ABOUT MDNS

Your Partner in Early Childhood Education

Merrickville Day Nursery School offers a program that follows “How Does Learning Happen?” pedagogy (HDLH?) and ensure our program aligns with the Ontario Ministry of Education’s policies and curriculum.

High-quality early learning experiences with warm and supportive relationships help children feel happier, less anxious, and more motivated to learn.

The staff at MDNS see all children as competent and capable, complex thinking humans, rich in potential and full of curiosity. Every child should feel like they belong and are a valuable part in their learning environment and they deserve opportunities to succeed.

MDNS believes that the children’s families should also feel like they belong and are equal contributors to their child’s learning and success.  We want families to feel engaged in a meaningful way.  The educators at MDNS are knowledgeable and caring professionals.  They collaborate with each other to create engaging environments and attend professional learning events in order to expand their training and network with professionals from other centers.

Join The Waitlist

“

My son loves spending his days at Merrickville daycare.

He is excited to go every morning and even wants to be there on the weekends! We feel very comfortable leaving him at the centre and know he will be well taken care of by the wonderful staff. We couldn’t be happier and neither could our son! 🙂

Mark and Camille Stenhouse

Meet The Team

Erin Finlay

RECE, Supervisor

How many years as an educator:
28 years in total (just over a year at MDNS)

Favourite things:
Turtles, Sunflowers, Live Music, Charcuterie Boards, Hunting, Going for sunset boat rides, ATV adventures, and most importantly spending time and making memories my 3 young adult children

Fun facts:
I was a school bus driver for 2 years when my children were just starting school.
I was a live-in nanny when I finished high school before going away to college.

Your class Motto or a favourite inspirational quote:
“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new” – Albert Einstein

One thing on your bucket list:
Travel to Australia

One life lesson you’ve learned from a child:
Feel your feelings, be curious and excited, be fearless, and grow a little every day even when it’s hard.

Dana Roach

Daycare Cook

Favourite things:
Hawaiian Pizza, Jelly Bellies, my family

Fun facts:
I like hunting for antiques

Your favourite inspirational quote:
Make it a Great Day  – JRR

One thing on your bucket list:
RV trip through Alaska

One life lesson you’ve learned from a child:
Don’t stop, keep persevering

Amanda Banks

RECE, Toddler Room teacher

How many years as an educator:
Almost 12 years. I started at MDNS in November 2012

Favourite things:
Cats, Reading, Spending time with my loved ones

Fun facts:
I taught myself to juggle (I can’t do it for long), I try and read a minimum of 12 books a year

Your class Motto or a favourite inspirational quote:
“The more that you read, The more things you will know. The more that you learn, The more places you’ll go.” – Dr Seuss

One thing on your bucket list:
To have a library in my own home

One life lesson you’ve learned from a child:
Always have fun!

Carrissa MacGregor

RECE, school age room educator

How many years as an educator:
16 years

Favourite things:
Playing with my puppy, reading, crafting, daily exercise, cooking/baking, working on the family farm, live music

Fun facts:
I love bringing children and agriculture together in interactive and accessible ways

Your class Motto or a favourite inspirational quote:
“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think”. Margaret Mead

One thing on your bucket list:
Go whale watching

One life lesson you’ve learned from a child:
Embrace your inner child, never stop playing

Kiara Lavier

Toddler room educator

How many years as an educator:
1 year

Favourite things:
I love spending time with family and friends and making memories together.

Fun facts:
I’m the youngest of 4 siblings, I love reality TV, I will not cross the street if I see a black cat cross first

Your class Motto or a favourite inspirational quote:
Children are great imitators, so we need to give them something great to imitate!

One life lesson you’ve learned from a child:
Don’t forget to clap for yourself, we all have the right to feel proud of our own progress no matter how little.

Ava Scott

Summer Staff/Supply Staff

Years as an educator
First year!

Favourite things:
Skiing, a good book, and iced coffee!

Fun fact:
My first job was working as a Ski Instructor for kids 3-12 years old

Your class Motto or a favourite inspirational quote:
“Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it” – Anne of Green Gables

One thing on your bucket list:
Visit Greece

One life lesson you’ve learned from a child:
Always strive to be “big happy!”

Eleanor Hall

Preschool room educator

How many years as an educator:
1 year

Favourite things:
Practicing a healthy and active lifestyle, helping others.

Fun facts:
I am a volunteer fire fighter for my local fire department, I play competitive rugby.

Your class Motto or a favourite inspirational quote:
Every child is a different kind of flower, and all together, makes this world a beautiful garden!

One thing on your bucket list:
One thing on my bucket list is to run a marathon!

One life lesson you’ve learned from a child:
Don’t limit yourself and your imagination!

Grace Charland

Preschool Educator and ECE student

How many years as an educator:
2.5 years

Favourite things:
Spending time on the water and her cottage on Charleston Lake, snowmobiling, and her family

Fun facts:
I have worked on a Barge

Your class Motto or a favourite inspirational quote:
I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship

One thing on your bucket list:
To have pasta in Italy

One life lesson you’ve learned from a child:
You can start over a million times in a day

Bobbi Sue Smith

RECE, Preschool room educator

How many years as an educator:
I graduated from the ECE program at Perth Algonquin in 2020 and have been in the field since then. In the last 4 years I have worked in a Montessori for a year and a half before coming to MDNS as a preschool educator.

Favourite things:
My family, the wilderness and animals, working with children.

Our class moto:
“If a child cannot learn in the way we teach, we must teach in a way the children can learn”. “No need to cry over spilt milk”. “Straight to the bathroom, HONEEEY”. “If at first we don’t succeed, we try, try again”.

One thing on your bucket list:
Travel the world.

One life lesson I have learned from a child:
I’m doing a “good job”. “I am patient and loved”. “To plan for a successful program, we need to lead with the children’s interests and inquiries!”

Kayla Donaldson

Toddler Room Educator

How many years as an educator:
I’ve been an educator for 2 years here and have cared for many children previously.

Favourite things:
Photography, art and camping!

Fun facts:
I’m the oldest of 9 and I’ve met the cast from Oak Island NS tv show

Your class Motto or a favourite inspirational quote:
“Nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I’M POSSIBLE’ “- Audrey Hepburn

One thing on your bucket list:
I’d like to travel somewhere tropical and to get my full ECE education!

One life lesson you’ve learned from a child:
Remembering the joy of simple things, especially in the busy day to day life!

Jenni McCloskey

Educator in preschool and toddler

How many years as an educator:
I am still on my journey to becoming and ECE, but I began working in childcare in 2021

Favourite things:
Softball, crafts, art, music and theatre

Fun facts:

  • I played rugby for 5 years
  • Cooking is my second passion
  • I studied Human Kinetics before finding my passion in childcare

Your class Motto or a favourite inspirational quote:
“You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.” -Winnie the Pooh

One thing on your bucket list:
Travel to Ireland

One life lesson you’ve learned from a child:
Sometimes you just need a hug!

and

Slow down-time flies!

Vero Daniel

Supply staff

How many years as an educator:
6 months

Favourite things:
Kids, gardening, animals, dancing

Fun facts:
I’m almost always dancing, even to music that’s just in my head

Your class Motto or a favourite inspirational quote:
Take chances, make mistakes, get messy – Miss Frizzle

One thing on your bucket list:
To visit all of Canada’s provinces

One life lesson you’ve learned from a child:
To try and never lose your sense of curiosity, that’s where all of the best adventures are waiting to be had!

Michelle Gagne

Preschool, Toddler and School Age Supply Staff

How many years as an Educator?
I have been in the ECE field for close to 4 years now between different daycares in the area.

My favourite things:
My favourite animal is a sloth, I enjoy singing and dancing and learning new things!

Fun facts:
A fun fact about myself is that I have met Snoop dogg, Seth Rogan and Martha Stewart!

My class motto:
“We’re all best friends at daycare!”

One thing on my bucket list:
I would love to travel to Italy and enjoy the Italian food and sights!

A life lesson learned from a child:
I have learned lots of new things working with children, but a major one is patience and learning that every child is different and learning to adapt to the different behaviours and personalities.

Erica Coburn

Summer Staff/Supply Staff

How many years as an educator:
1.5

Favourite things:
Crocheting, shopping, going to the beach, reading, country music, travelling

Fun facts:
Love to cook, have been to Banff, California and LasVegas

Your class Motto or a favourite inspirational quote:
Love your family, work hard and live your passion

One thing on your bucket list:
Go to Greece

One life lesson you’ve learned from a child:
Beauty and kindness are in everyone:)

High Quality Care • NurturingEnvironment • Play-Based Learning • Family Engagement • Ages 18 months to 13 years • Merrickville • Exploration • Creativity • Critical thinking • Learn • Grow • Thrive •High Quality Care • NurturingEnvironment • Play-Based Learning • Family Engagement • Ages 18 months to 13 years • Merrickville • Exploration • Creativity • Critical thinking • Learn • Grow • Thrive •