Welcome!
What should you know before you start?
Some modules have additional resources such as PDF handouts that you can print out for you to use in your work with children, families and other educators. They can all be found under the "Additional Resources" page.
Each module has a discussion forum. When you want to join the discussion forum and chat with others click on the chat icon as shown below.
The module ends with an opportunity for you to submit a reflective feedback from your learning. Upon completion of the reflection you will receive a certification of completion from the Strive team within 14 days of submission.
For technical support: Please contact the Strive office at: [email protected]
Before we begin, we invite you to meet your instructors.
Connie Dowell, RECE
Connie is a registered Early Childhood Educator who has worked with infants, toddlers and preschool children in child care. She was a supervisor with an agency that provided home child care and supported a number of providers. Connie has worked for London Children’s Connection for 13 years, supervising the EarlyON programs and collaborating with partners providing programs and services in the Family Centre Westmount.
What do you want your tombstone to say?
Well, she was in no hurry to get here!
Lena Haider BA., RECE
Lena is a registered early childhood educator with a B.A in Family Studies. She has held various roles in the early learning community in the past few years. Lena began her early years journey in a licensed child care centre where she spent over 2 years as a toddler educator. During this time Lena quickly recognized her strong passion for connecting with families and finding ways to support them. She entered the Family Centre system as a Community Connector back in 2018 to devote her work to assisting and supporting families in various ways full-time. Lena maintained a strong passion for working with children and collaboratively created and facilitated various programs at Family Centre Westminster to provide to the community. Lena is currently the EarlyOn Coordinator at Family Centre Westminster where she continues to build and provide child-lead programs for families. When Lena is not at the Family Centre you can also find her off-site in the Westminster community facilitating programs and on the Literacy Priority Committee with the Child & Youth Network.
What is something that a ton of people are obsessed with but you just don’t get the point of?
I would have to say the show The Office. Everyone around me loves the show and I know how popular it is, but I just can’t get into the humour! Apparently, it gets better a couple seasons in but after several attempts I still can’t seem to make it past season 1.
Norah Cuzzocrea
Norah is the Community Engagement Lead at thehealthline.ca Information Network. She is excited to share information about the health and community services available to people across Ontario, and she loves seeing people realize how many resources are out there for them! She is an active member of the local theatre community, and a proud mother of teenage triplets (so keep her in your thoughts and prayers).
What songs have you completely memorized?
With the exception of maybe one or two very fast phrases that I can’t keep up with, I have memorized (and sing along with) the entire Hamilton soundtrack. I went through a short but intense Hamilton phase where I probably listened to at least a part of it every day. Looking forward to the movie being released on Disney+ in July!
Rebecca Salton, RECE
Rebecca is a Community Connector and Family & Community Support Worker at Family Centre Argyle. She has worked for Merrymount Family Support and Crisis Centre since graduating from Lambton College in 1994. Over the years she has had the opportunity to work in a number of different departments at Merrymount including the Crisis Residential/Respite Program, the Family and Child Support Program and the Young Parents in School Program that used to be run at Clarke Road Secondary School, and has been part of what is now known as the EarlyON Child and Family Centre for over 10 years. She gets to connect with families daily, through playgroups, workshops and as a Community Connector at the Welcome Desk and enjoys that no two days are ever the same.
What song have you completely memorized?
I have completely memorized the words to The Devil Went Down to Georgia by the Charlie Daniels Band. I remember the first time I heard the song, it was a Saturday night and I was only 5 or 6 years old, Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 was playing on the radio when the song came up in the countdown. I can still picture my mum and I doing our version of a two-step in the living room, me in my pajamas and her dressed up and ready to go out dancing with my dad. I don’t remember how old I was when I realized that I knew all the words and could sing the whole song without the music, but to this day it is one of my favourite songs and I can’t help but sing along when I hear it.
Sue Bechard, RECE
Sue is a Registered Early Childhood Educator who has been an active community connector in the Family-Centred Service System since the inception of the Child and Youth Network. Over her 27 years of Early Childhood Education experience, the last 13 years have been with London Children’s Connection and in her most recent role as Family Resource Support. Sue has sat on many committees within the Family-Centred Service System, but has done pioneering work for the role of the community connector. Sue is an active member of the basic needs committee for Family Centre Westmount, and also actively involved with the community connector system across London. You will find her most often on our online forum or at the Family Centre Westmount connecting with families on a daily basis.
What game, book or movie universe would you most like to live in?
I would love to live the life of the book series of Anne of Green Gables. I loved the landscape, it's still in Canada and it is a time and era. Of course, having Anne and Gilbert as friends.
And now, over to you!
DISCUSSION
Please share with the group:
- Who you are
- Your organization and role
- Background
- And for a little fun, please select one of the following questions to answer as honestly as possible.
Don’t think too hard! Questions will be provided on the Discussion link.
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