Always & Forever
December 16, 2015The Challenge of Childhood Anxiety
March 1, 2016In ancient times, when much of the world was undiscovered, and social media, international travel, and global technologies were still centuries away, ancient mariners of courage and destiny weighed anchor and left the safety and security of home to pursue dreams of hope, freedom and prosperity. There were no compasses, maps, or GPS devices. They were guided by Polaris – the North Star. It was their “Point of Reference” – true north – as they set sail on voyages of discovery.
North Star charts a course that navigates three separate but intertwined foot paths of purpose, resolve, and intent:
LEADERSHIP & COMMUNICATION – where we recruit, develop and collaborate with talented and diverse groups of thinkers to address challenges in early childhood services to families.
PROGRAM DESIGN & INNOVATION – where we challenge existing conventions and experiment with new paradigms in classroom programs, curriculum creations, professional engagement and technological developments.
SYSTEM BUILDING – where we grow best practices, benchmark excellence, measure effectiveness, and partner with families, policy makers, and advocates to affect lasting change.
Things are moving quickly. In just the past several weeks, we have made progress on several new initiatives that will directly or indirectly benefit the Wee College family.
On February 11, 2015, Wee College Corporate presented a strategic road map for our own journey of discovery. In the spirit of the first explorers, we’ve called it, “North Star”. It will become our directional light as we pioneer new possibilities. Our destination? – “Where Imaginations Smile”. A place of Wonder, -Magic – Opportunity & Discovery. It’s where Teachers Inspire, Parents Engage and Children Experience. Our mission is to create that world for every child within the walls of Wee College. To reach our destination, we are developing the best early care and learning practice in the world. To do this, we will need to chart a course of action that is intelligent, comprehensive, and realistic. And we have a plan.
Negotiations are underway to secure several new franchise sites, including the first francophone Wee College, as well as an exciting new project that would see the first phase of the Wee College Academy – a hands-on, state-of-the-art training and development center. In March, two Wee College Ambassadors for Learning will travel to Nunavik to share their knowledge and expertise in best practices. And we are laying some of the initial groundwork for an exciting international experience overseas. Discussions are only preliminary at this point, but we hope to have more news on this endeavor and more in the coming months – stay tuned.
No matter who you are in the Wee College family, I urge you to join us in our endeavous in the coming months. We are putting out a call for “Imagineers” to contribute their passion and creativity in new and dynamic ways – people who know how to find the magic, wonder, opportunity and discovery we seek.
There are new services to build in order to allow the Wee College family to grow. There are conferences and workshops to deliver and attend so that new wisdom is shared and practiced. There are paths of personal enrichment to blaze in order to ensure that our colleagues, companions and partners experience the very best our character has to offer. There are curriculum practices to create, learning goals to set, web site applications to design, and new relationships to forge.
With our mission as our compass and “North Star” as our guide, we are navigating the future of a “Wee Generation” – leading and supporting children, parents, and teachers on a journey of learning, growth and well-being. There will be challenge and adventure – periods of frustration and moments of eager anticipation. There will be stretches of uncertainty and occasions of conviction. And there will be no shortage of surprises and disappointments. But grounded in our passion and resolute in our vision, we will reach our destination. That place where imaginations smile… where wonder, magic, opportunity and discovery nurture our inner child, and we remember again what it means to grow and learn and flourish.
Like the mariners of old, we are guided by the “stars” – the children, parents and staff of Wee College, whose engagement strengthens our resolve. Comforted by faith, encouraged by hope and driven by a passion for excellence, “Wee” are charting a course for success and embarking on a journey of living, loving and learning. Won’t you come along? There it is – “second star to the right and straight on ‘till morning.”
James