Great Bay Kids' Company opens at Pease Tradeport
By Abbie Hackett business@seacoastonline.com January 29, 2010 2:00 AM
PORTSMOUTH - Great Bay Kids' Company opened its doors for the first time Wednesday at its new Pease Tradeport location as program administrator Cathy DeWees, excitedly cried, "We've got babies!"
The new center is the third location operated by GBKC, a nonprofit organization providing child care for children age 6 weeks through preschool year-round, and through age 12 during its summer program. The Pease location joins long-established centers in Newmarket and Exeter, and is the only location enrolling infants.
AT A GLANCE
Great Bay Kids' Company
Services: Nonprofit organization providing child care for children age 6 weeks through preschool year-round, and through age 12 during its summer program.
Address: 81 New Hampshire Ave., Pease Tradeport in Portsmouth
Phone: 766-5437
Web: www.greatbaykids.org
"Our philosophy is that the child comes first," said Wendy Monroe, executive director of GBKC for the past 10 years.
Monroe said the center is licensed to enroll up to 270 children including the summer program, and stressed the increased demand for infant care, calling it a "huge need."
The Pease location's new 24,000-square-foot structure, designed by DeStefano Architects of Portsmouth, sits atop a hill at 81 New Hampshire Ave. The building's exterior resembles what a hybrid of an old-fashioned, one-room schoolhouse would look like if it were combined with an industrial barn. Another distinction is that the red building is also green. Monroe said the center uses a geothermal heating and cooling system.
"It's energy-efficient and money-saving," Monroe said.
GBKC puts its philosophy into practice with its infant/young toddler wing that promotes a shoe-free environment and features a stroller closet, two infant rooms joined by a softly lighted nap room, and two young toddler rooms. There is also a kitchenette with a refrigerator, sink and microwave for storing breastmilk and mixing bottles. The classrooms are named chicks, fawns, ducklings and lambs.
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