ASCY

09/01/2026

✨ What could you create with what’s already here?

At the Resource Library, possibilities are everywhere — especially on our Free Cycle shelf ♻️

This entire invitation was gathered using materials from the shelf, showing just how much potential can be found in everyday, reclaimed, and unexpected materials.

The Free Cycle shelf invites educators to look at materials differently and wonder:

💭 What could this become?
💭 What might children explore?
💭 Where could their curiosity take them?

You don’t need a perfectly curated collection to create an inspiring invitation. Sometimes, you just need to come in, explore, gather, and see what sparks your imagination.

🌿 Because you never know what a little “this could be interesting…” might become!

08/24/2026

Art meets imagination! 🎨✨

Inspired by Van Gogh’s Thatched Cottages at Cordeville, this art invitation invites children to explore colour, texture, and composition as they recreate the piece using a variety of loose parts.

And the best part? This bin of beautiful, open-ended materials is available from our Resource Library to bring inspiring invitations like this into their own learning environments. 💛

Come explore, borrow, create, and inspire! 🎨🧺

08/17/2026

Invitations don’t have to be complicated! Sometimes all it takes is combining unexpected but simple materials together to encourage unique and creative ways of engaging with every day materials.
For this invitation, we grouped together a combination of mark making materials and loose parts with colour-blocking in mind.
What can you create using simple materials that might offer children a different perspective and experience?

08/13/2026

Registration is now open for the ASCY Hamilton Fall Reggio Conference 2026!

Join us on October 20-21, 2026 as we welcome Alessia Forghieri (Pedagogista) and Matteo Bini (Atelierista) from Reggio Children® for two inspiring days of learning, reflection, and dialogue.

This year's conference, The Expressive and Transformative Qualities of Clay, explores clay as a powerful medium for creativity, communication, learning, and meaning-making. Grounded in the Reggio Emilia Approach and Ontario's How Does Learning Happen?, participants will delve into atelier culture, the Hundred Languages of Children, and the role of pedagogical documentation in supporting children's thinking and learning.

📅 October 20-21, 2026
📍 Michelangelo Banquet Centre, Hamilton
🎟️ Early registration rates available until September 11, 2026.
🔗 Register at ASCY.ca or scan the QR code

Shape Your Learning Journey. Register Now.

07/20/2026

If you have placed a delivery order, we are happy to pick up your bins!

06/26/2026

This Spring in the ASCY Professional Resource Library we featured the wonderful art of Mandala making. Mandalas made with many different open-ended materials can promote a sense of calm and focus within the classroom. We are excited to introduce the newest ASCY Materials Collaborative Studio Kit; Mandalas is now available for loan. This kit is filled with a variety of materials perfect for creating beautiful mandalas with your children.

06/23/2026

Earlier this month, we celebrated leadership, literacy, and the incredible impact of early childhood educators at the Learning Connections Hamilton Leaders in Learning Breakfast.

Congratulations to Marianne McKay of La Garderie Le Petit Navire, recipient of the CIBC Murphy Investment Group Individual Early Literacy Education Award, nominated by Julie Trapasso for her dedication to fostering a love of literacy in young children.

Congratulations as well to Lucky Day Nursery, recipient of the ASCY-sponsored Agency Early Literacy Education Award, recognizing their commitment to creating rich literacy experiences for children and families.

Thank you to Learning Connections Hamilton for bringing our community together to recognize the educators and organizations making a lasting difference in the lives of children every day.

05/26/2026

Recently, our Montessori-Inspired Community of Practice gathered at Dundas Valley Montessori to explore math concepts and discover the many ways Montessori materials are used to support and deepen children’s math learning. It was an inspiring evening of collaboration, reflection, and shared passion for meaningful learning experiences.

05/25/2026

04/28/2026

Dans l’épisode d’aujourd’hui, Nancy Baverstock d’ASCY est jointe par sa collègue et collaboratrice de longue date Anna Minniti, leader pédagogique au Little Peoples Daycare à Hamilton, pour une conversation réfléchie sur la transformation des réunions du personnel en espaces intentionnels et significatifs pour la connexion, la collaboration et la pratique réflexive.

Ensemble, elles explorent comment s’éloigner des réunions guidées par des listes de contrôle et se tourner vers des « moments de rassemblement » intentionnels peut renforcer les relations, valoriser les voix des éducateurs et aligner les équipes autour de valeurs et d’une vision partagées. S'appuyant sur des années d'expérience, elles discutent des moyens pratiques pour que les dirigeants puissent créer des réunions qui deviennent respectueuses, engageantes et pertinentes, des espaces où les éducateurs se sentent vus, entendus et valorisés.

Cette conversation invite les auditeurs à faire une pause et à réfléchir à une question importante : Pourquoi nous réunissons-nous ? Et comment pouvons-nous nous assurer que notre temps ensemble soutient réellement la croissance, le bien-être et l'apprentissage professionnel? https://open.spotify.com/episode/24WMpWd0JgW1oQ1tLYYAuW?si=1cf06ce677eb49b7

Can We Talk?: Conversations In The Early Years · Episode