Happy Time Daycare to Reopen Monday as New Beginnings

Lori Moritz believes everything happens for a reason.

Today, as she opens the doors of the to parents and prospective students, she knows the center was meant to be.

"I’ve said it before, but things really do happen for a reason,” said Moritz, former director of the Happy Time Daycare and Preschool.  “There’s no doubt in my mind that this was the right thing to do.”

On Aug. 19, officials housed in the in Waukee, that they would be out of a job unless they agreed to adhere to a new Christian Lifestyle Agreement. The agreement would mostly eliminate staff members who were non-Christian, sexually-active or homosexual from working in the church's new child-care center.

Moritz, among others, was also let go. She said the desire to do something – anything - for those teachers and parents left without options was immediate.

“There were a couple of people that approached us right away and asked if they could help us get something going,” she said. “I knew I wanted to do something and this was what I wanted to do. I just said, ‘If I do this, I want to do it my way.’”

And she did. Moritz quickly found temporary space in the former Waukee Elementary building at 400 Locust St. Soon after, donations and support started rolling in.

“It was crazy,” Moritz said. “There were so many people that donated things, just boxes of stuff. We’re better off now than we were before.”

Moritz said the name – New Beginnings – was more than just a cute name for a child-care center. She said it means a fresh start for many of the staff members, parents and students who made up the Happy Time family.

Nicole Nicholson is one of those parents. Her daughter, Hadley, 21 months, used to go to Happy Time and is already enrolled at New Beginnings, scheduled to open officially Sept. 26. 

“I’m so happy about it (New Beginnings) I can’t even believe it,” Nicholson said. “I probably take it too seriously, but I really trusted the people at Happy Time. We developed relationships there. They guided me as a new mom. These were people I wanted to watch my daughter.”

Nicholson said she kept a close eye on what would happen after the beloved daycare closed. She said knowing Moritz is behind the resurrection of the daycare makes her feel better about the whole experience.

“It’s the absolute best it can be under Lori,” she said. “Hadley has only been away from her friends for a month or so. We’re excited for her to get back onto a schedule and the structure of a daycare.”

Moritz said the New Beginnings Childcare and Preschool is currently accepting registration and will have space for 114 students, ages 6 weeks to pre-K.

Tuition will start at $163 for full-time students (depending on age). There will also be part-time care offered. Registration is open. There is a $50 registration fee to enroll.

New Beginnings will host an open house tonight (Tuesday) for prospective students from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the new location. For more information, contact Lori Moritz at (515) 205-4738 or (515) 619-0399 or by e-mail at lmoritz20@yahoo.com.