It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that our beloved preschool will be closing permanently at the end of July when our lease at 174 First Avenue expires.
Despite the best efforts of many parent volunteers, staff, and community supporters to move the school to a new location, we have made the difficult decision to close. In the context of high rental rates and a shortage of Registered Early Childhood Educators, as well as changing demographics and demand for part-time preschool programs, the Board of Directors, in collaboration with the Director, determined that this was the most appropriate course of action.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our team of educators: Lauren, Jenn, and Karen have helped our children thrive and grow every day during a year full of uncertainty and change. A special thank you goes to Karen, who has been instrumental in creating such a special environment for children in our neighbourhood for over two decades. Karen has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to administer the new childcare subsidy while simultaneously working as an educator and working on the relocation plans. It is truly impossible to quantify the positive impact that Karen and Good Morning have had on so many children and families during her tenure with the school. Lastly, I would like to thank my fellow board members and parent volunteers, in particular Megan, Todd, Caroline, and Tarah, for sharing a love and appreciation for Good Morning Creative Arts & Preschool.
This is a huge loss for our community that will no doubt be felt by the countless parents and children who have been a part of the Good Morning family over the last 42 years. It has been a privilege to serve on the board of an institution that has been an important part of the fabric of our neighbourhood. In the immortal words of Winnie the Pooh: “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
Thank you,
Katherine Liston
GMCAPS Board of Directors President
Despite the best efforts of many parent volunteers, staff, and community supporters to move the school to a new location, we have made the difficult decision to close. In the context of high rental rates and a shortage of Registered Early Childhood Educators, as well as changing demographics and demand for part-time preschool programs, the Board of Directors, in collaboration with the Director, determined that this was the most appropriate course of action.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our team of educators: Lauren, Jenn, and Karen have helped our children thrive and grow every day during a year full of uncertainty and change. A special thank you goes to Karen, who has been instrumental in creating such a special environment for children in our neighbourhood for over two decades. Karen has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to administer the new childcare subsidy while simultaneously working as an educator and working on the relocation plans. It is truly impossible to quantify the positive impact that Karen and Good Morning have had on so many children and families during her tenure with the school. Lastly, I would like to thank my fellow board members and parent volunteers, in particular Megan, Todd, Caroline, and Tarah, for sharing a love and appreciation for Good Morning Creative Arts & Preschool.
This is a huge loss for our community that will no doubt be felt by the countless parents and children who have been a part of the Good Morning family over the last 42 years. It has been a privilege to serve on the board of an institution that has been an important part of the fabric of our neighbourhood. In the immortal words of Winnie the Pooh: “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
Thank you,
Katherine Liston
GMCAPS Board of Directors President
Covid-19 News: All of our educators and student assistants are fully immunized against Covid-19; eligible adults have received 3rd dose. We have a HEPA filter air cleaner running continuously, and have windows open for ventilation year-round.
Welcome!
Well-loved by Ottawa families since 1981, Good Morning Creative Arts and Preschool is a cooperative, parent-run, licensed child care program, offering creative and educational programs for children ranging from ages 18 months to Grade 6. In our happy environment we encourage children to explore, interact and discover. We begin each class the same way – with a genuinely warm welcome for each child who walks through our door!
Take a Tour!
Please enjoy this tour with our lovely Preschool and Beyond kids. (All programs use the same space.) We are Looking for a Forever Home...Go Fund Me: https://gofund.me/5c1c9a7e
In the 41 years since it was founded, Good Morning Creative Arts and Preschool (GMCAPS) has been so fortunate to have been part of your lives, whether as parents, students, or both! We are reaching out to you, our community, because we need your help. This will be our last year at the location where many of you experienced your first exciting days of school or your first tearful drop-offs as new parents. The building at 174 First Avenue has been sold and we are moving in the summer of 2023. We have a dedicated team of current and alumni parents working to secure a new location, but have so far not found a new home for our programming. Unfortunately, after months of discussion with a local organization, we recently learned that they have determined they are not able to support a long-term tenancy. If you have a space to rent or know of a local organization who might be a good fit, please let us know and spread the word that we are looking for a new location. Please contact our Director, Karen Cameron, at goodmorningpreschool@gmail.com. We anticipate numerous costs associated with this move, which will be difficult for our non-profit cooperative to manage, particularly if our programming is suspended during the move. Financial donations can be made online on our Go Fund Me page at https://gofund.me/5c1c9a7e or by reaching out to Karen directly at the email address above. We truly feel our program is special and we hope you feel the same. Our preschool was founded by a group of parents who came together to create something amazing, and we believe our community can come together again to ensure that Good Morning Preschool continues to serve Ottawa families for generations to come. |
Daily Health Screening
Please complete the daily health screening questionnaire prior to your child's arrival at Good Morning, between 6:00 AM and 8:45 AM. The questionnaire must be completed by/for every individual that will enter the building at 174 First Ave (parents/siblings/caregivers). No one will be granted access to Good Morning without completing the daily health screening.
Follow UsWhat Parents Say...
You'll find reviews online on Facebook (or if you Google us). You can also read some of the Testimonials parents have submitted to us (posted with permission).
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