The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday March 4, 2006 - 3 S t i l l a k i d a t h e a r t By Melanie Hennessey SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Robin Price's life is filled with circles. Call it coincidence or chance, in any case circles have shaped her career and her life. Before she even studied early childhood education (ECE), she chose to visit Hopedale Community Nursery School to ful fill a prerequisite on her application to Sheridan College. It was the program's way of giving wannabe's a first-hand look at what they were getting into, in order to get a feel for the job. Little did Price, the ECE grad know that Hopedale would beckon her to return, and stay for 25 years. Price recently celebrated her silver anniversary during an open house with the co-operative school. "I'm really proud of my job," which she found through an ad in the Beaver all those years ago. By her estimate she's taught 1,500 children, from age twoand-a-half to five years, throughout her career. Some of her students are now second generation offspring. The circle widens. "I love teaching children," said Price. Even when Price started her first job with Hopedale, the location in E. A. Orr Public School, took her back to her own early school days. For six years, Price worked in the Kindergarten room in which she began her school life. Even though the school has changed locations over its 35 year existence (at 318 Queen Mary Drive now, in St. Aidan's Church), Price's philosophy of address.each child and his/her own needs has never wavered. As the fourth in a family of six, kids were ever present at her childhood home. She credits her mom, Dolly Banks, with instilling immense patience and a worry-free attitude. And she said all the parents who have participated in the co op nursery school and the close community of children-- who Price noticed at the recent open house, remain friends after all these years -- have made her 25-year experience very positive. It's not unlikely to see Price playing at floor level with the kids. "Children keep me young. Their enthusiasm is infec tious." With such a long history of teaching, her parenting advice is worth heeding. The expert encourages caregivers to enjoy their children, don't worry too much and be guided by your heart as much as you can. As far as finding childcare, visit a lot of programs, ask a lot of questions and make sure the schedule fits in with your fam ily routine, not the other way around. "The first five years of a child's life are the most important for lifelong learning and behaviour," said Price who has a sixyear-old son. She made a promise to herself years ago that when the joy was gone from the job she'd pack it in and find something else. Rest assured for all the parents of children attending Hopedale, Price still loves her work. "It's fun." LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER TO PS W ITH TH E KIDS: Robin Price is surrounded by the kids at the Hopedale Community Nursery School as they cele brate her recent 25th anniversary at the co-operative school. Model #D4XS56-AE00 M odel #D5SD56-AC00 5 W S E 3 S i r , * r -- rrV 7 $ n ? f ^ o r Finance from a s low / , ta x 36 months^ f| H 1 i* r f Ig l^ $2195 dow n. Freight & PDI included. V Lease payment includes freight and P.D.E. of $1,195 for cars. $1,310 for bucks. PPSA registration tee of $52.15 for a 60 month tern extra. Don't even think about a securit 12? per km applies. 25,000 km leases also available. License, insurance, .taxes, and other dealer charges extra. Dealer may sell/lease lor less. Limited quantities available. I