by Carrie Moritz, Gazette
The new expansion at Blue Dragon Academy is officially opening this week, and to celebrate, area youth and their "dates" will be heading to Blue Dragon Academy for a Day with a Princess and Superhero dance.
Mother/son, father/daughter, and grandparent/grandchild pairs are encouraged to participate in this fun event, which will benefit the new expansion on the Blue Dragon Academy building.
"We've been so blessed with how this has all come together," said Garretson Childcare Corporation board member Kris Frerk. "I have spent a lot of time in prayer."
The 4,000-square-foot addition is having a soft opening this week, as the finishing touches are put in adjoining rooms and items are moved into the new addition. Blue Dragon Academy students enjoyed their first meal in the common room on Tuesday, showcasing the separate space for meals, a larger play area, and a place where the community will be invited to gather.
"We're always looking for volunteers," said Frerk. "Folks to rock babies, to help with meal prep, and now, they can come walk around the new space with little ones."
The addition was intentionally left open-concept. Blue Dragon Academy intends to run its before- and after- school programming in the new expansion, opening up a room on the other side to allow for more programming for toddlers.
During the day, while older children are in class, the younger children will use the space. During the summer, the center intends to run summer camp programming in the mornings for school-aged youth. They've been taking registrations for the camp program for approximately a month.
Future plans include providing a rental space for baby/wedding showers, family reunions and get-togethers, and more.
"We should be able to host about 64 people up there," Frerk said. She noted that round tables and chairs, along with a full kitchen, will be available as part of the rental possibilities. Other opportunities for budding entrepreneurs would be fitness classes such as yoga or Zumba, rec nights for youth groups, Bible studies, and dance classes.
"This is going to be a huge benefit to the community," Frerk added.
The new space also includes separate bathrooms, and does not immediately connect to the area where infants through pre-school children are cared for, which helps to keep everyone safe.
Once they have the staffing in place, the center will be able to accommodate another sixty students, which is helpful as they've been at capacity with a waiting list for the past three years.
They opened their doors to the new building in 2019 and will be celebrating four years on June 4. Prior to that, two daycares, Dragonland and Lil' Dreamers, had been under the non-profit Garretson Childcare Corporation, but were run in two separate facilities for several years. They merged into one facility with 80 students and opened their doors with 100 students enrolled for the summer in 2019, and are currently at 110 students.
The Day with a Princess or Superhero dance will be held on Sunday, April 2 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
"The public is invited, not just students of Blue Dragon Academy," said Executive Director Heidi Fink. The tickets, which are priced at $25 per pair or $30 at the door, will include photos by Photography by Ashley, hors d'voeures, and the dance in the new addition. Fink mentioned that pre-sale tickets are available for $20 at Jesse James Country Store.
On Facebook, Blue Dragon Academy is hosting a Summer Basket giveaway where one lucky winner will receive a ticket, a one-day entry to Wild Water West for two, and mini golf entry at Thunder Road. To enter, find the post on Facebook.com/GarretsonEarlyChildhood and share.
Sunday will also be the kick-off for their Spring Raffle, a benefit that has been successful each year. This year, they will have a John Deere lawn tractor, two half-a-hogs, and a hand-made quilt for raffle winners. The drawing will be held over Jesse James Days, the same weekend they will be holding the official Open House for the new addition.
All monetary donations to the Garretson Childcare Development are tax-deductible, and Frerk said the center has been extremely blessed with the support the community has shown.
"It is a first-class facility," she said. "It's amazing, other communities and centers call us, asking how we do it, asking for advice."
"I'd also like to commend the staff," Frerk continued. "It's been growing pains, dealing with the construction and the mud." Through all that, she said, they've been doing projects with the students and keeping the center running like a finely-tuned machine.
To purchase dance or raffle tickets, contact Blue Dragon Academy at (605) 594-KIDS or Venmo @bda2017, or stop in at the facility located at 701 1st St in Garretson. Rental inquiries may also be directed to the same phone number.
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