CAFRA – Child Care Association For Resources to Administrators

Your CAFRA Board has been busy planning the rest of 2023 as well as 2024, so be sure to mark your calendar. What’s coming? (Further details TBA.) 

September 21, 9am-11am – Members’ Networking Event (Zoom)

October 19, 9am-11am – Members’ Networking Event (Zoom)

November 16 (times tba) – In-person General Meeting and Social Event

2024 – Leadership Development Opportunities, Members’ Networking Events, and Social Events are being planned

Applications will soon be open for the ECDV 0100 – Exploring Early Childhood Curriculum: Play, Participation and Possibilities Fall 2023 course offering. This free online course is for educators wanting to learn how to use Flight: Alberta’s Early Learning and Care Framework to guide their daily practices. For more information, please see the attached Fall 2023 poster and video with answers to FAQs.    

The first step in the application process is for educators to submit an online Expression of Interest form. The Expression of Interest form can be found through the following website link, and the website information is also embedded in the attached poster. The form will provide an opportunity to indicate your preference for English or French instruction and course materials and for the OSC-focused course offering.

The Expression of Interest form will be open from 8 a.m. June 19 until 6 p.m. July 4.   

Please visit the Alberta Flight framework website to access the link. 

https://www.flightframework.ca/en/course/im-interested – English page
 https://www.flightframework.ca/fr/course/im-interested – French page 

As a government-funded project, only educators from licensed and approved programs will be considered for a space in the course. Due to limited spaces in the course, the offer to register will be decided based on balancing regional representation across Alberta and program type.    

This email message has been shared with several of Alberta’s early learning and child care networks. We apologize for any unintentional duplication in email communications.   

For further information please contact:
MacEwan Flight Research Team, 
Heather Stringer, MA (She/Her)
pppinfo@macewan.ca

Please note that CAFRA’s AGM will be held on Thursday, March 16, from 9am – 11am on Zoom. Members will receive the link in their e-mail.

There are several openings on the CAFRA Board of Directors that need filling! Currently, the board meets 1 hour per month on Tuesdays from 10am-11am. Directors may also be asked to take on additional responsibilities, such as serve on the Executive Committee or do other committee work outside that hour. If you are a CAFRA Professional Members and would like to serve on the board or would like to know more, send an email expressing your interest to Vicki at admin@cafra.ca. Nominees are also asked to write a short bio to share with members (See current directors’ bios on our website as a guide.) Deadline to submit your letter of interest and bio is March 8. 

An election will be held at the AGM on March 16 and each Professional Member may vote. 

In addition to CAFRA AGM business, Colette Poitras will speak on land acknowledgements. How do you generate a land acknowledgement that is heartfelt and meaningful? The CAFRA Board wishes to generate a land acknowledgement for CAFRA.  All CAFRA members are leaders in their organizations, so they will be able to take information away that can be adopted into their organizations as well.

ARCQE currently has two significant learning opportunities available to the Early Learning Community underway… 

1. Reflective Learning Institute with Lorrie Baird & Anne Marie Coughlin- authors of Creating a Culture of Reflective Practice.  This is a one-time unique two-day institute for those looking for an in-depth learning experience exploring the following:
   • Early childhood educators & leaders will be more confident in creating inclusive learning communities that are responsive to the program and educators’ values.
   • Early childhood educators & leaders will strengthen their approaches to building relationships with children, families, & educators.
   • Reflecting on early childhood educator practices and building compassion, collaboration, innovation, and kindness among our teaching practices.
     
     Last chance to register…  only 4 more days remaining to register!  Spaces are limited and attendance can be supported in person or via regional virtually linked locations!  If your program is working with the Curriculum Framework concepts, this is an event you will want to attend to enrich your learning experience!
     
     Register at:
     https://arcqe.ca/reflective-learning-institute/

2. ARCQE’s annual National Child Day Conference is also open, but Early Bird Registration is only available until October 28th. This year’s theme is “Children’s Right to Thrive,” and features Dr. Claire Walden from Scotland and Alex Morgan from Boulder Journey School delivering keynotes.
   
   Given popularity of ARCQE’s virtual conference platform providing opportunity for educators to attend all sessions live or up to 30 days post-event, we are pleased once again to welcome everyone’s participation again this year on the Accelevents platform.  Be sure to attend to hear first hand of an exciting learning event that ARCQE has planned for Spring 2023!  Last year’s event hosted over 400 delegates and this year we hope to break 500 attendees nationally and internationally. 
   
   ***Don’t miss out – register prior to October 28th to take advantage of early bird savings!!**
   
   Conference Information & Registration can be found at:
   https://arcqe.ca/professional-learnings/conference/

What does Flight look like in practice? Do you have a story to tell? If so, the Flight research team would like to know!

Starting Fall 2022, they are creating a video series that showcases Flight practices across Alberta.

If your program is engaged in Flight and you would like to highlight your journey – please contact Kelly Hennig at pppinfo@macewan.ca 

The deadline for all applications is October 7th, 2022

October 20 is a big day! For the first time since February, 2020, we will be meeting in person at McKernan Baptist Church, 11103 76 Ave., Edmonton. (Members have the option of attending on Zoom as well. That link will be sent closer to the date.) 

CAFRA AGM and PD RSVP/Registration Form
Please complete the registration form by October 5 to RSVP/register for either/both of the day’s events, indicating if you intend to attend in-person or on-line. 

CAFRA Annual General Meeting
Time: 9:00am – 10:00am
Cost: Free for CAFRA Professional and Individual Members (Interested non-members are welcome to attend as guests of members.)
Remember – if you’d like to serve on CAFRA’s Board of Directors, please let Kristy or me know before October 13.

CAFRA Professional Development with Amanda Wagner 
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm 
Cost: Free for CAFRA Professional Members. $125 for CAFRA Individual Members or non-members (payment information is in the registration form)
We are bringing in Amanda Wagner, a fiercely ambitious speaker and business strategist for leaders who are hungry for achievement, driven to have a meaningful impact, and want to get fired up and focused! After two years of pivoting and unpredictability throughout the pandemic, we are bringing in Amanda to support us in reconnecting with why our work matters, the impact we have (and want to have), and elements of creating a consistent and consistently excellent experience for children and families. 

Hope to see you there! Please e-mail Vicki at admin@cafra.ca if you have any questions.

Thursday, September 15, 9am – 10:30am:
We’ll welcome everybody back and have lots of time for discussion together and in breakout rooms plus information and a resource list for National Truth and Reconciliation Day. Also – what are your plans for ECE Professional Development Day on October 21?  There will be time to share your ideas or find new ones! The agenda is attached. 

Thursday, October 20th, 9:00am – Noon:
(Hybrid meeting: Zoom and in-person at McKernan Baptist Church)
AGM and Professional Development 9:00am – 12:00pm
There will be morning coffee and snacks. We’ll take care of AGM business, including the board election. There will then be a 2-hour PD session with Amanda Wagner (details coming soon!). 

Thursday, November 17th, 9:00am – 10:30am
(Zoom meeting – watch e-mail for link)
Speakers – to be announced

Thursday, December 16, 9:00am – 1:30pm:
(in-person at McKernan Baptist Church; PD event will also be available on Zoom)
PD Event and Holiday Luncheon
9:00am – 9:30am Coffee/tea/snacks/socializing
9:30am – 11:30am Session with Amanda Wagner
11:30am – 1:30pm Holiday Luncheon

Apply between June 27 and July 11 for the free, online course Exploring Early Childhood Curriculum to explore  Flight: Alberta’s Early Learning and Care Framework.   ​This is a course for early childhood educators working in Alberta’s licensed and approved programs.  ​For more information contact: pppinfo@macewan.ca

Changes to CAFRA’s Leadership Development Series

A decision has been made to switch the PD topics for February/March with April/May. April’s topic includes tools that might assist with the current “overwhelmed” leadership state by looking at administration, prioritizing, decision making tools, etc. Our PD participants would benefit from this topic in February rather than waiting until April. The material that was to be for February/March (coaching and mentoring) will be moved to April/May. (The material is fluid so does not need to be delivered in any particular order.) 

Here is the new PD schedule:

Session 5
February 17, 1pm-4pm
Administrative Leadership 

Session 6
March 17, 10am-11am
What are Effective Tools and Strategies for Making Difficult Decisions? Reflective Engagement on Session 5 Administrative Leadership

Session 7
April 21, 9am – 12pm
Pedagogical Leadership Part 2 

Session 8
May 19, 10am – 11am
How Do I Optimize Learning with Early Educators and Families? Reflective Engagement on Session 7 Pedagogical Leadership Part 2

You can view the updated event flyer and register for the February, March, April and/or May events at the links below.

UPDATED Leadership Development Series Registration Form

CAFRA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ORGANIZATIONS BY DESIGN PRESENT:
A LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SERIES

CAFRA is hosting an online Professional Development Series for leaders in early learning and child care with sessions occurring Oct 2021 through May 2022. Please see the flyer for more information or send us a message! The next session is December 16 and the registration deadline for that session is December 1.