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 . Our team members come with backgrounds in music, the arts, sports, or physical fitness
and each has ​their own unique passions that they bring to Block 8. 
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 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

Danita is both an entrepreneur and a mother, and has spent many years in the BC swimming and Canadian National Rowing Team worlds.  

With a  BCOMM majoring in computer science, from UBC, she spent many years in software development.  Now, however, she has chosen a more flexible career which has her  devoting her time to setting up childcare instead of information systems (although they truly have many similarities!).  Having been an athlete and coach at various levels, she enjoys motivating groups of children to attain the highest level of performance possible, understanding that achieving excellence is a state of mind.  

​Her experience with Canadian and Estonian National Rowing teams has given her insights into different motivational techniques and how they can apply to different individuals.  ​

Katherine 

Child and Youth Care Worker

While raising her own three children, Katherine earned diplomas in Child and Youth Care and in Early Childhood Education Assistance and graduated top of her class in 2016. She is also trained in Behavioural Intervention, non-violent crisis intervention and first aid. Katherine’s practicum program 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 18 years has been fundamental in hands-on experience.

Miss 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.   

Fitnat 

Child Care Worker

​Having lived in Ghana, the UK and Germany, before moving to Canada, communication and cultural diversity have had an important influence in Miss Fitnat’s role as an educator.  Miss Fitnat is a certified ESL teacher. She believes that every child loves learning new life skills; “Our role as educators is to assist children along their journey of discovery". Miss Fitnat has worked with kids and youth in theatre and festivals. She enjoys sharing her lifelong love of books, the arts and learning, with kids of all ages. A fun fact about Miss Fitnat is that she is a certified tea sommelier who is passionate about sharing her love of teas, its cultural history and health benefits! 
As a lover of languages she is currently teaching herself Korean. 
Miss Fitnat holds degrees in Education and Anthropology and studied at Oxford Brookes University and SOAS (London).

Cassedi 

Child Care Worker

​Our world traveller Miss Cassedi has worked with children all over the globe including Ghana, Nicaragua, and the Dominion Republic. She has taught English and Spanish to children from preschool age to teens.

Miss Cassedi works very well with our Block 8 students, especially one on one. She is always very focused and engaged with the children, listening, supporting and guiding them.

Miss Cassedi also works as a yoga instructor and has a BA in Physical Therapy. 

Viraj 

Child Care Worker

Calm and composed, Viraj comes to us with a background as an Assistant at a Preschool. 

The younger children at Block 8 love playing board games and Lego with Mr. Viraj while the older kids enjoy playing outside with him.

Viraj is now studying Engineering at SFU, and brings his background in structures and science, to his science lessons at Block 8.

Nicole

Child Care Worker

Nicole is currently working towards diplomas for Classroom and Community Support as well as Disability and Applied Behaviour Intervention.

​Nicole also has her High Five certification (principles of healthy child development) as well as her Leader in Training certification. Before coming to Block 8, Nicole worked as a camp counsellor and volunteered as a mentor for troubled and neglected children. She brings a very compassionate and calm energy to Block 8 and she often works as one-on-one support for some of our students. 

Nicole also enjoys painting, photography and hiking on her free-time.

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Addie

Addie is a very energetic member of Block 8 and loves organizing creative outdoor activities for the kids. She has extensive experience playing and coaching soccer and often participates in sports games with the kids - which they really enjoy! Before coming to Block 8, Addie also worked with kids as an Assistant Program Leader for the City of Burnaby. 

Addie loves creating art with the kids in unconventional ways such as bubble art or splatter paint!

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Child Care Worker

Hailey

Child Care Worker

Hailey is a very patient and loving staff member at Block 8. She loves music and sometimes brings her ukulele to do a sing-along with the kids. She also introduced the story-telling game Mad Libs to some of the kids which they really seem to enjoy!​

Before coming to Block 8, Hailey worked as an Elementary Basketball Coach and tutored a little girl with a learning disability. Hailey is currently in University with plans to become a Graphic Designer in the future. She also runs a small freelance graphic design business in her freetime!



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