Program & Team
We offer four programs for young students starting at 12 months of age in our caterpillar room until they graduate from the Firefly program at 6 or 7 years of age. Children are able to start at a very young age developing skills along with our educators and their peers. We have space for each child, regardless of his/her background, culture or language.
Caterpillar
Our Caterpillar group students gain skills fostering a happy learning experience. The program is based on infant and toddlers interests. We ensure to have plenty of sensory items to keep their minds stimulated. We also offer an age appropriate environment that helps them overcome milestones, which are critical to their development. This group also has a scheduled nap daily, they do not need to be potty trained. Their senses are ready to explore!
12 months – 2.5 years old.
We accept maximum 10 children in the group with two educators
Pupa
Our Pupa Group just became ready for our ‘rotational program’. They are potty independent and they also take naps on a daily basis. They make connections with other peers and start to understand relationships and friendship. Their vocabulary is also developing and is enhanced throughout the day. Their senses are activated and ready to capture our world.
2.5 – 3.5 years Potty independent but take naps
We accept maximum 14 children in the group with two educators
Butterfly
Our Butterfly Group is already a part of our rotational schedule but they do not take naps on a daily basis. They are learning how to become independent that enables them to be confident. They are immersing in a continuous discovery journey through their senses!
3.5 – 4.5 Rotational schedule but no naps
We accept maximum 8 children in the group with one educator
Firefly
Our Firefly Group is becoming ready to enter Grade 1 while learning the necessary skills at the kindergarten level and beyond! They are gaining numerous skills, such as literacy, numeracy, and music which allow them to feel independent and be a confident individual of our community.
4.5 – 6 preparing for Grade 1 learning skills at kindergarten and beyond
We accept maximum 10 children in the group with one educator
As a team, we are fully committed with passion and love to our educational project and we see professional development as key in our organization. Supporting families in the journey of reflecting upon our present and past experiences and working hand in hand as a community of learners is our responsibility and priority. Based on these core values and self-connection to our inner essence we promote parent’s workshops as much as educators professional development for inner growth. Adults re-learn while children play to maintain and remember the wisdom within. In other words, we believe children hold inner wisdom as well as the power to co-create knowledge.
Miss Rebeca Sztabzyb
Director Program Supervisor| Bilingual Montessori & Reggio-inspired Educator
Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, she always had a passion for children. As a teenager, she had a volunteering job opportunity in a community center working with children ages 4 to 7. As she grew up, she followed her passion and obtained her degree as a Kindergarten Teacher. For several years she worked in both, private and public school programs. During those years she took courses in Psychology, Arts, Craft, Spanish Literature and body expression.
In 1990 she moved to Calgary with her husband and two sons. Having just moved to a predominantly English speaking culture, she quickly made the effort to go back to school to learn English. Her first job in Calgary took place at the Calgary Jewish Academy. Then, in 2002, she worked at Webber Academy as a Spanish teacher for eight years. In 2011 she obtained the Montessori level 1 Certification and worked at a local Montessori preschool for the last two years. She enjoyed watching the students grow and learn a language that is so close to her heart. She is currently very happy being part of the Kido Care team. She also sees how the Spanish language benefits students as they grow up and introduce themselves in the world today and the workforce in the future.
Aside from teaching, she loves having dinner with her family and playing with her grandchildren. Some of her hobbies include watching movies, reading books, cooking, sewing, knitting, traveling, music and she also enjoys taking long walks with her friends and family. She has participated in an International Reggio Study Tour in the city of Reggio Emilia, Italy last spring of 2015. She has worked as Kido Care Director for couple of years at Hotel Arts Gallery, in the Victoria Park community in Calgary. Right now she is happy assuming the position as a Kido Care Program Supervisor; she has always the spirit of improving and learning within her field.
Miss Diana Murillo
Program Supervisor / Bilingual Montessori & Reggio-inspired Educator
She was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. She graduated from university with a Bachelor Degree in Preschool Education. She decided to continue her studies 3 more years and obtained a Diploma in Early Childhood Education. She is certificated in Montessori Studies and child Development and also she had the opportunity to go to Reggio Emilia in Italy to learn more about this philosophy.
She has gained teaching experience in preschool for twelve consecutive years at well-known and recognized learning centers. She worked with children of various ages, which provided opportunities to understand more about children’s needs and development.
She is fully committed with Kido Care and its philosophy, where she believes she will further develop, as well as share her own experiences while learning along with the children and the team. Miss Diana gained respect from Kido Care children at her first week at work. She has demonstrated to be very responsible, flexible and compassionate towards our young students. She is expanding her opportunities of growth as well as assuming many responsibilities within our team.
As an excellent team player Miss Diana has not just gained the satisfaction and admiration of our children but also the rest of the team. Miss Diana is an excellent educator that we all honored to have her as a member at our learning center.
Claudia Lanuza Brocate
Born and raised in Zaragoza, Spain. In 2016, she graduated from University of Zaragoza with a degree as Infant Education Teacher. She moved to Canada in 2016 as soon as she finished her Bachelor Degree.
When she moved got an education validated to work in Canada, and since then she has been working in recognized schools and preschools. In 2017 she finished a Diploma in Human Services to further her specialization in children with Special Needs.
Currently, she is studying a Masters Degree in Psychology, which is also her passion aside from Education. She also enrolled in Montessori Assistant Certificate, which be completed soon. She holds a child development supervisor certification in Alberta.
She is really happy to be part of the Kido Care family and willing to learn from every opportunity that this great team has to offer.
She enjoys teaching children Spanish, as it is her first language. She is very passionate about that because it represents the culture where she comes from, which is a big part of her heart.
In her free time, she loves to spend time with her family as well as cooking, baking, reading and going on nature walks.
Miss Adrivel Alvarez (Bilingual Teacher)
She was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. In 2010 she graduated from university with a degree in education, and continued gaining six years of teaching experience in a recognized preschool in Venezuela.
In 2012 she completed a certificate on Child Diversity which has helped her to be more assertive about children’s needs and how to support them in the learning process. She knows that every child have its own time to learn and it’s important to respect each process. In November 2014 she moved to Canada with her daughter and joined the Kido Care Team.
She has more than 10 years of experience with toddlers and infants. She has been working most of the time in the Caterpillar room, sharing her experience with the little ones. The students themselves have also taught her a lot about behaviors as well as provided opportunities to experience wonderful moments. She loves reading books; prepare sensorial activities as well as speak and sing Spanish songs to them.
One of her hobbies is professional makeup, reason why in 2018 she received a profesional Makeup Certificate. She holds a Child Development Supervisor Certificate in Alberta
Miss Marcela López Valdes (Bilingual Teacher)
She was born in Mexico and her academic background brings 14 years of science studies. She moves to Canada in 2007 when she was given an opportunity to work in the childcare field. Miss Marcela has 11 years of experience in early childhood education holding an Early Learning Child Care Assistance Certificate.
Being in direct contact to the Montessori philosophy and holding also a certificate in Montessori classroom assistance allowed her to get to know the intellectual knowledge children bring within. This has resulted in an incomparable and exiting experience. She enjoys reading and of course spending time with her family. She is currently taking part in the Reggio Emilia Approach workshops series: The culture of atelier and expressive languages at school. This opportunity has brought great motivation and commitment to enrich her knowledge.
This is seen in the passion she shows in her teaching and coexistence along with the students. Miss Marcela loves providing opportunities and spaces that create an environment where our children grow, learn and develop their greatest potential and creativity. Being that her first language is Spanish she offers a natural way to learn it. She is also committed to Kido Care and she is happy to be part of the team. She demonstrates initiative and a teaching attitude with commitment and responsibility. These are the exceptional leadership qualities she demonstrates in her work and model in our Kido Care community.
Maria Gonzalez
Maria Gonzalez was born in Venezuela, in the city of Maracaibo. She studied Law at the University of Zulia and graduated as a lawyer in 1993.
She is happily married with two children. Since her children came to her life she got involved in the field of education. She participated volunteering in different departments in her own children’s schools.
She brings ten years of experience working as a teacher’s aide. Her family and her moved to Canada in 2018 and she was certified as Child Development Assistant through the government of Alberta and she continues to expand her knowledge in education every day through professional development at Kido Care and other available continuing educational programs.
She is passionate about working with children and she consider herself creative, organized, patient, and cheerful.
Elsa Guillermina Pueblita Ramos
She born and raised in Colima, Mexico. Her first experience in working with children took her to high school. Her social service was a fascinating experience at a child care center. I had the chance to observe children, the way they learn, behave and interact each other. This great opportunity allowed her to decide to become a teacher.
She studied at the University of Colima and received a bachelor degree in English Language. Since then, she started working as a bilingual teacher with children of all ages from preschool to junior high school. Through these years of teaching experience she realized the enjoyment while teaching and working with younger children. she found them very creative, fast learners, full of energy and she loved to see the way they learn and discover the world around them. She believes teachers and parents working together can make a big difference.
One of her long-term goals is to study a Master of Arts in Child Study and Education Program to expand her knowledge and use new strategies to work along children. She thinks Kido Care is a great place to work with younger children and she is so thankful to all staff members to let her be part of this wonderful team.
Carlos Nieto (Co-founder)
An expert and passionate geophysicist with over 14 years of experience in oil and gas exploration that has been sharing his South American’s experience with Alberta’s geoscience community. He completed graduate studies in Exploration Geophysics in the Canadian Arctic contributing in the research of that part of our planet. He is currently expanding his horizons even more around South East Asia while sharing his knowledge and professionalism.
Teamwork is essential at Kido Care and Carlos has played the role of a resilient and supportive partner. He is one of the most reliable members at Kido Care family. Our founder recognizes his unconditional love, patience, involvement and support. Thank you!
Joseph Winzey and Family (Co-founder)
Joseph has established more than three successful medical enterprises and he’s also one of the top salesmen in Americas when it comes to medical imaging equipment and its trades. He is a successful businessman and an important investor in South America’s health services.
He always wanted to invest in Canada and expand his visionary plan since he believes our country is a diverse and interesting place on Earth.
In 2011, he decided to invest in our educational venture project and thanks to his wife, his two beautiful daughters and himself; our dream is now a reality!
Adriana Ferrari (Owner/Founder)
She holds a BA in Communications from Central University of Venezuela and a Diploma in Education with a specialization in Bilingual Education and Early Childhood Teaching from the University of Calgary.
She completed a Montessori teaching apparatus workshop through Montessori Centre International (MCI) from UK and studied the theoretical aspects of the method through the North American Montessori Centre (NAMC).
She obtained a Master’s in Education at the University of Calgary with the completion of an educational research year in the spring of 2017. She dedicated her last year of research at the University of Calgary editing her last paper in documentation and digital assessment connected to her study travels to schools in Beijing, Italy, and Singapore.
She had the opportunity to work along with more than 400 families and their children aged between 19 months and 6 years. As an extension to her graduate degree, Adriana wanted to become an active member of the International Reggio Emilia community by attending workshops and conferences in Canada and South East Asia as well as participating at an International Reggio Study Tour in Italy in the spring of 2015.
Her last studies involved a 200HR yoga teaching certification and a 95HR yoga for kids teaching training through the Yoga Alliance. As a proactive, observer and enthusiastic individual, she recognizes her interest in guiding children thru a holistic learning process as well as learning along with them.
She has been encouraging young students and colleagues to get inspired by their individual interests as well and sharing their learning through arts and projects. Her passion has been expanding her knowledge as well as serving others to create new concepts and ideas.
Her hobbies, besides co-learning along with the youngest citizens of the world, are SUP, meditation, yoga, salsa Rueda casino, hiking, arts, music and nature adventures.
We are conveniently located on 13th Ave SW along the Greenway Boulevard at Calgary’s Beltline. We are open from 7:30 AM until 5:30 PM.
We offer two parking stalls for parents, especially for pick up and drop off times. Parents may also use them when visiting our school, participating in their children’s class or meeting a member of our team.
Come and visit us at Victoria Park! A spacious Haultain Park playground is a block away and the Calgary Public Library is just a 5-min walking distance.
Come Visit Us! We are OPEN!
