Bye bye flu season!
Q3 is over and so is the flu epidemic. That's quite an achievement! The quarter started with summer as the absolute highlight. Lots of children came to Op Stoom during the holidays, endless sunny days and super fun activities, which the children and all colleagues thoroughly enjoyed. That seems like a bygone era now, because then September arrived and brought with it a truly remarkable flu season. For weeks, some of our staff were under the weather due to the flu, and it took all our efforts to keep Op Stoom running. Many staff members stepped up, and the group staff helped out by working extra shifts. And we succeeded, because all our groups remained open , so you could bring your child and go to work.
The staff shortage continues to plague us, with and without a flu season, but that's nothing new. It's better to take a look at the wonderful little things about Op Stoom below, because they always make everyone happy.
Greetings from Linda & Renate
Afterschool care during the holidays. This is what we do.
During the summer- and fall holidays, it was great to be at our afterschool care! The children had all day to do crafts, bake, play outside, build, read and so on.
A great program every holiday
Our Afterschool care locations can also sign up for all kinds of trips and activities every holiday. A small selection? Tennis clinics, saxophone lessons, free running, theater, the upcycle café, ice skating, dance lessons, a trip to the bunkers, rapping & singing… the choice is almost endless!
Adventurous kids aged 7+ who are up for something different can have a blast at our clubs. The Buitenbende, Cooking Studio, Sports Club, Pony Club, Nature Club, Dance Club, and the Ontplooi Atelier offer a fantastic program.
What an organization
So much to do! There's also plenty to do behind the scenes before, during, and after a holiday. Devising new activities, purchasing materials, arranging transportation, scheduling staff, ensuring smooth registrations, fine-tuning the schedule, and communicating. So, a shout out to everyone in our staff departments involved in this process.
De Kameleon in Zwanenburg
In August Communityschool De Kameleon in Zwanenburg opened the doors. A brand-new building where we, together with De Kameleon primary school, seamlessly integrate childcare and education. We share the same front door, a continuous learning pathway and fantastic spaces like a cooking studio and technology lab. Everything under one roof, with plenty of natural light, large windows, and a welcoming, familiar atmosphere.
Want to take a look inside? Check out the video!
Op Stoom on a Saturday morning
Who said grocery shopping is boring?
Kids-art + AI = next level
Together with the children, we gave their drawings a digital twist. The real artwork, of course, remains the most beautiful!
Our new podcast: the value of vocational students
Where our society used to be divided by political and religious beliefs, this now seems to have shifted to educational level. Management positions often require a university of applied sciences (HBO) or university of applied sciences (WO). A vocational (MBO in Dutch) is just vocational. Right? We're against that! We do it together, are proud of our work, and the educational level of your diploma doesn't matter.
We created an in depth podcast (in Dutch) on this topic. Listen to the podcast on Spotify:
90 (pink) top colleagues in action!
With 90 colleagues, we walked the Dam tot Dam Walk. Sun, rain, blisters—nothing could stop us! Together we raised no less than €900,- for Pink Ribbon.
Op Stoom x Pink Ribbon
Our employee pub quiz also included a raffle, with all proceeds going to Pink Ribbon. There were all sorts of prizes to be won: an Asics gift pack, a session with a personal trainer, Bloomon flower bouquets, and a Blend gift certificate. All donated, how sweet!
The raffle tickets went fast, and together we raised € 413,- for breast cancer research and support.
Away during the Holidays? Don't forget about us.
It would be great if you could let us know via the Konnect Parent App when your child is absent. This allows us to plan everything effectively and reduces the amount of staffing we have to juggle.
Summer ending at Summer Park Sessions
We closed out our festival summer at Summer Park Sessions. Op Stoom really stood out at this family festival: smiling faces, muddy hands, and creative building projects. We showed parents and visitors what makes Op Stoom so special, and who knows, we might even inspire future colleagues.
Missed it this year? No worries, we'll be back next year!
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