer is the Supervisor at the Burford Co-op Preschool & Children’s Centre. Mhairi was instrumental with the expansion, and relocation of the Preschool. Mhairi graduated from the Early Childhood Education Program at Georgian College, Barrie, Ontario, and has many years of experience in the field. Mhairi is the mother of 4 grown children and grandmother to Monica, Taeden, Austen, Leah, Braden, Benjamin, Avery, Colten and Logan.
“I love going to work every day. My children are my personal legacy; the Burford Co-op Preschool & Children’s Centre is my professional legacy. I was instrumental in creating this Centre. I took this program from a half-day preschool program that was situated in rented space above the old Burford town Library to a full service child care centre and planned all aspects of it. We were fortunate to have found and purchased the old Mount Vernon United Church. The church is steeped in history and we did our utmost to preserve that history. With my family in tow, we stripped the walls nail by nail, panel by panel and I frequently heard, “I can’t believe you’re doing this.” I couldn’t believe I was doing this either.
This Centre is designed to my liking, and filled with toys and furnishings that I chose. It has been wonderful to watch the Preschool grow from 2 staff to 17 and from 36 children to capacity with a waiting list. We have made a name for ourselves and have close ties with the children and families who attend currently and have attended in the past. No two days are ever the same and families are so appreciative of the service that we provide.
I love walking through the classrooms and getting that child’s smile, hug, or comment that let me know they are happy to see me. I love looking into the eyes of the children for each one reminds me how much I do love and always have loved working with young children. As a profession, we make such a difference in each of their lives every single day. Many of them spend most of their waking hours with us, it’s up to us to make sure they have a great day each and every day. That is such an important job. I love that as a team, we enjoy one another’s company and are able to go out for dinner and everyone looks forward to attending. I love that former staff come back to visit and keep in touch. I love that my staff are proud to belong to the Burford Co-op Preschool & Children’s Centre. My favourite picture every year is the group shot of all of us, staff and children, out front of our building. These are my people and they make coming to work each day a pleasure.”
Mhairi is proud to be a Certified member of the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario.
Amanda is an ECE graduate from Loyalist College in Belleville. She is proud to say that she has been working at the Preschool since September 2007. Amanda enjoys reading in her “down time” and loves the great outdoors no matter what the weather.
There are so many things that Amanda loves about her job. She loves the environment that she works in. Everyone is always in good spirits and joking around with one another. Burford Co-op Preschool is like a second home to Amanda. She knows that if ever she has a problem outside of work, that she can talk to Mhairi. Amanda has thoroughly enjoyed watching so many children, in her care, grow into the fine individuals that they are today. She loves walking into a room and seeing little faces light up at the sight of her. Of course, hugs come next, and nothing beats a great hug from a child. Amanda loves her job!
Meghan graduated with her diploma in Early Childhood Education, from Mohawk College in 2004, and has been working in the Child Care profession ever since. Meghan began her employment with the Burford Co-op Preschool & Children’s Centre in June 2015, and is part of the Large Preschool Room staff. Meghan is a wonderful asset to the Centre and proud mother of Ryder, Isla and Jaxon.
Lori is a Registered Early Childhood Educator from Humber College. She graduated from the Early Childhood Education for the Developmentally Handicapped Program. Lori and her husband, Dan, are parents of 4 girls. Lori shares her home with many dogs, cats, and one bird.
Lori’s work experience includes working at the W. Ross Mac Donald School for the Deaf- blind, Grand Erie District Board of Education, and being a private home care provider. Lori looks after the Half-Day program at the Burford Co-op Preschool & Children’s Centre.
Tracy Cartmel joined the Centre, March 2010 as our Cook. The children who attend the Burford Co-op Preschool & Children’s Centre benefit from her past experiences and enjoy a well rounded menu. Her food service back ground started in 1994 as a Dietary aide/stand-in cook in a Retirement Home. She has since worked at a Butcher shop as a meat processer/ retail clerk, High School cafeteria, Industrial cafeteria, and then transferred to the Woodstock Toyota Cafeteria. Tracy keeps her Food Safety Training Certificate up to date, and participates in workshops.
“I've worked in a number of jobs over the years, doing a variety of things, and finally, I have decided that the best job to have is a job you love. Of all the jobs that I have had, this position is the most rewarding. I've finally found the perfect job for me; I get up each day happy to head to work, and forget to stop working even when I’m at home. Working on the menus, sourcing new recipes, emailing parents, getting together the grocery list and grocery shopping are all challenges that keep this job fun and fresh.
As a mother to three grown children, who were very picky eaters as youngsters, it has given me insight on how best to present meals that appeal to most of the centres children. I’m totally amazed when a Teacher tells me that one of their picky eaters ate well. I enjoy sharing my techniques with parents that ask me, “How did you cook that? He/she doesn’t eat it at home”.
Occasionally I hear the parents commenting on how great the Centre smells with the wafting aromas of either morning muffins baking in the oven or the savory smell of lunch in the works. Hearing those comments gives me cause to smile, knowing the parents are headed off to work with a confidence that their child is going to be well fed. When I deliver the food bins to the rooms, the gleeful sounds the children make announcing to all “snack is here” lets me know that I’m achieving the ongoing challenge to create healthy food choices that the children enjoy. I treasure the children that stop and speak to me about their interests or ask what is for lunch. No matter how busy I am, I will stop and speak with them. I think for me, some of the most special moments are when, a child hugs me, or when I hear the JK/SK group sing a “Thank you Miss Tracy” song at lunch or the Pre School group sing “Do you know the Muffin Lady”.
"I have been given the opportunity to work with a dedicated group of ladies. We have great communication amongst the staff, and we work as a team to provide the best care for our Centres Children."
Cathie is a graduate from the Early Childhood Education Program at Conestoga College, class of 1982. For the past many years, Cathie has had the pleasure of working with children and families in a variety of disciplines. This journey has taken from initially working day cares to working for children who have severe developmental delays in group homes and institutional settings to a career managing a Child Life Program in a community hospital, working in community development, operating a home based day care, working as an educational assistant in the school systems, then coming back full circle to the day care setting.
Cathie loves the sense of community and family that Burford Co-operative Preschool encompasses and emulates. The children and their families have become very dear to her heart in the time that Cathie has been with the Preschool.
On a personal note, Cathie is a very proud mother to two wonderful daughters, Kristen who is a nurse and married, and Jordyn who is entering her final year at the University of Guelph with a major in Molecular Biology and Genetics and a minor in Neuro Science with plans to obtain her Masters Degree then a PH.D down the road so Miss Cathie plans to be with the Burford Co-op Preschool Corporation for many years to come.
Michelle has been a Registered Early Childhood Educator since 2006. She is also mother of a type 1 diabetic son, Joshua. Michelle enjoys working with all of the children and seeing their faces every day.
Jasmine graduated from the Fanshawe College Early Childhood Education Program in 2017. Jasmine enjoys teaching and learning things with the children. What she loves most about being an Early Childhood Educator is that she gets welcomed with excitement from every child every day. That lets her know that she is making a difference in their lives. She enjoys watching the children as they learn and grow.
Ria graduated with high honors from the ECE program, at Mohawk College, in 2012. She achieved her ECE education after staying at home and raising her own eight children. She volunteered at her children’s school but wanted to gain more knowledge about how children learn, and wondered what she could do to help them further their knowledge, with the aim of going back to the school to volunteer. She realized after doing her placement, at the Burford Co-op Preschool & Children’s Centre, that she enjoyed spending such quality time with the children. Not long after she graduated she took on a part-time position at the Preschool and has enjoyed working in various positions since. Ria loves to see the children flourish and gain new relationships, and knowledge, in a playful way. She loves working with the other staff in such a friendly and positive atmosphere.
Ria has been married for almost 30 years, to Gary, her husband and best friend. Most of her children are now married and have children of their own. Ria is currently Grandma to 11 sweet, adorable grandchildren.
Erica has been with the Burford Co-operative Preschool Corporation since September 2020. Not only is Erica a Registered Early Childhood Educator, she also has a diploma as a Child & Youth Worker. Erica loves working with children of all ages, but working with the infants is a dream come true for Erica. Watching the little ones grow brings Erica so much joy. Erica thinks that every day is amazing in the Infant Room. When Erica isn’t at the Centre, Erica enjoys attending craft shows. Erica is always interested to see what she might find. She also enjoys going to the rodeo whenever it is in town.
Anne began with the Preschool in October 2022. Anne relocated from Nigeria, Africa, in 2007 and is married, with three beautiful daughters. Anne graduated from the Canada Career College with a diploma as an Early Childhood Education Assistant in 2014. Anne has been working in Infant Rooms since 2014. She thoroughly enjoys watching children learn and grow. Anne lights up working with the babes and is a most welcome addition to the team at the Burford Co-op Preschool Corporation.
Alexandra Bradshaw is currently enrolled at Connestoga College obtaining her ECE diploma. Working with children has been a passion of Alexandra’s for a very long time. This passion started when Alexandra started babysitting as a young teenager when she made the decision that she wanted to work with children as a career. Alexandra loves doing crafts, singing, dancing , and doing group activities, with the children. As an educator, Alexandra always wants the children in her care to feel included in activities and to feel welcome in her classroom. When Alexandra is not working, she enjoys shopping and spending time outside. She is very grateful to have the ability to have an impact in children’s lives.
Esther is a graduate of the Early Childhood Education program from Mohawk College. Esther chose to become an Early Childhood Educator because she wants to make a difference in children’s lives. Esther wants to be the person that makes a difference in every child’s day as well as every families day. Esther has come full circle at the Preschool. She attended the half day preschool program when she was 3 years old, attended the school-age camp days at this location, completed her high school and college co-op placements at the Preschool, and now she works for the Preschool on a full-time basis.
When Esther is not working, she loves to spend time with her family and friends. Esther can often be found riding her horse, playing with her dog, or on adventures with her barn friends.
Michelle is a Registered Early Childhood Educator who graduated from the University of Wollongong in Australia with a Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood). Canada has been home for the past 20 years where Michelle has worked in childcare in between raising her three sons.
Michelle enjoys working with children and loves to see their enjoyment as they engage in activities that interest them. She loves listening as the children share their ideas and experiences, and join in with their excitement as they reach new achievements. Michelle believes that each child is so wonderfully unique and thinks it is an absolute pleasure to be a part of their early learning years.
Joanna is from South Korea. Joanna received her E.C.E equivalency in 2021. Joanna’s mother ran a day care business in Korea for 13 years, so Joanna has a passion for working with children and loves what she does. Joanna has been married for 6 years. Joanna’s current babies are her two beautiful cats, Momo & Chichi.
Alba has been living in Canada for almost 6 years and has a 1 year old daughter. In Italy, Alba has a diploma in socio-psycho-pedagogical sciences. She has worked with children for the past 15 years and loves being with them every day. Alba has experience working with children with special needs introducing them to music therapy and speech therapy, as well as working with After School Programs and summer camps. Alba is working towards obtaining her ECE diploma in Canada .
“Thank you so much for all the care and compassion you have given our children through the years. We are grateful to have had such wonderful staff take care of our children. You have helped create wonderful, lasting memories for our family.”
"Thank you for everything. Everyone at Burford Co-op has been amazing to us and the boys. They have learned so much from all of the teachers and they look forward to their school days. Chris and I are truly grateful for everything. The care and compassion given to the children, the kindness and understanding and all the memories we’ll have are greatly appreciated."
"From the moment I toured the Preschool in 2009 with my then infant daughter, I knew Burford Co-op was the place for us. The teachers were so involved with the children whether they were on the floor playing with the infants, or sitting at the little tables while the toddlers painted. Artwork filled the walls and the sounds of laughter and happy “chatter” was heard in every room.
To this day, my oldest daughter gets upset when I arrive to pick her up. “Ahh Mommy!” she yells “I was having fun!” As much as that stings a little, I would much rather her be upset when I pick her up than when I drop her off – I KNOW she’s happy while at the Preschool. That happiness comes from the AMAZING teachers, the fun (yet structured) programs, and the friendships she has built while attending Burford Co-op. As I watch both my daughters grow up in the care of this incredible Centre, I am so thankful to have these teachers who are there for my girls when I cannot be.
"My son Mason has been going to the Burford Co-Op Preschool since before he was 2 years old. He did not manage well with the change and the girls had a bit of a rough time with him in the beginning. The staff was so attentive to Mason at that time; they snuggled him when he needed them and they tried their best to make him feel at home. The care they gave was incredible.
His teachers watched his patterns of behaviour and noticed that Mason is very time oriented and that after certain activities he was watching for us to come and pick him up. That sparked one of the teachers, on her own time, to develop a picture timeline that Mason could use by removing pictures of the activity from the velcro board, until the very last activity was us coming to greet him. AWESOME!!!! He has loved "little school" ever since.
I recommend this school on so many merits. The meals that the kids are served are nutritious and delicious, the money that they earn and fundraise for is invested back in our school, but most of all their love for our children is genuine. Mason still attends "little school" on his days off of senior kindergarten. He loves it, and he loves school because of the preparation he has been given by the preschool. He is excelling with his work in JK/SK, as "little school" worked hard teaching them numbers and jolly phonics, giving them such an advantage at school. He loves it so much that he has even asked his Daddy to come back later to pick him up as he wasn't ready to leave quite yet. We are so lucky to have such a little gem in our community. Thank-you Burford Co-Op Preschool for all the wonderful things you do."
Phone: 519-449-3127
Email: burfordcooperative@bellnet.ca
