26/06/2016
So as we begin the final countdown to the closure of Smarties Pre¬-School we have a few people to thank. Smarties opened in 1998 with an array of staff that helped us settle down and feel our feet in our new exciting project. In 2000 three new staff members arrived. Two of which were parents whose children had joined us and they agreed to ‘help out’ until their children had settled down. Their ‘helping out’ turned into training and a 16 year stay! So to Cheryl, Lesley and Mel we thank you so much for your support over the years. For going that extra mile during tough times and on occasion working for free until ‘our baby’ was back on its feet. Also for your generosity, often paying or supplying things that the children required to reach their next goal. So thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You truly are a blessing from which the children have benefited greatly, from both your generosity and your dedicated input.
Also, thank you to all of our children who over the years have been dragged out of bed to come and help during unplanned staff shortages. Rest assured your lie in is safe. We won’t be calling you again! (Jennie enjoyed it so much she trained and stayed with us!) However, we are pretty sure that your experience at Smarties has set the foundation for a future with your own children. Where the word no cannot and will not be changed through unacceptable behaviour, where cuddles are a lovely experience that shouldn’t be cut short, where looking at your phone may cause you to miss a treasured moment with your child and where treats are for special times and not the norm. We truly are grateful for your help and are very proud of the people you have become today.
Next to our parents and carers, who through word of mouth have kept us going for `16 years’! Very few of the children coming through our doors came from our advertising but from your recommendations! Which in this day and age we feel is an amazing feat. We have laughed and we have cried with you, but truly we hope that we have supported you. We have some memories we will treasure and thankfully very, very few bad ones. So thank you for your unwavering support and forgiving us when your child came back home with paint, glue, sand, foam, beans, tomatoes, mud, spaghetti or other unmentionable things in unmentionable places!
We also need to thank Norton Canes Community Centre for housing us over these years. Particularly the last few, when a breath of fresh air called Wendy McGreevy arrived with a few friends. They breathed life back into the Community Centre and together they turned the Community Centre around, with it now nearly fully booked! So if you want our mornings you best get in quick! They have amazing ideas for all ages to enjoy and experience. Their personal time spent at the Community Centre is pure dedication considering they all work voluntarily! If there is any ‘Dedication to the Community Award’ we nominate Wendy and her team!
Finally and most importantly, to the children that have been to Smarties. To keep your experience with us interesting and unique has given us the greatest of challenges but you have given us the ultimate rewards. Watching you grow has given us an amazing sense of pride and a wealth of experience we will never forget.
So thank you to all of our families past and present. We hope you will all join us at The Vic on 22nd July at 7pm on our final day. After then the children will be…” All fine and all yours!”
Much Love and Appreciation
Karen and Tricia
