About Us

Objectives | History | Facility | Red bags and books | Teacher bios

Our objectives:

• To guide the children toward self discipline and independence
• To build feelings of confidence and self-esteem
• To guide the children towards sharing and cooperating with others
• To learn through play and exploration

History of the School

Muppets was originally called Happy Tots and was started by a group of parents who wanted their children to go to a co-operative preschool. St. Elizabeth’s Co-op was full and always had a waiting list.

Happy Tots was started in 1975 and was operated out of the basement of a Presbyterian Church on New Street. The name was changed to Muppets in 1977.

Muppets moved along New Street to Ascension Catholic School in 1980, where it remained until September of 1985 until it moved into Frontenac Public School. The final move was made to Appleby United Church in 1988.

Our Facility

Muppets preschool occupies 2 bright and colorful classrooms on the second floor of Appleby United Church.

There is an auditorium/gym available and a park close by for physical activities.

Muppets is licensed and inspected by the Ministry of Community Family and Children’s Services.

Nut Free Classrooms: both of our classrooms are nut free.

Red Bags and Red Books

The Red Bag has long been a symbol at Muppets. Each child is given a red bag at our September Open House. Each day the child brings his or her Red Bag to Muppets with their snack and a change of clothes in, and hangs it on their coat hook. At the end of the morning the Red Bag is taken home and it usually contains lots of artwork. The Red Bag is returned at the end of the school year.

Each family is given a Red Book when they enroll in the school. They are asked to read the contents over the summer and bring it with them to our first General Meeting held in early September. The Red Book contains lots of information about our policies, answers questions about responsibilities, duty days etc.., and even has a playdough recipe.

Teacher Bios

Supervisor: Brada Cochrane

Brada Cochrane is an Early Childhood Education (E.C.E.) teacher, from Sheridan College class of ’84. She has been working with families at Muppets since 2001 and became Supervisor in June 2007. Brada provides a loving and positive learning experience for the children. Her goal is to educate young people in an atmosphere where they can learn, socialize, grow and feel good about themselves and their successes. She partners with the parents of the children during class, empowering them to actively participate in their children’s learning adventures.

Brada has previously worked with the Region of Peel, Peel Board of Education and Oakville Parent/Child Centre. In the summer months Brada is an educator with Halton’s “Even Start” program. She also works privately with special needs children one on one and holds a part-time position at a seniors’ retirement living home in Burlington.

Brada resides in Burlington with her husband David and their two children, Bradley and Michelle.

Assistant Supervisor: Wendy Wagg

Wendy worked in the pharmaceutical industry designing and delivering training before deciding that working with children is her real passion. She loves learning and has her Early Childhood Education (E.C.E.) diploma as well as a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She has been working with children in a variety of settings since 1998 and joined Muppets in 2009.
Wendy is also a Beaver leader with Scouts Canada and a preschool French Teacher. She lives with her husband Rob and son Christopher in Burlington.