By Gina T. Reilly
Access to daycare service can be scarce on Guam, where several working parents are typically waitlisted for at least six months, sometimes uncertain if they would clinch a slot for their children at all.
Longtime educator Jenneth Rosario hopes to fill the gap in childcare by opening the Shining Stars Early Childhood Academy in Tamuning.
Rosario is also the current director of Shining Stars Learning and Development Center in Dededo.
The new Shining Stars facility in Tamuning caters to children, ranging from newborn to 14 years old.
With 3,000-sqft space, the center is located at 135 Pale Murphy Street. It has 11 colorful rooms that can accommodate up to 70 children, who need a place to stay after school while their parents are still at work.
Rooms are separated according to age groups: infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers and after-school students.
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The facility has been renovated to meet current standards and compliance with federal laws such as ample space for social distancing and in-place sanitizers and temperature checkers in all rooms.
Rosario has hired seven certified educators, who have attended a series of training at Guam Community College and online courses.
Besides the education modules designed to develop learning, the academy allows children to spend time in the playground, which is fully fenced
and filled with a variety of structures to keep the children busy.
“A well-balanced curriculum and activities to introduce early math, language, arts, and social skills are part of our variety of projects and activities. We also have days for field trips as part of our summer fun program,” said Rosario, who has more than two decades of experience in education as a teacher and daycare center director.
“Our daycare center is not only an alternative but we are also striving to provide a safe environment of care, love, support and respect. We can assure parents that their children will be taken care of by our educated, dedicated and responsible educators,” Rosario said.
She said daily activities include arts and crafts, music, math and reading. The daycare center provides an environment to help children develop problem-solving skills and encourage them to be adventurous and have flexible social skills.
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