Mikinaak Daycare Centre

Phone: (204) 252-3126

The Mikinaak Day Care Centre offers the following programs:

• Health/Nutrition/Safety
• Small/Large Motor Skill Development
• Culture
• Music/Art/Dance
• Social Development
• Language

Education:

• Reading, Listening, Counting
• Interpersonal Communication

Other Interesting Facts

1. Mikinaak is a Day Care Facility that has been in operation since January 1999.
2. At year-end of 2006, we had a number of families that were registered with the facility and enjoyed the services.

Objectives

• Implement appropriate activities and programs according to each child's individual developmental abilities, interests and needs. Our curriculum is planned around our Kindergarten/Nursery children and we planned for various activities throughout the year. We had themes that represented the holidays, the seasons, weather, and insects.

Staff Information

• With the number of current full time employees, the adult/child ratio is maintained; 8 pre-school children to 1 staff; 4 infants to 1 staff.
• We also had Youth workers come in to work with the children during a period of time. The Youth workers were very helpful with the children. The children really enjoyed their company and enjoyed their reading, coloring, doing puzzles, and overall socializing with the children in the day care and in the playground.
• We had one staff member attend Red River Community College to obtain her level in the Child Care Field. She attended for one year and is planning on returning to complete her second year. We welcome her back to the daycare.
• There was also one staff member who was on maternity leave and we also welcome her back.

Teachings

Our nutritionist serves traditional foods. Traditional music and dance are encouraged. The staff engaged in "meeting and greeting". This is a traditional gesture done at the beginning and end of each day where a staff will engage with the parent or guardian who is dropping off or picking up children. Children are involved in the exchange and encouraged to participate in the conversation. A grace is offered before their mid-day meal.

Children's Attendance

At full capacity there are sixteen (16) children in the facility. We have four (4) children in the infant area and twelve (12) children in the per-school area. There are many factors that prevent us from having a full house every day. Some factors include; parents or guardian's work related issues, illnesses, student's day off, tribal days, bereavement days, children attending kindergarten every other day and nursery students that attend every morning. Although we acknowledge these days we do recognize the children's attendance.

Day Care Staff

Myrna Pratt — ECE III
Lorinda Peters — ECE II
Regina Cameron — CCA
Vanessa Francis — CCA
Anita Longclaws — Cook/Janitor

Amalgamation

The daycare amalgamated with the Headstart Program in November 2005 and to date it has been working out fine. We have shared a lot of resources together and we are also involved with their Feasty Fridays which happen every second Friday. We also have children that attend the program in the morning and afternoon classes. Unfortunately, parents are working and are unable to attend the Headstart Program with their children when their enrolled as this is one of their requirements, the daycare staff attends occasionally on their behalf if this involves a field trip within the community.

Meeqwetch to the parents and community members who support and acknowledge the workers' caring and sharing.