"Here’s what’s coming up in May!"

CLOSURES

The EarlyON Center will be closed from Monday, May 19, 2025. Have a great long weekend!

MEASLES OUTBREAK IN ONTARIO

During the week of April 6 to 12, 2025, 189 new measles cases were reported across Canada. As of April 12, 2025, 924 cases of measles have been reported in Ontario.

Measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5 years old. Measles is highly contagious. If one person has it, up to 9 out of 10 people nearby will become infected if they are not protected. Check out this website for more information about measles exposure in Ontario.  

The best protection against measles is the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. MMR vaccine provides long-lasting protection against all strains of measles. It is easy to obtain the MMR vaccine. You can ask your family physician or pediatrician, or contact Public Health Units, Community Health Centres and Pharmacies. Keep track of your child’s immunizations with Ontario’s Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule.

HAND, FOOT & MOUTH

As of April 30, 2025, there have been reports of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) activity in Ontario, though no large-scale outbreaks have been officially declared.

PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE

Adele, a Toronto Public Health Nurse, will join us to answer any questions you may have. Common topics are breastfeeding, vaccinations, meeting milestones, and separation anxiety. Adele will be in the EarlyON Center on Friday, May 16th  from 9:30 to 10:30.

SICKKIDS HOSPITAL’S EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

The Sick Kids Virtual Urgent Care Kiosk can assist families in determining whether their child is eligible for a virtual visit with the Sick Kids Emergency Department. To be eligible the child must:  

• Be under the age of 18

• Be present for the virtual visit

• Live in the GTA

• Have a valid Ontario Health Card

The Greeter-supported Virtual Urgent Care Kiosk is a health equity-focused approach to urgent care. This kiosk is an in-person pilot project located at the Lawrence Allen Center, where many classic barriers to digital care, such as physical space, technology, interpreters, and others, are removed to assist families in obtaining the required care. It provides an additional way for one of Toronto's most digitally underserved communities to access the Virtual Urgent Care platform.

RUMBALL EARLYON EAST & WEST END MOBILE

Connect with other families of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing children, ages 0 to 6, at the following locations.

·      In the West End: George Jull EarlyON at 200 Ronson Drive, Suite 102 in the Frosty room every Wednesday from 9:30 to 12:00 starting Mar 7th, 2025.

·      In the East End: Dorset Park Community Hub; 1911 Kennedy Rd, Unit 105 in the EarlyON room; 108. This program starts running April 4th through June 27, 2025, every Friday from 9:30 to 11:30.

MAKING SHERBET

Warm weather means it's time for sherbet! Making sherbet is a fun, ongoing activity that happens whenever anybody brings in fresh fruit. So, feel free to bring in your choice of fruit anytime you'd like! There's no need to set a specific date because the sherbet machine is a permanent fixture in the EarlyON. However, we do need to start making the sherbet by 9:45 AM at the latest. This ensures we have enough time to prepare the mixture with the children and let it chill. 

OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES

As the weather becomes warmer, we will be going outside! The playground at the front of Sprucecourt will be our main play area, and the decision to go out will be made on the day of. Please dress appropriately for the weather; sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and water are highly recommended.

However, walks to the Riverdale Farm are also in the works! Because this is dependent on the weather, our visit to the Farm will be announced by email only a couple of days beforehand. 

MUSIC & STORY TIME

Music & Story Time, though scheduled for 10:20, is fluid.  If the children are engaged in play, I may move the time to later. That being said, we may hold an impromptu circle at any point during the morning!

BOOK-LENDING LIBRARY

The EarlyON Center has a Book-Lending Library for children and a Resource-Lending Library for adults. To borrow a book, you only need to sign it out and check it off as returned. You can borrow the books for as long as you want. If you would like a specific adult resource book, I may be able to check one out for you through the TDSB Professional Library. Please discuss this option with me.

PHOTOS FOR DIGITAL FRAME

There is a large digital frame in the EarlyON Center where I upload pictures of the children who attend. However, I am not able to take pictures of everyone who comes. I would like to upload pictures of each child, with or without their family. If you would like to add a photo, please respond to this email with one (or more) attachment(s)!

PHONES IN SCHOOLS & EARLYON                 

This year, the Toronto District School Board requires students, staff, and visitors to schools to mute their phones and always keep them out of sight. This extends to us in the EarlyON. However, there are some exceptions when phones can be used: translating information, contacting your employer, taking pictures, and for health and medical purposes.  Understandably, this can be difficult and your co-operation in appreciated. There is more information here.

LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION?

Sprucecourt is not the only TDSB EarlyON site. There are 75 EarlyON Child and Family Centres located in elementary schools across Toronto. View EarlyON Child and Family Centre locations on a map.

Click TDSB Early Years for further information.