About Us

Our philosophy is that children learn best through play-based activities!

  • We believe that each child is an unique individual and learns at their own pace.
  • We provide an environment that stimulates curiosity, creativity, imagination and independence.
  • We provide opportunities to develop gross-and fine-motor skills.
  • We encourage social interaction and cultivate problem solving skills.
  • We have highly qualified teachers with strong early childhood skills to help your child develop and learn. 

 

Our Teachers

 

 

Debbie Doyle has over 28 years of experience in the field of Early Childhood Education. The last 7 years have been spent at Woodcroft Community Playschool!! 

The first nine years of her career were spent at a women's shelter working with children and families fleeing domestic violence.  The next thirteen years were spent running an accredited day home, and leading a support group for children in or leaving domestic violence situations. Debbie also works as an in-home support worker supporting families with or at risk of intervention from Children and Family Services.

Debbie enjoys working with young children.  Watching them grow and learn is her favourite part. She believes children learn best through play!

Debbie attends at least three workshops a year to continue her own learning journey and also to learn how to best help the children entrusted to her care.  She holds a current Child Care First Aid Certificate, and also has Level 3 Child Development Supervisor certification. Debbie has recently completed her Exploring Early Childhood Curriculum: Play, Possibilities and Participation (FLIGHT) training and is excited to put her learning to use in the classroom.

Headshot by JSP Photography  http://www.jspphotography.ca/

 

 

 

 Gillian Cooper

 

 

 

I have always loved caring for young children-from neighbourhood babysitting as a teen, to working in daycares in Banff and Lake Louise after graduating, I've enjoyed over 20 years now in various early learning environments. In 2003 I completed my Teacher's Assistant Certificate at Bow Valley College in Calgary. I continued taking Early Childhood Education  courses over several years and was granted my Child Development Supervisor (Level 3) Certification in 2011.
All of the talking, learning, exploring and fun I get to have when surrounded by children feels like a dream job to me. I believe working with children is invaluable because they keep you young at heart and every day is different and exciting with them. I am thrilled to now be a part of Woodcroft Community Playschool.
Outside of work I enjoy walking my dog Baxter, spending time with my teenage son, doing the occasional yoga class and travelling to various countries (14 so far!) New Zealand, Japan and Denmark are next on my list and hopefully I will be able to visit them in the future.