The Owls Nest Early Learning
Monday to Friday, 8am-4:45pm
Panorama is excited to offer a full day program for ages 3 – 5 years old at Greenglade Community Centre. The licensed program will focus on creating a nurturing learning environment to empower children’s curiosity, exploration and creativity. Children will have access to the vast amenities at Greenglade including the natural outdoors, gymnasium, community garden, pottery studio and special activities such as dance, yoga, language, arts, and sports.
“Children are curious and capable learners that are best supported through a strong and connected partnership between families and educators. We will provide a gentle, calm, nurturing space rich with possibilities. Children are welcome to direct their own learning, to create, and to explore their theories about the world through visual art, dramatic play, or whatever strikes their fancy. We value the ideas of children; as educators we will offer materials through observations of the group and respond to emerging curiosities. Ample opportunity to play and learn outdoors is provided in our play yard and natural environment to support physical, social, and cognitive development. We see children as both community members and individuals with their own unique gifts to be celebrated. We create, we explore, and we belong.” Our educators, Anita and Stéphanie.
Meet our Early Childhood Educators
Anita Dzus-Spady, ECE
My name is Anita Dzus-Spady, and I have been a visitor to these lands since 2006. I became interested in early education as my three children began their journey through the public school system and have been actively involved in our local school PACs since 2014 and am proud to be the current PAC President at Sidney Elementary. I have several years’ experience working with children in a variety of settings, most recently as an Early Childhood Assistant at a local preschool for three years. I obtained my Early Childcare Educator (ECE) certificate from Camosun College and will acquire my diploma this August with a specialization in inclusive care. This Fall I will be continuing my education through UVIC pursuing my Bachelor of Child and Youth Care. In my spare time I love spending time with my family and my pets (ask me about ragdolls and golden retrievers)! I also love to read a good book and am willing to take any recommendations.
Stéphanie Stroud, ECE
My name is Stéphanie Stroud and I am a fully registered Early Childhood Educator, with Infant Toddler, and Neurodiversity credentials. I have over 10 years of experience in multiple childcare facilities, as well as experience in Occupational Therapy settings. Originally from the East Coast, I did my schooling in Developmental Child Psychology in Ottawa, ON. Between 2012 & 2017 I pursued additional schooling, certifications, worked, and lived in Quebec, Nova Scotia, and BC. I moved to Vancouver Island in 2018 and have been loving exploring the province from my home base in Sidney ever since! I have a passion for the environment, and experience and conservation work in the boreal forest (specifically with re-population efforts of the Gray Rat Snake). I started occasional work with Owl’s Nest in October, accepted the second Educator position in the room in March. I look forward to all of the adventures we will have together!
Testimontials
We are so thankful for the care, love and support the entire team at Owl's Nest have shown our daughter. As the youngest in her group we had many questions and concerns about her fitting in but the entire team made her feel so welcome and cared for. They are such a wonderful group of people, led by Anita and Stephanie. It is so comforting to have our daughter attend a daycare that focuses on respect, and self-care. We also appreciate your outdoor focus, and time spent in forest walks even in our very rainy weather! Thank you to the entire team for being such a safe, warm, fun and educational place for our daughter to go to everyday! Graham D and Tania B
Just wanted to send a massive heartfelt thank you to Anita, Stephanie and every single educator and helper over the past year. We stumbled upon Owls Nest preschool and we were lucky enough to get a spot! It was an emotional start for B and I and it was tough on my mama heart, but I knew she was in the right place, with the best people. I am so grateful to you for welcoming us and making us feel like family. Owls Nest has become a place that we will always cherish and remember so fondly. Thank you thank you thank you for creating such a warm, safe and loving environment for our kids. I am so glad K will get to experience all that will come with her time at Owls Nest. We love you guys! Jilly H
This first year with Owls Nest has been amazing. All of the educators and people involved with making sure our little P is safe, happy and having a great day are absolutely fantastic. They’re caring, they truly do love these little humans as if they were their own. They get to know the child as an individual and they incorporate things into their daily tasks that they know each child will love. We are so happy to be spending another 3 years with Owls Nest. Diana M