Meet Our Team

The Block 8 Team is made up of a diverse group of members who all share a passion for guiding and supporting children . We hold degrees in Education, Psychology, Business and Early Childhood Education. Some are also educated in Behavioural Intervention and Special Education. Our multicultural, multi-generational team combines experience and energy to ensure our students are ​engaged, educated.. and having fun!

 Each team member has a valid first aid certificate and has completed training in child development. 

Cindy Sepp

Owner,  Teacher

Cindy is a BC certified teacher who is known for her innovative techniques of combining games, field trips, music, stories and learning.  Cindy has led children on international trips while teaching about cultural differences and has delivered musical productions while instilling musical knowledge, leadership qualities and organizational skills in the students.  Currently pursuing her certificate in Intercultural Studies, Cindy has lived, worked, photographed and studied the local culture in 4 different countries.  Her stories keep children entertained while they gain an understanding of how vast the cultural differences can be within our city and our world.

​Miss Cindy's goal is to create opportunities for learning while the students play, do artwork, make and listen to music, and engage in physical activities. Cindy has her ARCT from the Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music and uses Orff and Kodaly methodologies combined with folk songs in her teaching.  

Danita Sepp

Owner

After spending many years in the corporate world as a Business Analyst, only working with kids coaching swimming and rowing, Danita decided to switch to a career where she could spend more time with her kids as they grew up.  She joined forces with her sister Cindy, and started Block 8 Academy.  Block 8 provided her the opportunity to develop innovative programs, and have her kids attend at the same time.  

Danita has enjoyed working with other community organizations - from Port Moody Arts Centre (Block 8's first home) to Port Moody Museum,  to the Ribfest organizers.  Partnering with these groups has allowed the Block 8 leadership classes to run their own booth at Ribfest, create and sell artworks for Winter Treasures (Port Moody Arts Centre) and run a gigantic Lemon Aid Stand at Golden Spike Days!!  She looks forward to the future Block 8 programs, as they now expand more fully into the preschool age ranges.

Roxanne

Child Care Worker,
​Accounts Manager

Roxanne is one of our most creative staff members! She loves to organize unique, hands-on projects with the kids and go exploring around the community. 

Miss Roxanne worked as a Watershed Educator/Community Artist and was also a Chep Program Coordinator at Youth Co. Through that, she designed and presented workshops to spread awareness about Hepatitis C at youth events. Roxanne also has a diploma in Criminology and has plans to use her diploma to help troubled children grow and develop through creative expression.

Roxanne is also an author of a children’s book called “Mermaids Can and Do have Tattoos” about tattoos, self-image, and loving yourself. 



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Katherine 

​Program Administrator,
Supervisor &
Child and Youth Care Worker

While raising her own three children, Katherine is back at school, majoring in Education with a focus on working with special needs kids. In 2016,  she graduated top of her class earning diplomas in Child and Youth Care and in Early Childhood Education Assistance. She is also trained in Behavioural Intervention, and non-violent crisis intervention. Katherine’s work in School District 41 gave her experience developing activity-based programs while mentoring individual students.

Though her schooling is integral to her capability of supporting children, her passion in raising her own children for over 20 years has been fundamental in hands-on experience.

Ms Katherine provides a supportive environment for children and youth and has been recognized for abundant patience and ability to maintain calm in the midst of crisis. She is compassionate and inclusive with personal experience being supportive of children and youth in the LGBTQ+ community.   

Zeynab

​Preschool- Daycare Supervisor
​& Child Care Worker

Miss Zeynab's career working with children began when she was a kindergarten teacher in Tehran. After a short time of amazing implementing multiple music and art-related activities that expanded her students' creativity, she was promoted to the administration position. She then managed training teachers and developed creative and fruitful curriculums.

Growing up, Ms Zeynab spoke English, Persian, and Arabic at home which made her familiar with teaching cultural differences. She is currently working on her MBA degree at Trinity Western University.

Ms. Zeynab enjoys being a childcare worker with Block 8 and creates a trusted atmosphere through sensitivity to students' strengths, weaknesses, and personal learning styles.

Corey

Helen

Cathy

Child Care Worker & Driver

​Miss Corey is coming back to her roots in Early Childhood Education and Outdoor Summer Camp work as she happily joins the Block 8 community!

During her 25 year hiatus from ECE, she raised four amazing adult children who taught her everything she knows about the world. She has lots of experience in  entrepreneurship and has always been an activist supporting women and children around the globe and in Canada.

Miss Corey felt a pull to nature and children and when the pandemic happened, she found Block 8 and aligned with their values and vision for Before and After School Care.

Corey loves nature, hiking, yoga, writing, making music, and dogs. She is known for working on communication and language with children to create a sense of autonomy and knowing their own voice. ​

Early Childhood Educator

Growing up in a large family cultivated Ms. Helen's patience and a deep love for children.

Experiencing a less advanced early childhood education system in Vietnam underscored the vital role of nurturing children from an early age. Witnessing children primarily sent to daycare for basic needs, she became passionate about creating enriching environments for their development. As a dedicated Early Childhood Educator, Helen channels her knowledge and heart into guiding children's soft skills. Teaching and learning go hand in hand for her, as she imparts values while embracing the diverse personalities, cultures, and learning styles of each child, acknowledging the insightful lessons children can offer through their unique perspectives.
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“While you are teaching, you are always learning,” This emphasises that the act of teaching is a continual journey of personal and professional growth; this is a journey that the educator hopes to encourage each child to experience while developing their own lifelong love of learning.

Early Childhood Educator

Ms Cathy's bio is coming soon!

Tatiana

Childcare Worker
​& Driver

Children are positive, resilient and unique and Ms Tatiana values the special qualities of each child in her care. 
Ms Tatiana has a passion for creating a safe space and supporting children who have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences. After learning of the important role that high quality childhood educators can play in the support and enrichment of children experiencing ACES, Ms Tatiana has been pursuing an education in the field so she may use her own experiences to further aid children and families. ​

Ms Tatiana graduated with a double dogwood and is currently in her third year at Western University with plans to work in paediatric orthopaedics.

​Jillian

Asees

Childcare Worker

Miss Jillian discovered her passion for childcare when she began volunteering at community centers and elementary schools at age 14. This has led her to study Early Childhood Education. She is determined to learn new things and she is constantly finding ways to improve.  

Singing and music are other passions she’s always had and she hopes to share the joy of music with young children. Miss Jillian is excited to be working at Block 8 Academy! 

Childcare Worker
​& Driver

Ms Asees has been working with Block 8 for a year! The kids love her energy and ideas. While working with Block 8, Asees has been working and studying hard to achieve her Early Childhood Educator Diploma. She works as one of our drivers, with our preschool age kids and with our school age kids! 

Miss Asees loves playing and crafting with kids of all ages!

Narges

Childcare Worker
& Driver

"Ms Narsis" has earned a bachelor degree in music and is just wrapping up her schooling to be a registered Early Childhood Educator at Vancouver Career College.

Ms Narsis's aim as a music and daycare teacher involves nurturing a passion for music in children while creating a supportive learning space that promotes overall child development. She strives to ignite creativity, encourage self-expression, and cultivate a lasting love for music. Ms Narsis's personality traits encompass creativity, patience, enthusiasm, adaptability, strong communication skills, a nurturing demeanor, and a deep passion for both music and childcare. Being organized, empathetic, and skilled at engaging children in diverse learning experiences are also key aspects to her approach with children.

Rafael

Child Care Worker &
​Tumbling Instructor

Mr Rafael started to deepen his knowledge of child development when he had the most wonderful experience of his life- becoming a father.

His journey in the academic environment started in Brazil where he was a gymnast for 16 years. After this experience, he began coaching children between 4 and 15 years old helping to support their physical and socio-emotional skills through sports- this helped to improve their quality of life.

Mr. Rafa loves to teach children in a playful way while helping them to overcome their challenges and working as a team.

Mr Rafa holds over 152 titles in Brazil, including the Brazilian championship 3 times, 2nd place 2 times, and 14th place in the world championship in South Africa.

Gymnastics is considered the 2nd most technical sport in the world and the base of learning consists of persistence, resilience, and discipline which Mr. Rafa believes are very great values for kids to develop.

Braeden

Childcare Worker
​& Driver

Braeden’s career working with children began as a swim coach and lifeguard. At the age of 18, he moved to an isolated town called Norman Wells where he was head lifeguard and pool coordinator. He also appreciated the amazing opportunity to live in this isolated northern community that is accessible only by flying in, by boating in along the MacKenzie River, or by the winter highway once everything is frozen.

As a child living in Thailand, Braeden discovered his love of hip hop. Once back in Canada he began training semi professionally in all styles, going on to join Harbour Dance Centre’s Intensive Training Program after high school. This introduced him to the professional and commercial side of dance. He was accepted into a semi professional hip hop team – TwoFourSeven Company, where he has been training, competing and creating projects for the past three years.

Mr. Braeden enjoys being a child care worker with Block 8, as well as a hip hop instructor.