La Colline De Bois (Wooden Hill) Nursery School was originally founded as a private home daycare, licensed for five children, by Emily Nicholls-Harrison in June 1991. The name Wooden Hill is in reference to the many wooden stairs at Wooden Hill's first location. The school was founded to provide an educationally enriched program in a bilingual setting for preschool students. By 1992 interest from the community and the Founder's personal values promoted the Centre toward becoming a non-profit agency. A group of interested parents and community members gathered and a Needs Assessment Survey was completed for the Ministry of Community and Social Services.
The Grey-Bruce area responded very positively to the idea of a pre-school offering a second language experience for children. The school was incorporated as a non-profit corporation on April 8th, 1994 and became a Registered Canadian Charity in September of 1994.
The school moved from its original home on 3rd Avenue East in Owen Sound to the Lutheran Church on 11th Avenue West in August, 1994. A license was granted for 16 spaces, the ages of the children ranged from 18 months to 6 years. In September 1994, the average enrolment was 8 children. By April, average enrolment had grown to 12 children daily. The school moved again in the summer of 1995.
By June of 1995, the centre had expanded in the newly built Notre Dame Catholic School at 885 25th Street East. With the move came the expansion of the pre-school program and the inclusion of a school-age program as well as a Toddler group, to include children age 15 months and up. In 2001, an afterschool program at St Basil's school was added to the program and in 2012, the Extended Day of learning program expanded to provide a seamless day for kindergarten students, with a before and afterschool program at the St Basil's location. The total license is now for 264, which includes a 26 space preschool program at Notre Dame and 149 spaces at St Basil’s. The license is now through the Ministry of Education. Although enrolment fluctuates, the Centre has 20 full and part time time staff as well as a cook.
The spaces added with the move to Notre Dame and St. Basil’s, were never funded by the province and have been made possible through the hard work and incredible dedication of Wooden Hill’s Founder, Board, and Staff.
The Grey-Bruce area responded very positively to the idea of a pre-school offering a second language experience for children. The school was incorporated as a non-profit corporation on April 8th, 1994 and became a Registered Canadian Charity in September of 1994.
The school moved from its original home on 3rd Avenue East in Owen Sound to the Lutheran Church on 11th Avenue West in August, 1994. A license was granted for 16 spaces, the ages of the children ranged from 18 months to 6 years. In September 1994, the average enrolment was 8 children. By April, average enrolment had grown to 12 children daily. The school moved again in the summer of 1995.
By June of 1995, the centre had expanded in the newly built Notre Dame Catholic School at 885 25th Street East. With the move came the expansion of the pre-school program and the inclusion of a school-age program as well as a Toddler group, to include children age 15 months and up. In 2001, an afterschool program at St Basil's school was added to the program and in 2012, the Extended Day of learning program expanded to provide a seamless day for kindergarten students, with a before and afterschool program at the St Basil's location. The total license is now for 264, which includes a 26 space preschool program at Notre Dame and 149 spaces at St Basil’s. The license is now through the Ministry of Education. Although enrolment fluctuates, the Centre has 20 full and part time time staff as well as a cook.
The spaces added with the move to Notre Dame and St. Basil’s, were never funded by the province and have been made possible through the hard work and incredible dedication of Wooden Hill’s Founder, Board, and Staff.