First Steps Children's Centre
"A Centre of Excellence"
Special Events at First Steps Children's Centre
"All Ireland Centre of Excellence" Awards
at the Culloden Hotel, Belfast
First Steps Children's Centre, Killen, Castlederg was one of only four full Day-care services in Northern Ireland (and the ONLY community based Day-care) to receive accreditation at the All Ireland Centre of Excellence Awards in 2012.
Presentation of awards took place at a gala dinner in the Culloden Hotel, Belfast and Centre Manager, Dolores Crowe and Assistant Manager, Heather Montgomery (now Mrs Morrison) accepted the award on behalf of First Steps. Almost all staff members also attended the gala dinner and had a lovely night.
Awards were presented by Junior Minister, Jonathan Bell MLA after short speeches by Siobhan Fitzpatrick, chief Executive of Early Years, the organisation for young children and Teresa Heeney, Director of operations at Early Childhood Ireland.
It is a great honour to be one of only 4 groups in Northern Ireland to receive this prestigious award and the first "Community" based facility to be awarded this accolade in the six year history of the All Ireland Centre of Excellence Awards.
Parents using the facilities at First Steps can be reassured, more than ever, that they are receiving the highest quality childcare avaiable for their children.
Official Opening of Out of Schools & Programme for 2 year Olds (New Wing) at First Steps by Lady Moyra Campbell.
The official opening of the new wing at First Steps children's Centre took place on Friday 30th November 2012. Lady Moyra Campbell performed the opening ceremony, with guests from Early Years & Rainbow SureStart as well as Councillors/MLA representatives, local business people, primary school principals, architect and members of First Steps committees. It was a double celebration as it was 21 years since First Steps Community Pre-School was founded.
In her speech Lady Moyra Campbell spoke of her admiration for Dolores (Centre Manager) and praised her vision and commitment in providing the best Educare possible for young children, giving them the best start in life. She spoke of the enormous benefits of having a Centre of Excellence, such as First Steps, available in the rural North West and felt Ireland was "leading the way" in Educare for young children.
This was re-enforced in speeches made by Yvonne Tracey (Rainbow SureStart Co-ordinator), Cherry Keatley (Chairperson of First Steps Community Pre-School), Derek Hussey (Councillor - SDC), Tom Buchanan (MLA), Andrena Faulkner (Ex-princcial Killen P.S.) and David Crawford (current Principal Killen P.S.)
Refreshments were served by Elsie Loughlin and a celebratory cake was cut, Lady Moyra also cut a ribbon at the door of the new wing which was held by Ava (a pupil from St. Francis of Assissi P.S. and Dylan a pupil from Edward's P.S.), Lady Moyra was presented with a "thank you" Gift by Courtney ) a pupil from Killen P.S.