North Bay Centre
Opened in 2014, our North Bay Centre offers 7 programs with passionate educators that help shape the lives of children in fun and respectful ways. Alongside our incredible supervisor, our staff work together to ensure all children and families feel comfortable and accepted in any program. As a team we understand that we learn as much from the children in our programs as they do from us, and we use this continuous learning to improve our centre and ourselves every chance we get.
Meet our Supervisor!
Hello, my name is Holly Lagassie and I have been an educator with Friends Forever since 2014. Starting as a toddler and school age teacher and now as the supervisor I have always enjoyed supporting Friends Forever in being a pillar of our community for families. I believe we are a shining example of what quality childcare means as we follow How Does Learning Happen and interest-based pedagogy with lots of care, kindness, and guidance for the children as they grow. We strive to ensure all children have a sense of engagement, well being, expression and belonging in all aspects of their day while they make connections with their peers and teachers.
Meet our Administrator!
Maxine is our Administrator here for both Friends Forever Childcare in North Bay and our Centre in Timmins. She started working in the childcare field in 2005 and has proudly been an educator throughout her schooling years and has been an asset to Friends Forever Childcare, since 2017. Over the years, she has worked within the Centre as an educator and our Home Agency, and with all that work experience, she has flourished to be the Administrator who is willing to help out with anything she can. Ever since her first day here at Friends Forever, Maxine’s kindness and energy are two of many great traits that add to our whole team!
Meet our Assistant!
My name is Lisa Cowcill. I have been working at Friends Forever since early 2016 and have been a Registered Early Childhood Educator since 2017. I have also had many years of volunteer experience with children before pursuing a career in the Early Childhood Education field. I have taken a couple of breaks from the centre to have my 2 children. Within my time here I have worked in infant, toddler 1 and toddler 2 before transitioning to my role as assistant supervisor. I have had the opportunity to work with many incredible children and educators over the years who have taught me so much about the world and how it looks through a child’s eyes. I have loved my time spent at Friends Forever and look forward to many more years as a part of the Friends Forever team.
Our Philosophy
As a team we understand that we learn as much from the children in our programs as they do from us, and we use this continuous learning to improve our centre and ourselves every chance we get.
What We Offer
Our Message
All of our programs are child-led and follow the How Learning Happens Curriculum. We allow children to explore at their own pace with tools and materials to expand on their individual interests. For more information on becoming a Licensed Home Childcare Provider, check out our How Learning Happens Potential+Providers
Programs
Infant
3 Months – 18 Months Old
Full-day Care
Our Infant Program is less structured and follows the routine of parents at home, including nap schedules and meals which are saved if a child is sleeping. Infants sleep in cribs in a separate sleep room and sleep checks are performed by staff every 15 minutes to ensure the safety of all infants. Quiet-time activities are given to infants that do not sleep. Diapers are changed 4 times per day and/or as needed and, weather permitting, infants are taken outside once or twice a day.
Toddler
18 Months – 2.5 Years Old
Full-day Care
Our Toddler Program follows a more structured routine than our Infant Program but maintains its flexibility to ensure it is child-lead. Nap time is 12pm – 2pm on cots, however, because naps are not enforced, toddlers that do not sleep are given quiet-time activities. Toddlers are encouraged to self-serve food with the support of educators and, weather permitting, they are taken outside twice a day. Diapers are changed 4 times per day and/or as needed and potty training is encouraged when children are ready.
PreSchool
Junior
2.3 Years – 3 Years Old
Full-day Care
Senior
3 Years – 4 Years Old
Full-day Care
Our Preschool Program follows a similar structure to our Toddler Program – continuing to maintain its flexibility to ensure it is child-lead. Nap time is 12pm – 2pm on cots, however, because naps are not enforced, preschoolers that do not sleep are given quiet-time activities. Preschoolers are encouraged to self-serve food with the support of educators and, weather permitting, they are taken outside twice a day. Diapers are changed 4 times per day and/or as needed and potty training becomes a focus so preschoolers can become comfortable using the bathroom. Between January and June, the letter and writing recognition program, Jolly Phonics, is implemented so that preschoolers become comfortable with proper literacy.
To prepare senior preschoolers for school, independence is fostered between January and August and, beginning in May, nap times are cut – typically 30 minutes at a time.
School Age
Junior and Senior Kindergarten
- 4 Years – 6 Years Old
- Before School Care
- After School Care
- Full-day Care
School-Age
- 7 Years – 12 Years Old
- Before School Care
- After School Care
- Full-day Care
Our School-Age Program follows a similar structure to our Preschool Program – continuing to maintain its flexibility to ensure it is child-lead. During the school year, school-age children are dropped off at our centre, bussed to school, bussed back to the centre after school, and stay at the centre until they are picked up. School-age children are encouraged to self-serve food with the support of educators and, weather permitting, they are taken outside twice a day. Field trips are planned for full-day care, some of which include an extra cost to parents.
Address
1140 Front Street
North Bay, Ontario, P1B 6P2
contact information
Phone: 705-825-3322 – ext 200
Email: Supervisor
Centre hours
7:00am – 6:00pm
