24/06/2024
❣️After 16 wonderful years, it is with a mix of emotions that I share the news that this was our last graduation celebrated in our Ballinvoher service as we close the doors this coming July.😇
As I reflect on this journey, I am filled with immense gratitude towards the children, parents, grandparents, local community, neighbours, friends, family and childminders who have been a part of our preschool community. Your support, friendship and trust have been the reason for our success. Oisin was there at every hurdle supporting me and encouraging me to continue to grow the service. The children loved to see him coming in the door. He brought alot of laughter and fun creating memories for the children.🥰
We began in the sitting room of our home in 2008 and for many years we provided a home away from home. I loved welcoming the children each morning, we had so much fun and I have so many wonderful memories.I was so fortunate to have had all three of our children in my classroom over the years. Friendships blossomed as their life long educational journey had begun. As the demand grew I opened a second room across the hall for the younger children in the area. There was no burden of admin, the regulations were realistic and we had one inspector. It meant our time was spent with the children teaching kindness, respect, and nurturing their social and emotional development in a home away from home environment.💓
In 2012 we were granted planning permission to construct a purpose built classroom. We moved out there in the September and again another extension in 2016 where we built a second room. The bears and the Cubs now each had their own space.
The Forever Friends community continued to grow as we then moved the classroom in our home to Coolarne N.S down the road after 10 years.
The last few years running both services since covid became difficult. Many changes came about from regulations, administration and insurance hikes. And so this year with alot of deliberation I made the difficult decision to close the Ballinvoher service💔
I have spent years of my summers teaching children through July provision and home tuitions and loved our preschool summer camps. This will continue and the Forever Friends journey will continue at Coolarne N.S where I am very lucky to have a beautiful classroom with a fabulous outdoor area.
I have so many wonderful staff to thank for this especially to Ann Flynn for her 10 years with us at Forever Friends . You poured your heart into creating a nurturing environment for all children. All of our staff down through the years made a lasting impact on every child who walked through our doors. My team this year Mary T, Yvonne,Tracy, Maureen and Josephine, thank you for getting me through this past year while I went back to college.The children have been very lucky to have you everyday, nurturing them and creating a wonderful environment for them to grow.🤩
We have had so many high points from excellent DES inspections, to Healthy Ireland awards, school tours to Turoe pet farms and graduations days and during covid when the easter bunny visited every house. The progress we saw in the children and their achievements has brought me great joy and pride. Seeing these children today going onto college, completing driving lessons and travelling the world, I love to hear the stories of where they all are now. Our lows were the untimely loss of some of our wonderful and dedicated parents and grandparents RIP. ❤️
As we close this chapter of our journey at Ballinvoher, we hold onto the cherished memories and the incredible impact we have had on the lives of the children who have graced our preschool and the people who became our Forever Friends.
From both Oisin and I we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being a part of this incredible journey.
Forever Friends 💓
Cora.
