Connect With Us:
416-932-3502 hellochildcare@gracechurchonthehill.ca
Meet Our Director: Katy Kabiri
Katy Kabiri is the Director of Grace Church on-the-Hill Childcare Centre. Katy became a valued member of our team in September 2023 and brought an impressive background in early childhood education, spanning over two decades. Katy has a strong passion for childhood education and her extensive experience encompasses a range of pivotal roles, from educator and curriculum developer to Supervisor and Director, across both medium and large-sized childcare centres.
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Katy holds a bachelor’s degree in education. She is a Certified Early Childhood Educator (CECE) and a Certified ECE Administrator from Seneca College.
Outside work, Katy loves spending time with her family and the two playful Maine Coon cats. Katy enjoys socializing with friends and has a soft spot for art, music and cultural activities.
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Under Katy’s leadership, along with our exceptional and dedicated staff, we are poised to enhance our legacy of excellence. Together, they will elevate our centre’s offerings, affirming our unwavering commitment to the families who entrust us with their children’s care and education.
Meet Our Assistant Directors: Youdon Kalsang and Stephanie Luis-Silveira
Youdon Kalsang has been working at Grace Church on-the-Hill Childcare Centre for over 14 years. During this time, Youdon has had had the pleasure of working with children of all ages, from infants to junior kindergarten. Youdon believes strongly in creating an inclusive environment where children can thrive, and where families can trust us with their precious children.
As an educator, Youdon understands that we must continually learn and grow in our field. As the generations change, so must our approach to education. Youdon is currently finishing her Early Childhood Resource Consultant program at Seneca College. Believing that learning is a lifelong journey, Youdon is motivated to keep improving her skills and helping the staff reach new Professional Development goals.
Stephanie Luis-Silveira is an enthusiastic Early Childhood Educator with a deep passion for nurturing the potential within every child and dedicated to fostering the growth and development of the youngest minds. Stephanie is a certified Registered Early Childhood Educator who has been in the field for 15 years which began as a Co-operative placement in High School and flourished in the love for creating enriching environments that inspire curiosity. Guided by the belief that each child is a unique individual, Stephanie’s mission is to provide a foundation for success by fostering creativity, instilling confidence, and promoting a love for exploration. I look forward to continuing the enrich the program at the centre and watch as it and the children’s love for learning flourishes.
A Message From Our Director:
“I come to work each day with a clear purpose: to make meaningful contributions that positively impact the next generation. We spend 8 hours every single day to help shape up personalities of the future leaders and professionals. This energizes me and my staff to create a safe and loving environment for children to enjoy and learn life skills.” -Katy Kabiri
Learn About Us
Our goal for each child is to create a sense of belonging and connectedness to others and to their natural world. We focus on creating positive, caring, and responsive relationships between educators, children and their families in an inclusive environment which permits children to see themselves, their families and their communities represented.
We recognize the importance of family in the lives of children and understand that a strong partnership reinforces our ability to meet the needs of each child. We recognize and respect parents as experts on their children. Through close collaboration and information sharing we ensure that each family is a valuable contributor to their child’s sense of belonging, development and growth.
We recognize the importance of family in the lives of children and understand that a strong partnership reinforces our ability to meet the needs of each child. We recognize and respect parents as experts on their children. Through close collaboration and information sharing we ensure that each family is a valuable contributor to their child’s sense of belonging, development and growth.
Our emergent curriculum is a curriculum that develops from exploring what is relevant, interesting and personally meaningful to each child. By observing children at play and documenting their knowledge, our educators carefully select learning experiences which allow children to learn about themselves and the world around them through investigation and discovery. We plan our curriculum based on the children’s individual interests and developmental goals. We engage the whole child, based on the understanding that each learner is a unique individual who brings mind, body, emotions, relationships, and life experiences to learning.
Our Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECEs) have specialized training in infant and child development, children’s health, safety, nutrition and wellness, as well as curriculum planning and implementation. All staff members are also required to successfully complete a police check (Vulnerable Sector Search) upon hiring, as well as keep current with First Aid and CPR training. Our RECEs and support staff play a vital role in helping to enhance children’s participation, engagement and learning. They bring diverse social, cultural, linguistic perspectives and collaborate with others to create engaging environments and experiences to foster children’s learning and development. They are actively involved in the children’s learning process, acting as co-learners and co-partners who engage with children in play, empower them and facilitate their exploration and understanding of the world.
This year marks a significant milestone in the career of one of our cherished staff members. Rosie Mangano has dedicated an incredible 30 years of her life to caring for and nurturing the children of Grace Church Childcare. She truly deserves all the recognition and appreciation for her 30 years of exceptional service! Read more about Rosie's contributions here.