Waitoa Kindergarten gets $160,000 upgrade

Piako folk were given the chance to see the $160,000 upgraded Country Kids Kindergarten when it held an open day on Friday.

According to teacher Paula Haddock the upgrades have made the kindergarten, located on the same site as Waitoa School, more suitable for the  2-to-5 year olds who are enrolled.

Ms Haddock said the renovations were  needed as the kindergarten recently changed its teaching licence allowing 40 children instead of 30.

“We’ve upgraded the playground and increased the indoor space as well as now having a much bigger sleeping room,” she said.

“The Kindergarten is now a better resourced centre and is now certainly set up for the appropriate age groups,” Ms Haddock said.

Piako Kindergarten Association chairperson Cassie Warburton said the planning started around 18 months ago.

“Our first input was too expensive and went back to the drawing board. It’s a big improvement from what we were in at the beginning.”

Ms Haddock also said all staff are qualified and registered teachers meaning pupils are looked after in a  qualified surrounding.

The kindergarten had its first week back for both students and teachers three weeks ago.

Ms Haddock said the teachers were all very excited as during the renovations they occupied a class room at the neighbouring Waitoa School.

Around 60 people turned up for the open day last Friday, and children happily ate their lunches while parents were taken around the kindergarten for a tour.

Ms Haddock also pointed out the new parts of the building to Piako Kindergarten Association chairperson Cassie Warburton and designer of the new playground Andrea Mead from GeoMetrix.

The upgrades began in June this year, and were generously paid for by the Piako Kindergarten Association.

The Country Kids Kindergarten also recently celebrated a milestone of being operational for four years as of the beginning of October.