Good Morning Creative Arts & Preschool is on the move!

May 13, 2022

Preschool children play with mats and large wooden blocks in the gross motor playroom.

By Katherine Liston

After 30 years in Logan-Vencta Hall at 174 First Avenue, Good Morning Creative Arts & Preschool (GMCAPS) will be moving in 2023. Many Glebe residents have fond memories of attending or dropping off their children (or grandchildren!) at one of the school’s many programs and will miss the sight of the yellow sunshine sign. While the children and educators will be sad to say goodbye to 174 First Avenue, everyone is so excited about this new move and the adventures in store for GMCAPS.

Luckily, we are not moving far away – after the recent sale of Logan-Vencta Hall, we are looking for a new home in the neighbourhood. After exploring a variety of options, we are thrilled to be in discussion with a local community organization about sharing its space. We look forward to revealing details of the new location soon. However, preparing the new space and making sure that GMCAPS can continue to provide high-quality programming for a variety of age groups will involve extensive renovations.

GMCAPS offers morning and full-day programs for toddlers and preschool-age children, as well as after-school art-based programs with pick-up from local schools including First Avenue, Mutchmor and Corpus Christi. At Logan-Vencta Hall, children enjoy use of two rooms: a classroom that includes learning and playing stations for activities like arts and crafts, dramatic play and circle time; and a gross motor playroom with slides, big blocks, mats and ride-on toys. The school’s priority is to make sure the new space provides children with an environment that supports their ability to play and learn.

Children play with sensory tables and tabletop toys in the classroom.

The relocation and associated renovations will involve major costs, and our fundraising team has been hard at work. GMCAPS would like to extend a huge thank you to volunteer coordinator and fundraiser Afsana Kabir, as well as to the local businesses who donated to our Valentine’s Day Raffle: Le’s Jewellery, Capital Home Hardware, Wilf & Ada’s, McKeen Metro, Wine Station, Bloomfield’s, Burgers & Fries Forever, Top of the World, Planet Coffee, True Loaf Bread, La Roma, Purple Urchin and Knifewear. GMCAPS students showcased their artwork at a fundraiser art show, the first in-person event since the start of COVID-19, held at St. Giles Church on May 6.

The relocation isn’t the only exciting thing coming up. We are also looking forward to warm summer weather and – the highlight for many kids – summer camp! GMCAPS offers art-based camps for children ages three to eight years old. The camps run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. Camps are filling up, but spaces are still available through the summer! The themes for this year include fairy tales, Storyscapes, space, nature, science, world art, adventures and superheroes. To register or to ask for more information, contact Karen at goodmorningpreschool@gmail.com.

Katherine Liston is a Glebe parent volunteer at Good Morning Creative Arts & Preschool.