School district finalizing child care center

Child care center will host two rooms, one for infants and another for older children
By: 
Luke Reimer
Reporter

For those in the Bowler area in need of child care, look no further than the Bowler School District.

The school district recently finished renovating part of the elementary school to be used as a child care center. The renovated area, now called Li’l Panthers Child Care, will house two separate rooms, one room for children from ages six weeks to two-and-a-half years and one room for children two-and-a-half to twelve years of age.

“We kind of knew it was a need for our community,” said Li’l Panthers Child Care Small Room Teacher Liana Mydy. “When this became an opportunity, it was something where — if we can help the community with taking care of kids so that they can work — it was a no brainer.”

Shelbi Schimelfining, who is the director and teacher of the Li’l Panthers Child Care Big Room, said that the program that is used in Bowler’s preschool curriculum was also an inspiration for the child care center.

“We have kind of heard the want for this through the school district,” said Schimelfining. “When our preschool has their play group on Friday, we have had parents say that it would be cool if Bowler had child care, because they wouldn’t have to worry about grandparents watching them all of the time, because most of them are farmers from around here and you can’t keep the kids in the house all of the time.”

Mydy took a personal point of view on the child care center, saying that as she and her husband are thinking about starting a family, she knows that there is an area for children to be safe and still learn while her husband and her work.

“For a person like me, who is planning on having kids, to have that security is comforting for me,” said Mydy. “So, if I can provide what I am feeling for everyone else — I hope everyone feels the same way that I do.”

The idea of opening a child care center has been in the mind of Bowler School District employees for a while as Superintendent Glenda Butterfield-Boldig noted that the school district was in the process of getting a care center open last May. Renovations on the school then began in June, according to Schimelfining. With two rooms available for children, dependant on age, she called the room for younger children an area for social exposure.

“A lot of kids group up all by themselves — if they are an only child, they don’t get that interaction,” said Schimelfining. “This really helps with all of that.”

In terms of the second room for older children, Mydy said that she will be assisting with developmental help for children before they are in kindergarten. She added that those children who are in school and between the designated ages will use the area for after school and summer school activities.

“It helps for more care for children to come here,” said Mydy.

In both of the rooms, Schimelfining and Mydy will lead children through lessons plans, similar to those in a teacher’s curriculum and will supervise various recreational activities.

“The most important way that they learn is through play,” said Schimelfining. “We do have circle time, where the kids will learn their colors, numbers and shapes. They will read and they will learn how to sit for awhile. Raising hands and manners are taught as well. We do have a curriculum book that is developed on their ages — if they don’t meet what is in the book, then we can work on those things with them and help them achieve that goal that they need.”

Schimelfining said that anyone within the Bowler community and surrounding area is welcome to fill out an enrollment paper and sign up for the child care. For those interested, calls can be made to the Bowler School District, (715) 793-4101 for more information. Those interested will also have to pay a $25 enrollment fee for their spot.


lreimer@newmedia-wi.com