It's New Beginnings for Old Happy Time Daycare

There was nothing happy about the way the Happy Time Daycare closed its doors in August.

On Aug. 19, church officials , housed in the Point of Grace Church 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.

Just a few weeks later, the child-care center has been resurrected. What was once Happy Time is now New Beginnings Daycare and Preschool. The new center will open Sept. 26.

"We’re just really looking forward to a new beginning," said New Beginnings director and former Happy Time director Lori Moritz.  "Things happen for a reason. I think this was the reason."

Moritz said the New Beginnings Daycare and Preschool, now located in the old Waukee Elementary School at 400 Locust St. in downtown Waukee, will have space for 114 students ages 6 weeks to pre-K (age 5 or 6).

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 for prospective students on Tuesday, Sept. 20 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the new location. For more information, contact Lori Moritz at (515) 205-4738 or by e-mail at lmoritz20@yahoo.com.