General

I love serendipity! When those unexplainable things happen – you think of someone you haven’t thought of in a decade and they show up on your doorstep the next day, or you pick up a book while you’re in a waiting room and it gives you the answer to an issue you’ve been stuck on. Or you need a particular skill set for a job and the ideal person walks into the office. To me it’s a sign that the Universe (or Someone) has my back.

Well, a couple of weeks ago Jenny, who cleans our SIRCH office, said our vacuum needed to be replaced. So, of course, we looked first at Thrift Warehouse (😊) but couldn’t find one. So Donna and I went on the computer and looked at vacuums and reviews and chose a vacuum. We tend to squeeze every penny at SIRCH so it was a modest vacuum but one with 5 star ratings and … well, we needed one! The best price (and free delivery) was at Costco. With HST it came to $214.69.

Stacy, in Finance, went in the safe to get our Costco membership information – it had been a long time since we had ordered anything. Under the membership, was a card, with a note handwritten by Diane Johnson who retired last year. I’d say the card was probably 2 years old or more.

The amount of the card? The EXACT amount we needed: $214.69! To the penny!

I have to admit – I felt very looked after. And giggled a bit. And shared with everyone I know. Because to me it’s an indicator that the Universe has our backs. And obviously a sense of humour!

~ Gena

Donate your gently used, clean coats and other outerwear items to help those in need this winter!

Minden Cultural Centre, noon, Sunday, Jun 18, 2017

Imagine holding a small box in the palm of your hand. Or putting it in your child’s hand. Imagine making a wish. Perhaps remembering a loved one. Then opening your box and seeing a beautiful, brilliant butterfly flutter up … and up. Your butterfly is joined by dozens of others. An amazing sight – one that will be remembered for a lifetime! A vision that is both meaningful and beautiful. The third annual SIRCH Release of the Butterflies comes to Minden on June 18, 2017.

This is a participant-driven fundraiser. With a donation of just $30 you will receive a lovely Painted Lady butterfly, raised on a nearby butterfly farm (Butterflies and Roses, in Lakefield, ON). Painted Lady butterflies lay eggs on a number of natural and garden plants including hollyhock, thistle, sunflowers, clover, lambsquarter, yarrow, mallow and others. Painted Ladies are found all across North America. Even though the butterflies have been raised in protected conditions, they are not domesticated. They are as wild as their counterparts that exist in the area. The healthy butterflies you release, which will be both male and female, will enter the natural environment in our area and reproduce, increasing the numbers of the butterflies locally. Butterflies are important pollinators. And unlike bees which are generally restricted to a local area, many butterflies are always on the move and can cross pollinate over a large area, improving the genetic mix of genes of the plant community. Ceremonial releases have become an important proactive ecological program for maintaining wild populations of these wonderful insects and also native plants that depend on them.

All proceeds from this fundraiser will help support SIRCH programs and services that receive little or no government funding (such as the free meals made by Community Kitchen, or the Journey Through Grief groups, or School’s Cool, a school readiness program for children 3 to 5). So join us for SIRCH’s Release of the Butterflies, and watch as the site transforms with beautiful butterflies. To make a donation, and secure your butterfly (or butterflies) for release June 18th, download an order form by clicking the link below OR donate online at Canada Helps.

Butterfly Order Form 2017

Location: Thrift Warehouse Bancroft, 29556 Hwy 28 South, Bancroft
Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Tue-Sat
Phone: 1-844-847-4382

The Smash Room is the result of some creative problem-solving. One day at Thrift Warehouse, we were looking at the bins of scratched, chipped, or otherwise not saleable glasses and plates that had come in. The bins were heading to the dump and the landfill likes us to break them down before taking them to the dump to save valuable landfill space. So Gena said “We should make it fun to smash it.” Don, up to the challenge, built the Smash Room. It is totally fun, serves a purpose (each day we sweep up the broken glass/crockery that is now broken down for landfill). There are various targets, including swinging targets. There’s something so satisfying about being “allowed,” even encouraged, to smash something. It’s a total stress release! Participants get face shields and ponchos to ensure they are protected. The smiles on the faces of the couple in the video aren’t put on. They had a blast! You should try it!

HELP WANTED

SIRCH is looking for 4 – 6 School’s Cool Instructors

School’s Cool is an exciting school readiness program developed by SIRCH Community Services and used by other organizations across Canada to increase the developmental skills of children ages 3 to 5 by an average of 54* weeks (*based on pre and post testing of over 5,000 children attending School’s Cool programs between 2008 and 2015)!

SIRCH, with funding support from the Trillium Lakelands District School Board, will be running 2 School’s Cool programs in Haliburton County this summer and requires 2 Lead Instructors, and 2-4 additional Instructors. Each program is expected to have 15 – 20 children. Teams of 2-3 Instructors (numbers dependent on enrollment) will deliver the School’s Cool curriculum, and evaluate each child’s progress through the use of materials and tools provided in the School’s Cool program. Instructors will provide positive role modeling, while encouraging each child’s natural curiosity for learning.

The Lead Instructor for each site (Archie Stouffer Elementary School and Stuart Baker Elementary School) will have overall responsibility to coordinate and support their School’s Cool staff team, liaise with parents, and ensure that all components of the program are adhered to.

Qualifications
• ECE, teaching, or child studies degree or diploma or related program (or enrolled in post-secondary degree/diploma program)
• ability to complete School’s Cool Instructor Training (2 days in June)
• demonstrated concern and empathy for young children and their families
• positive, enthusiastic, and encouraging
• experience teaching or working with preschool children
• able to manage a group of young and energetic children
• genuine interest in building collaboration with parents and the community
• capacity to work in a fast-paced and changing environment
• ability to commit to the entire program
• willingness to develop and extend professional skills working as part of a team
• current criminal reference check
• first aid/CPR an asset

Responsibilities
• full attendance at School’s Cool Instructor Training
• become familiar with all course materials and outcome-based programming
• promote a positive and exciting learning atmosphere
• review each (of 24) session’s activities
• secure all related materials for the curriculum
• deliver and evaluate all daily activities and course materials
• establish and maintain accurate weekly records for all registered children
• conduct or participate in parent consultations and parent sessions
• setup and maintain a safe and secure course environment for children
• complete the Developmental Checklist for each child as per School’s Cool guidelines.

Hours
Instructors: 24 – 30 hours per week June 26 – August 23, 2017
Lead Instructors: 30-35 hours/week Monday to Friday. June 26 – August 24, 2017. Additional time in June may be required of Lead Instructors.

To Apply
Send resume and cover letter, along with what position you are applying for, to: Gena Robertson, Executive Director, SIRCH Community Services, Box 687, Haliburton ON. Or email to info@sirch.on.ca