Happy Tots Early Learning Collective, Inc.
Warman Happy Tots Preschool, est. 1984
Mission Statement: To provide a nurturing and inclusive environment that encourages social-emotional, physical, and cognitive growth through exploration and play.
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Mission Statement: To provide a nurturing and inclusive environment that encourages social-emotional, physical, and cognitive growth through exploration and play. 〰️
Vision:
At Happy Tots, we will ensure that each child is given a positive, safe, and nurturing space in which to play, learn, explore, create and grow. With a combination of play, child- led, and teacher-led activities, we will encourage social-emotional, physical and cognitive growth and will focus on developing the whole child. We are cultivating an inclusive and diverse environment. We welcome our families and our communities into our learning.
Philosophy:
At Happy Tots, we consider the Reggio-Emilia philosophy in our approaches. We believe that children are competent and capable. We encourage open-ended questions, following emerging interests, encouraging mathematics and literacy through science-backed and play-based approaches. We follow a child’s lead in their art projects and encourage exploration and manipulation of different tools. We have been a preschool program for 40 years and we recognize that children are changing and so we must change with them. We continue many of the Happy Tots Preschool traditions. We recognize the importance of family engagement and building relationships with the families in our care. We welcome families into our space.
Warman Happy Tots Preschool was established in 1984 and is located in the lower level of the Family Church on 6th (formerly Warman Mennonite Church) (112 6th Ave. N.).
We value our community and offer many give-back opportunities throughout the year. These include: Food Bank donations, winter clothing drive, book donations, and more. We are grateful to be part of an incredible community!
Warman Happy Tots Preschool has transitioned to a non-profit organization. While our name has changed slightly to Happy Tots Early Learning Collective, Inc., we're still the same Happy Tots you know and love!
The Happy Tots Early Learning Collective Inc. is a community-focused, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing high-quality, inclusive early learning opportunities that support children, families, educators, and the broader community. Every dollar generated is reinvested into programs, resources, staff development, and initiatives that strengthen our mission and ensure the long-term sustainability of the organization.
The day-to-day operations of the preschool, including family communication, staffing, and program development, will continue to be led by Mrs. Smith in the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Supporting the organization is a volunteer Board of Directors, which provides strategic leadership and governance by establishing policies, ensuring financial accountability, safeguarding the organization's mission and values, and planning for the future. Working alongside the CEO, the Board helps guide decisions that strengthen programming, build community partnerships, and ensure The Happy Tots Early Learning Collective continues to provide meaningful, accessible, and innovative early learning experiences for generations to come.
Our calendar year runs from September until May and we generally follow the Prairie Spirit School Division calendar in regard to school breaks. We have a maximum of 16 students per class with two teachers and sometimes parent helpers!
Meet The Board
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Shelby Smith
CEO/Early Childhood Educator/Secretary
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Sarah McCorkell
Chair, Board of Directors
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Desirae Clark
Treasurer, Board of Directors
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Bailey Strachan
Member At Large, Board of Directors
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Jon Wheeler
Member At Large, Board of Directors
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Laura Davies
Member At Large, Board of Directors
Our Educators
Shelby Smith, Mrs. Smith, moved to Warman in 2011 and has since become deeply involved in her community. Alongside her family, she dedicates her spare time to various community activities, including volunteering with organizations that give back to those in need. She loves to read, write, hike, and play video games.
Shelby holds an ECE Level 3 certification. She is a member of CCCF and SECA, organizations that reflect her commitment to professional growth and development. Shelby's certifications span diverse areas such as reconciliation, mental health supports, literacy, neurodiversity supports, outdoor education, and curating wonder, demonstrating her passion for continuous learning and community enrichment.
She started teaching at Warman Happy Tots in 2017. She purchased the preschool in 2022. She is dedicated to creating a warm and welcoming environment where all children, regardless of background or identity, feel valued and respected. This year, she made the big change to change the program into a non-profit corporation!
Shelby authored and illustrated three children’s books, “Ready”, “Brave”, and “Stories”. She hopes to continue to write and illustrate more in the future!
Brenna Wheeler, Mrs. Wheeler, is a dedicated professional and passionate community member. Living in Neuanlage for 13 years with her family, she has deep connections to her community and a commitment to its growth and well-being. Brenna currently acts as an Administrator for Hague Parks and Recreation, and was previously on the Neuanlage Hall Board, demonstrating her passion to enhance community programs and initiatives. Brenna's volunteer work reflects a dedication to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all community members.
Brenna holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Geography and English, both earned in 2015. Her educational background reflects a strong foundation in both the analytical and communicative fields. Building on this, she pursued further specialization in youth care, obtaining her Youth Care Worker Certification in 2020 and holds ECE Level 1. She is currently advancing her expertise while working towards ECE Level 2. She also has the role of bookkeeper and grant writer for the program.
Her professional development includes certifications in High-Five Principals of Healthy Development, Mental Health First Aid, FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) Training, Crisis Management Training and Trauma-Informed Care Training. These qualifications underscore her commitment to supporting and understanding the diverse needs of those she serves.
Outside of her professional life, Brenna enjoys spending quality time with her family and contributing to local activities, further strengthening her ties to the community.
Our Substitute Teacher is:
Carlene Bacon Peterson: Mrs. Peterson
At Happy Tots, we believe that a strong community is built through kindness, connection, and giving back. We strive to instil these values in our students by providing meaningful opportunities to support others and contribute to the community around them. Through these experiences, children learn the importance of compassion, generosity, and making a positive difference.
We are proud to support several community initiatives throughout the year and encourage our families to join us in giving back whenever possible. In October, we do an adult and kids’ jacket/winter gear clothing drive from the 1st to the 31st. These are distributed to families in need in our communities. We also collect new school supplies for Hand Up Cupboard!
Our community is growing every year and we are continually adapting our program to keep up with the dynamic needs of our growing community and to stay in line with current research and industry standards. We are committed to understanding the needs of our city, preschool families, and greater community. We are working hard to meet those needs.
Each year we are grateful that we can offer up to 80 preschool spots and ‘the mess experience’ to our community!