Summer Programs

Programs from Preschool to Young Adult
June 24th to August 30st, 2024

Make magic!

click each heading to learn more about us and our summer programs

Christianne’s Lyceum is a centre that celebrates literature and art and puts it at the centre of family and community life. Through programs that emphasize making connections between literature and what’s going on in the outside world, the Lyceum encourages young people to see themselves as readers, writers and artists, as they engage with abstract ideas and reflect on their own place in society. Armed with these experiences, students begin to seek possibility and explore ways that they can use their voices and actions to participate in their communities.

Our programs support children and youth as they engage in the process of creating — discovering the joy of manipulating materials with their hands, transforming media to leave traces for others to decode and make meaning, experiencing the thrill of watching words pile up on a blank sheet of paper, or inventing imaginative worlds and daring to get lost in them. Our staff gently facilitate these creative endeavours, helping young people see their initial concepts of their stories or art projects come to fruition. We co-construct curriculum to recognize the partnership between teacher and learner. Lyceum staff listen carefully to students’ reactions and questions, and allow them to guide the direction of further investigations. This means the class your child attends will take into account their interests and experiences, tailoring curriculum to meet, support and challenge them.

At the end of each program, we’ll send home a brief snapshot of our time together to let parents in on the magic we’ve conjured.

A focus on the process of making, and on valuing such making as a sustaining, life-long activity
Co-constructed curriculum which makes it possible to meet individual needs of participants
High-quality art materials
A welcoming, inspiring and spacious environment
The flexibility to meet children where they are and honour their individual timelines
Outings that support class inquiries
Documentation, which is provided after each program
An emphasis on process over product
Actual faeries, real magic and endless wonder

Dr. Hayward is the primary architect and teacher of each program. She brings more than thirty years of experience as an educator, storyteller, post-secondary school professor, teacher consultant and pioneer of community literary programs to every literary and creative investigation that evolves in our studio. As class sizes are capped at approximately twelve students, each young artist will have the chance to work closely with Dr. Hayward, with additional support from her staff of artists and writers, as well as two to three of our wonderful volunteers.

We provide an individually prepared healthy snack (adhering to COVID-19 food preparation protocols) for participants that includes rice crackers, cheese, a variety of fruit and water. We are able to accommodate most allergies, but appreciate notice in advance. The Lyceum is a peanut-free environment. Whenever possible, we try to have a picnic snack in a local park, bringing our adventures outdoors.

We offer lunchtime supervision on days when morning and afternoon classes fall within the same age category. Please let us know if you’d like to take advantage of this service, and send your child with a packed lunch. We have a fridge and microwave for your convenience. The cost to add this extra 1.5 hours is $15 per child.

We also offer early drop off or late pick up for those who need a slightly more flexible schedule. The cost for this extra time is $10/half hour per child. Please let us know in advance so we can accommodate your needs.