Magic at Ruapehu creche

Ruapehu Bulletin, 22 June 1993, Page 8 (Supplement)

Magic at Ruapehu creche

Whakapapa Creche supervisor, Rose-Anna Schwamm, brings her own brand of magic to the centre this year. The energetic 24-year old arrived at the village two weeks ago, fresh from kindergarten teaching in Auckland. For Rose-Anna, who admits she's totally hooked on

skiing, combining career and recreation was an opportunity too good to miss! "It's the opportunity of a lifetime", she says, with obvious delight. The relative isolation of Whakapapa Village is a far cry from metropolitan Auckland where Rose-Anna, a qualified

teacher with a diploma in teaching early childhood, ran a dance studio in her spare time. While the ski field has recently opened for the 1993 season, RoseAnna has the Whakapapa Creche well and truly ready to receive her young guests. Her first task was to establish areas of play

throughout the spacious, warm, purposebuilt creche, including a safe outdoor play area. "I believe it is very important for children to have time out-doors", said Rose-Anna. "Parents who leave their children in care want to know that they (the children) are able to have a play in the snow, or can be collected for a ski lesson, then brought back to the creche." "It's important the children have a good day too." Rose-Anna' s philosophy of learning through play is coupled with her goal of ensuring children receive the "alpine experience" during their visit to the 'Magic Mountain'. A popular pastime is taking one and all to nearby Happy Valley's beginner's slopes, for fun on the creche 's enormous sled. The emphasis is on educational play, with plenty to stimulate young minds. And for the youngSters who have skied all day and want to relax, a 'quiet corner' with a television and video recorder, plus plenty of cushions, are available. The creche caters for up to 30 children, aged

2-6 years. Cost is $7 per hour per child, or a day rate of $28. Parents can also nominate to pay for 10 half days and receive a 20 percent discount.

Rose-Anna is assisted by Seena Moxham, a qualified kindergarten teacher from Taupo. As well as indulging her skiing passion,

Rose-Anna is learning German and French, with the intention of travelling to or around Europe at the end of the season.