Kinder opened

THE renovation of Wonthaggi’s White Road kindergarten has been completed.
The new centre was officially opened last Thursday.
A community room and children’s room has been added to the existing building to increase the kinder’s capacity.
This allows the children to spend the required 15 hours a week at the kinder.
The original room has also been refurbished for a more up to date feel.
The State Government’s Department of Education and Early Development funded $300,000 towards the project and the Bass Coast Shire Council contributed $150,000.
The greatest achievement came from the local community, that ensured more than $100,000 went towards the expansion.
The facility was built by local business TS Constructions.
Whilst construction was underway last year, the kinder continued to operate, forcing the need for a tight schedule.
Stage one was completed before the end of the term three. Children were using the original room and had to be shifted into the new room to make way for refurbishing.
Stage two was completed by Christmas to ensure all relevant requirements had been achieved.
“It is a fantastic, fresh and modern facility,” Bass Coast Shire Council mayor Cr Neil Rankine said.
Last year, the government announced 15 hours was the optimum amount of time children should spend at kinder. Previously, only 11 hours were required.
The expansion will ensure room use will not be restricted due to the extended hours.
Only two four year old kinder groups could be accommodated in the past. Now room capacity allows for four groups and enrolments have since increased.
“The children love it,” assistant kinder teacher Claire McRae said.
“They’ve pretty much utilised the entire building.”
It is a credit to the staff and community that will benefit current and future children.

Past students: Estella and Chloe attended the kindergarten when construction was underway last year.

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Posted by Sarah Vella on Feb 25 2014. Filed under Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry