Well..... There sure has been a lot of curiosity as to when, where and how the newest Wanamingo Adventure is being played out! Ever since Larry and Joan Grove and Ole Olson purchased the elementary building in Wanamingo, people have been speculating.
So I am here to tell you, our community is going to love the renovations and ideas that have come to be called CORE824! Not just a Daycare center, or a community center, or a gym, but all of that and more! The new owners are full of ideas to make this an all inclusive part of our community in their plans for there will be a place to go and have some fun, as well as a much needed Daycare center for our little ones.
The staff have done their due diligence to find out what the needs of the community actually are. They have been working with a company that does a yearly survey in each county and then they also break it down per town, last year alone there were 56 children in Wanamingo in need of quality Daycare. Why is this an issue? Because the Daycares are filled to capacity and the rules are getting stricter. Some daycares have closed until they can get their business up to the new standards in their homes where they run their businesses.
Some may complain about the new rules, but please keep in mind this is for the safety of the children in their care.While some places were not up to code and in compliance with the state guidelines, this venue will get it right from the beginning, because without being up to par, they will not be able to open. But we all want our kids to be safe, right? So Golden Days has gone beyond the standard rules and implemented even more than they had to do. There will be 7 rooms dedicated to safety, cleanliness and nutritional needs of the kids. Each of the rooms will be equipped with cameras and fire escape doors. They will also have doors that will keep the children in the daycare separate from the part of the building that will be available to the public.The ProCARE is what app each family enrolled in the daycare will install on their phones so they are aware of any and everything the kids do at the center.
Through the app Parents will sign their children in and out, and know the menu for the day, and when and if the kids have naps, etc.
There is a USDA approved menu for breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks, and true to community spirit, Beulke's Greenhouse will supply some of the seasonal fruits and vegetables from their local farm! A shout out to the Beulkes for the nutritional support for our kids!
There will be 7 rooms available at the center to begin with, staffed by qualified local folks. Applications are rolling in, so if you are considering making this a career choice, get your application in soon! The rooms will be divided by age, so 2 rooms dedicated to infants, 2 rooms to toddlers, 2 to preschool age and 1 to school age. The hours of operation are 5:45 am to 6:15 pm. They will accept infants starting at 6 weeks and go through school age kids. The curriculum being used is called Frog Street.
Jill Swenson, who many of you know from the community, is now the office manager for CORE824. She was able to give me a lot of information about what is happening now, and what is to come. Stay tuned to the Messenger to find out more down the road. She was proud to say, "Ruthie has been busy doing the "back work" on this daycare project. She is the heart and soul of this program."
Ruthie Welgemoed told me one of the most important things besides the physical safety of the children is to keep everything clean. " I want my kids to be in a program where cleanliness is top priority to the staff," she said. "The center will sanitize the toys, etc, daily, not only once a week as protocol suggests. We are also implementing the ZONO machine, a disinfecting machine that kills germs and helps stop the spread of RSV and hand, foot & mouth disease."
There is a lot to see in this division of CORE824, so an Open House is planned for September 6th from noon to 5 pm. The public can come in and check out the rooms, the gym, and the curriculum.. You can register for daycare by filling out an application. Meet the staff, and ask your questions. Once your child is enrolled, there will be a media release form to share your preferences as to whether or not your child is permitted to be in any pictures taken at school. And they do accept county assistance payments for those in need.
One of the big questions I hear talked about around town is about the "Million Dollar" roof repair, so I had to ask about that. I learned that Ole Olson has recently retired from the roofing industry, and has hired a contractor he trusts to assess the needs of the building in that respect, so yes, they know what has to be done!
Keep in mind, this is only one of the 3 projects currently planned for the building. You can learn more, and follow the progress for updates and find out what else is in store! Go to their facebook page at Golden Days and Little Rays Daycare, or call them at (507) 824-5107 to find out more. And of course, the Messenger will have updates in the near future as well!
