Education & Learning
Education and learning is the key to so many paths to success and we understand that learning never stops! Our education programming is designed for all stages of the process. Whether you are a parent of a schoolager or a preschooler, there are supports to help you and your child succeed in the system. Finding your voice, and the confidence to speak for your child’s future, getting them the supports they need and forging a life long bond to that learning – it’s why we do what we do.
Scroll down to learn more about our Education & Learning Programs or click on the program name below:
On Your Mark
On Your Mark, our signature mentoring/tutoring program, provides one-to-one and small group tutoring for students struggling with literacy and numeracy standards for their grade level and attending special education support services. This program also addresses drop-out prevention and encourages the pursuit of post-secondary education.
On Your Mark works with volunteer tutors who use a student-centered approach to learning. Sessions are organized around the needs of the individual student. In addition to the academic support, sessions provide mentoring, foster friendships and help build self-esteem. On Your Mark students can discuss education and career goals with their tutor as they enter high school and when pursuing post-secondary education. On Your Mark operates during the school year and within both the public and catholic school boards.
HIPPY
HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) is an internationally recognized trademarked program run exclusively by Working Women Community Centre, in the city of Toronto. the HIPPY program provides newcomer families with the tools and support that allow them to make a real difference in their children’s lives. Parents are empowered to help their children successfully enter the school system, thrive in school, and integrate into Canadian society faster and easier.
As part of our Education programming, HIPPY recognizes that parents are their children’s first and best teachers. Research has shown that the ideal time for children to start learning is in their earliest years. Through early intervention, the program assists immigrant families with their settlement needs, ensures enhanced success for children headed to kindergarten, and enables parents to play a key role in this learning and settlement process.
Home visitors are employed to work with HIPPY families in their homes. The home visitors bring a new set of instructional materials weekly, and using role-play, they spend one hour per week reviewing the materials with the parents. Parents then deliver lessons to their child in 15-minute daily sessions. Newcomer families make a two-year commitment to participate in the program over 30 weeks per year, concurrently with the school year.
Throughout the city of Toronto, Working Women Community Centre runs HIPPY in the following neighborhoods:
- Downtown West
- Malvern community
- Thorncliffe Park/Flemingdon and Victoria Village communities
- Jane and Finch community
We work in collaboration with several community partners that include: Parkdale Newcomer Service Providers Network , Malvern Family Resource Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office, and Flemingdon Neighbourhood Services.
HIPPY – YOUNG MOMS
In 2014,
the Working Women Community Centre launched its 5th HIPPY Site, a pilot program
for the young mother community across the city. Since then, HIPPY for Young
Mothers has been successful in playing an active role in the lives of women
under 29 with preschool children. Today, HIPPY YM continues to support and
connect this community through the magic of HIPPY!
Ambassador Training
The ambassador leadership training is a hands-on training course for individuals who want to strengthen their leadership skills and develop their understanding of civic engagement, community development, social justice and advocacy. It is a “Train the Trainer” model that aims for “ambassadors” to share the information and skills they acquire with their communities in their languages .
As an agency, Working Women Community Centre works hard to connect individuals with their communities while supporting them in developing their self-esteem, self-confidence and agency. For the past 4 years, the ambassador model has been focused on supporting newcomer and immigrant parents understand the school system and become more involved in their child(ren)’s school. Knowing how to navigate the system as a key to becoming better advocates for their child(ren)’s education.
LINC/Care for Newcomer Children
Please call our centre at 416-494-7978
LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) has become a vital part in the settlement and integration of newcomers to Canada. Funded by Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), LINC provides our clients the opportunity to not only learn English, but to learn about life in Canada.
Our instructors are TESL ON certified and PBLA trained and our Care for Newcomer Children (CNC) staff are registered Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) or certified Early Childhood Assistants (ECAs).
Requirements:
- Permanent Resident of Canada or
- Convention Refugee,
- at least 18 years old; and
- complete an initial language assessment test at a Language Assessment Centre. Contact the YMCA Assessment Centre: 416-925-5462 or click on the link below for further information.
https://ymcagta.org/en/newcomers/you-arrived/language/index.html
Classes:
Part-time (daytime and evening) and full-time classes, from literacy to level 6/8 aligning with the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) and Portfolio Based Language Assessment (PBLA).
LINC also utilizes computers for Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) programming.
