New era for Waiouru childcare

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 680, 1 April 1997, Page 3

New era for Waiouru childcare

With a new teacher, a new committee and a new year, staff at the Waiouru Childcare Centre are looking forward to new programme planning and plans for staff development. Supervisor Julia Martin, along with the other staff members Debbie Maher, Michelle Nicholls, and Lisa Foster, would like to welcome Cindy Hammond to the Centre as Assistant Supervisor. Ms Hammond has seven years' teaching experience in Waiouru pre-school facilities. She replaces Sharon Boyce who moved to Christchurch as a result of her husband's posting there. The annual general meeting which was held in November last year resulted in Murray Foster taking over the president's position for the centre' s committee. Mr Foster has already initiated a fundraising campaign for the purchase of new equipment. The centre is keen to have some larger pieces of indoor/outdoor equipment which will encourage co-operative play among the children. The centre is open from 7.30am to 5pm, five days a week and is licensed to care for a total of 37 children. A before-and after-school programme is available in the school house for up to 15 children. Ms Martin also said that because the centre is a licensed facility, Income Support Service offers a childcare subsidy for single-parent and low-income families. Up to nine hours or three sessions per week of subsidised childcare would be available for those families whose income falls within certain categories. For example, if your family qualified for the maximum subsidy rate and had only one child, then it would only cost $7.50 per week for your child to attend three sessions. Subsidised full-time care may be available if the parent is in paid employment or attending an approved education or training course. If you have any questions about care for your child/ children, then please contact Julia Martin at the Centre on telephone 3876-657.