Global Awareness

We want children to leave Wind and Tide feeling both empowered and responsible to care for our world and others. Over the years in Wind and Tide they will be focusing on two distinct areas of concern: environmental concern and humanitarian concern.

Environmental: This is covered largely through our science programs: Beginner's Biology in the three year old program and World of Wonders in the four year old program. Through our science programs the children will recognize the wonderful world that God has carefully and marvellously created and the role that they have to play in maintaining it's beauty and balance.

Humanitarian: Through the program children will learn to care for others; in the classroom, in their community and across the world. These teachings will occur through 2 main methods. The Going for Goodness program and teachable moments within the classroom show children how to care for one another on a face to face basis. Our partnership with Union Gospel Mission and World Vision provide children with the opportunity to care for others across our world.

It is our belief that true joy comes from freely giving to others, and this is something that can be grasped at a young age.

World Vision Dance-A-Thon

In 2004 Wind and Tide began a partnership with World Vision Canada to provide help to the children of Africa. Since beginning this partnership, we have seen a school built and furnished and now we are participating in a project called Alive by 5. With the monies raised, while our students dance, World Vision is able to provide the following to children and families in Ethiopia:

  1. Improve dietary intake for children under five and families
  2. Improves access to essential health services and healthy environments
  3. Strengthen capacity of communities and institutions to implements programs to address malnutrition
  4. Area Development Programs

Each year we have the privilege of hearing stories from our World Vision Representative of how the support from Wind and Tide families is making a difference in the lives of children and families in Ethiopia.

At the beginning of February, your child will bring home a letter along with a donation envelope explaining how your family can get involved with this project. Participation in this project is completely optional. If you choose not to participate as a family, your child will still feel that they are participating as a member of the class.

In the middle of February, all Wind and Tide students will spend a day dancing in their classrooms. Leading up to that day, the teachers will explain to the students how their day of dancing will make a difference in the lives of many children and families in Ethiopia. Families are encouraged to join us on our dance-a-thon day, but you must be warned that dancing is NOT optional!!

If you would like to learn more about World Vision, visit their website at www.worldvision.ca

Union Gospel Mission Toy Drive

In 2007 we began partnering with Union Gospel Mission to supply toys to needy children in the Lower Mainland at Christmas time. These toys are added to hampers that the Union Gospel Mission distributes to hundreds of families each year. The families are so grateful for assistance in making Christmas a special time for their children. It is especially exciting to watch as our Wind and Tide children experience the joy that comes from giving to others.

In November, you will receive information from your classroom teacher as to how you can participate. Typically, each classroom is assigned two different age groups to collect unwrapped toys or gift cards for. These items can then be dropped off at your child's class and put in the collection box. In December, a parent volunteer from each class will be asked to drive the collected items to a pick-up location where the toys will be loaded onto a UGM truck and then delivered to UGM in Vancouver.

Participation in this project is completely optional. If you choose not to participate as a family, your child will still feel that they are participating as a member of the class.

For more information about Union Gospel Mission, visit www.ugm.ca