This month at RisingOaks Early Learning | St. Patrick, the children have been excited to explore our brand-new infant and toddler playground! The JKK group has especially enjoyed discovering the many play opportunities it offes such as, digging in the sand, exploring the little hut, and taking turns on the slide.

Climbing up the hill to reach the slide gave the children a chance to strengthen their gross motor skills, while practicing patience and turn-taking as they waited for their turn to go down. The addition of bubbles brought extra joy—children’s laughter filled the air as they shouted “BUBBLES!” and chased them through the playground.

Spending time in this natural outdoor space also encouraged the children to notice and respect the world around them. They carefully walked around a spiderweb on the ground so as not to disturb its tiny resident, and some stood in awe, observing ants marching across the logs. In the sandbox, children experimented with tools to shape the sand into hills and castles, or to dig deep holes with sand drills—proudly testing how far they could go.

Through these experiences, the children not only built their physical skills with plenty of big-body play, but also developed a growing sense of independence, curiosity, and belonging in natural spaces.

At RisingOaks Early Learning | St. Patrick, we believe in creating a caring and inclusive environment where every child is valued, celebrated, and supported in their learning journey. Our dedicated Preschool 1 team works together to ensure each child feels safe, engaged, and inspired every day.

Our day begins with Crishteen, who opens the classroom and greets the children with warmth and positivity, helping them start the day with comfort and confidence. At 8:00 AM, Charmaine joins us, bringing her energy, creativity, and passion for play-based learning. Shortly after, at 8:30 AM, Manisha adds her gentle and nurturing presence, further supporting the children’s sense of belonging. To complete the day, Raj closes the classroom, providing consistency and care while supporting both children and families from 9:30 AM until 6:00 PM.

Together, our team is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion by honoring each child’s individuality and building strong, respectful partnerships with families. We warmly invite you to share your traditions, stories, and experiences with us. Your contributions help create a rich and meaningful classroom environment where children can see themselves reflected and celebrated.

At RisingOaks Early Learning | St. Patrick, we value and cherish every child. We are committed to creating an environment where children feel a true sense of belonging, well-being, engagement, and expression.

Inclusivity, diversity, and equity are at the heart of Preschool 2. We embrace and celebrate each child’s uniqueness by supporting families, welcoming their voices, and integrating their experiences into the classroom. We encourage families to join us in program to share traditions and cultural practices, and bring in meaningful pieces of home life, so together we can build a rich and authentic learning community.

In our classroom, we value getting to know each child individually, ensuring they feel safe, respected, and loved. We enjoy observing children as they grow into helpers, explorers, and scientists. Where every moment, big or small, becomes an opportunity for discovery. Through play, inquiry, and relationships, learning happens for all of us, children and educators alike.

The school-age 2 children have been enjoying playing with the new toys on the after and before school shelf. They have been exploring and trying new games like CVC Blender and Tinker Builders, as well as familiar games like Spot It, Lego, and magnets. Over the past two weeks we have taught each other about ourselves through group games like heads up seven up, mystery wink and tag games outside. We have done this by forming groups with each other and having laughs together and through conversations to figure out what the children have in common.

A common interest among the children in before and after school has been enjoying sensory play with sand, slime, fidget toys, and beads. This interest started when I saw the children in both groups always taking out the sensory fidget toy bin and playing with the toys in it. I expanded this interest by providing some different sensory play activities in the program. Sensory play fosters cognitive growth, language skills, problem-solving abilities, and fine and gross motor skill development. We can continue to do sensory activities during our time together in the program.