Winakwa nursery program special

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This article was published 29/12/2004 (7658 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THERE’S a very special woman in St. Boniface known as teacher Barb.

Barb Yakimischak has operated Winakwa Nursery School for 20 years, and is credited with giving generations of students their first positive school experience.

When Steve Morrisson moved his family to the area last summer, he immediately started asking his neighbours about nursery school options for his two children.

“Everyone recommended teacher Barb. Her reputation in the community is so solid,” Morrisson says. “Barb is an extra special teacher, the kind you’re lucky to get one of in your entire school career.”

Morrisson enrolled his children at Winakwa, and was so impressed with the program that when it needed a new board of directors this year, he eagerly volunteered. He was elected president of the board.

“Winakwa Nursery School is located inside Frontenac Elementary School, so it adjusts children well to the school environment and gets them ready for kindergarten,” says Morrisson. “They’re not intimidated by a big school setting.”

The real key to the children’s confidence is teacher Barb, adds Morrisson.

“Her curriculum elevates the spirit of each student. She’s very intuitive and attentive to each child.”

The nursery school runs two programs from Monday to Thursday. The morning program takes place from 8:45 to 11:30 a.m. and is for three-year-olds. The afternoon program is from 12:30 to 3:15 p.m. and is for four-year-olds.

Each program features play time, story time, snack time, songs, poems, activities, flash cards, and lessons about the weather, counting, dates or the alphabet.

“My children attend day care, too, but they’re much happier after teacher Barb’s class,” Morrisson says. “They come home and show me the work they’ve done, and tell me about all the things they’ve learned. They never have anything to say after day care.”

Yakimischak credits a deep love of children as the reason for her success.

“I enjoy watching children grow, and I love seeing their little characters develop. Each one is different,” she says. “This is a wonderful community to work in.”

In the two decades Yakimischak has worked at the nursery school, she reports that she’s only had problems with one student. The student had to be removed due to his aggression against the other children.

Yakimischak, a mother of two grown children, is also comfortable working with those who have special needs.

“One mother has been amazed at the changes in her son, who has special needs,” she adds. “All parents are welcome to come into my classroom with their children.”

For the first time in years, the nursery school has openings in the morning and afternoon programs.

“The program has never advertised. It exists solely on word of mouth, but with all the competition in the area, that’s no longer working,” explains Morrisson. “This is such a positive learning environment. Barb gives each child lots of one-on-one attention. That’s the main reason this program is so special.”

If you’re interested, call the school at 257-0609 and ask for teacher Barb.