Nieuws

The parents of the children attending the pre-school in the premises of the IPSA (International Primary School Almere) can all attest how extraordinary the teachers have been in terms of educating, caring and nurturing our children, but we also understand the financial reasons behind this business decision (less pupils in the waiting list + a high rent), which is why we proposed the current provider, Partou, to consider these alternatives before closing the pre-school:

1. Starting from September, opening the pre-school with 8 kids per 1 teacher (respecting thus the ratio for this specific age group) with a waiting list for additional applications. The 2nd teacher would be reintroduced once the desired number of students was reached. In September we have 8 children; some want to stay for an extended period of time;

2. Parent participation: one parent would be present at the location every day in order to assist the teacher whenever needed;

3. A (more aggressive) marketing campaign: almost nobody knows the pre-school exists. At the Almere Gemeente website, as an example, there is no mention of this pre-school at all. We recommended an open day every quarter, marketed across expat groups and forums, informing everyone about the school and its benefits, in order to boost applications. The first open day could be held in July before the expected end of school. The parents were willing to help advertising not only the pre-school but also the open day;

4. If feasible, opening a BSO at the location in the afternoons to boost profits and somehow compensate for the pre-school lowest months;

Partou believes these suggestions are good, but the rent is still too high. The parents have tried to get a reaction from the Gemeente, but haven't managed to get one yet. We do not ask for subsidies, but the Gemeente has a say in this matter. We are sure that "where there is a will, there is a way".

There are no bilingual pre-schools or centers where English can be taught to children of these ages, so we will keep on looking into all possibilities to keep this facility open.

Op 12 maart 2018 heeft de politie op een meer in Liessel (de Brink) met sonar gezocht naar de auto van Piet. Die beelden worden op dit moment geanalyseerd om te kijken of de auto mogelijk deels onder het zand ligt.

Samen met de online petitie heeft de handtekeningenactie ca. 1800 handtekeningen opgeleverd tegen de sluiting van beschermd wonen in Hoogkerk.

Met trots maken wij bekend dat onze nieuwe site online is. Zie hier de site: 4johan.ga We gaan de komende tijd bezig om de site zo compleet mogelijk te maken..

Een journalist voor de Amersfoort pagina van het AD belde me vanochtend op en stelde een aantal vragen. Zij gaf aan zelf ook met de gemeente te praten.

Aanstaande woensdag komt er een gesprek met wethouder Buijtelaar. Ik ga dat doen samen met mede-zwemmer Arriën Kruyt.

Op 9 maart startte de Oosterhoutse Claudia Pijpers een online een petitie voor verbetering van de hondenvoorzieningen in onze gemeente. Inmiddels is de petitie al bijna 400 keer getekend.

Op 9 maart j.l. hebben we de petitie aangeboden aan de twee wethouders van de twee betrokken gemeenten.

For many years the volunteers from the electric museum trams are putting a lot of effort to keep the old trams going. Because of new builds they have to leave the place where they stayed so many years. This would mean the end of the museum tram. We want the city to give them their own space. The best is when they could stay, but another place would do.