news

2010 Enrolment Exceeds 2009

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 08:37:18 +0100

Last year we had just over 40 children attending the Angel Starfish Educare Centre. This year we have enrolled some 70 children and regretfull have had to turn a few away. The number of children an Early Childhood Development centre can accept is set out in the Children's Act and is determined by the size of the facility and the number of available care and education staff.

Goede Mensun & Choirs hit the right note!

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 08:33:25 +0100

The good people at Goede Mensen worked their magic again arranging a visit to the Angel Starfish Educare centre by the members of two Dutch choirs, Joyim (Joy in Music) and Next Generation.

The visit of the two choirs went off well. The choirs gave the children some sweets, a soccer ball and some exercise books and head... teacher,Gladys Marange gave them a "Thank You" card 'signed' by all the children.

The choirs handed over a donation during their visit to the centre of 2400 euros, which equates to R25,000. We are absolutely delighted to receive this donation which will help the centre increase its staff numbers and as a result improve the quality of care and education we are providing the children attending the centre.

Thank you Joyim and Next Generation and thank you Goede Mensen for bringig us together.

Winward Travel Making Valuable Connections

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 08:31:16 +0100

Cape Town travel company Windward Coaches have been supporting the Angel Starfish Educare Centre through a partnership with UK based tour company Explore that makes links between us and their customers.

Helen Golden a schoolteacher from England visited Hout Bay and brought some gifts with her for the Angel Starfish Educare Centre. We have now linked Helen with Elaine Maloney from the UK Charity - Angel Starfish Project and hope that Helen's school will help support our work through a small fundraising event.

Also linked to us was Vicky Jackson a UK civil servant who in addition to bringing some art materials for the centre also discussed returning later in the year as an international volunteer.

Our thanks to Windward and Explore for making these valuable connections.

Handing Down to the Centre

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 11:55:33 +0100

A big thanks to Melanie Lunn and her family for passing on to the Angel Starfish Educare Centre books, toys and clothes that their children have now grown out off. These are in excellent condition and will be greatfully appreciated by the Angel Starfish children.

Gifts of books, toys, and clothing suitable for children up to the age of six years of age that are in good condition are always welcomed at the centre. Those items we cannot use are passed on to other early childhood development providers so every item gifted finds a suitable home. Use the contact form on this website to let us know if you would like to make a donation.

Thank You & Happy Holidays

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 11:05:59 +0100

The Children, Parents, Staff and Management Committee of the Angel Starfish Educare Centre sent a big "Thank You" message to all their friends and supporters at their Christmas Party last week.

We took this picture to say thanks at the Children's Christmas Party. As you can see we had face painting and a visit from Father Christmas. We also enjoyed party games, songs, presents and lots of yummy party food.

We are closed for the holidays now and look forward to a next year at the Educare Centre.

To all our friends and supporters - "A big THANK YOU and best wishes for a Happy Holiday."

Summer Holidays & 2010 Enrolment

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:19:57 +0100

The Angel Starfish Educare Centre will be closed for the holidays from the 11th December 2009 and reopens for the children on the 13th January 2010. Parents or guardians wishing their children to attend the Angel Starfish Educare Centre next year will need to enrol their children at the centre on Monday 11th January or Tuesday 12th January between 8.00am and 3.00pm

The Educare Centre is only able to accept 50 children. Children enroled at the centre in 2009 receive priority for places provided they have completed enrolment by the 12th January 2010. Thereafter, enrolment of children at the centre is on a first come, first served basis. Please ensure you attend on the 11th or 12th January 2010 to complete enrolment.

The Tea Bag Lady

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:57:51 +0100

Recently the Sijonga Phambeli Community Education Centre held an official opening of the new building that houses a skills learning centre and the Angel Starfish Educare Centre. The management committee, staff, and some of the children from the Educare centre attended. This lady payed hostest for the evening and her dress and top hat were made from tea bags. Yes thats right dried tea bags that were then hand painted.

Angel Starfish Creche is now an Educare Centre

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:23:04 +0100

In August 2009 the Angel Starfish Creche moved into the new purpose built facilities at the Sijonga Phambeli Community Learning Centre.

The crèche started in a shack in Imizamo Yethu in 2000 and then from 2005 was hosted at the home of Tetile and Nonzwakazi (Gertrude) Sgwentu. The Sgwentu’s double garage converted into one classroom and another formed from a large wendy house. During this time Gertrude managed the crèche whilst Vuyiswa Mhlahlo and Zodwa Bobelo worked as care assistants.

In 2008 it was discovered that the crèche did not meet the requirements of the Children’s Act as it was contrary to regulations to operate a childcare facility in an area zoned for residential use. The Sijonga Phambili Community Education Centre responded to the need for an alternative venue and even agreed to include facilities for a child care centre in a new development being funded through a donation from the Netherlands and a National Lottery Award.

The crèche was also not compliant with legislation, It needed to have a proper governance structure, to formally register as a provider of early childhood development services and in order to raise funds and receive non taxable donations, register as a Non Profit Organisation (Charity).

The crèche is now known as the Angel Starfish Educare Centre as the new name better reflect its role as an early childhood development centre providing both childcare and the pre-school grade R curriculum. The Angel Starfish Educare Centre is now under the governance of a management committee and is staffed by a Principal Teacher, Gladys Marange and Care/Teaching Assistants Vuyiswa Mhlahlo and Zodwa Bobelo.

The management committee are currently completing the processes required to ensure legal compliance and registration as a provider of Early Childhood Development services, an employer and as a Non Profit Organisation.

Where possible we encourage donations to the Angel Starfish Educare Centre to be made though the Angel Starfish Project which is a registered UK charity. No donations should be sent to South African bank accounts previously used by the crèche. Organisations wishing to make donations in South Africa can contact the management committee through the website www.angelstarfish.com