BY NUALA MCALOON
Looking back at the first roll book of Little Smarties Playgroup in Garrison, Nancy Duffy, the group's leader of 25 years, says she simply can't believe that it has been a quarter of a century since the group was initiated.
Yet, the popular leader has witnessed many changes throughout the years, including the change of school venue, the upgrade from a playschool to a pre-school, a lot of extra paperwork, and on a personal high for her, a large number of small faces passing through her doors.
Something that has not changed however, is Nancy's love for her job, and the rewards she continues to reap from those equally fond of her.
That was evident in the recent 25th anniversary celebrations, the first, a balloon releasing ceremony for her current pupils, and the second, a celebration for the return of past pupils, parents and staff.
"I can't believe it has been 25 years," Nancy said. "And I can honestly say that out from rearing my own children, they have been the most enjoyable years of my life. The children help to keep me young and they are wonderful at that age. They children are all very loving, very innocent, and I get as much out of them as they get from me."
Little Smarties Playgroup commenced on the 11th April 1983.
"I remember Mary Keown, Mary Maguire, Teresa Carty and myself holding a meeting in the old school and we invited Nancy Keown, the leader from Belleek along with a social worker to discuss how we would go about setting up a playgroup.
"The late Marie Feely, a Primary One teacher, gave us advice on what equipment would be useful if the group should go ahead. We opened on the 11th April with nine pupils and had 13 pupils by the end of the month."
The playgroup remained in situ for 14 years before the group sought funding from the International Fund for Ireland and gained a new building, at the Gilaroo Court in Garrison. The group then entered the education expansion team and became known as a pre-school.
"Significant changes included the preparation to become a pre-school. The paper work has also changed immensely, and now there is planning for every week, month and year. Numbers have increased and we have been successful in educational inspections."
Nancy currently has a capacity class of 24 and is assisted by Dympna Curran who has been with the group for nine years and Majella Feely who has been there a year.
On reflection, it will be the older past pupils who will have fond memories of the novel idea that gave the group its name.
"When we first opened in the Church hall," Nancy explains, "the way we learned our colours was from little Smarties.
"At the end of every day, each child got three Smarties if they knew their colours. That went on for the 14 years we remained a playschool but when we joined the healthy eating initiative we had to drop that idea."
Other highlights include the gaining of an outside play area two years ago. Today, the pre-school has a soft play area, a garden area for planting flowers and a vegetable plot. It means that the children can have outside physical play each day, which makes a big difference.
The support from parents, staff and the committee has also been immense in their help in any fund-raisers, and in the general everyday running of the group.
And among the highs, there is one significant low that Nancy must experience every year.
"The saddest part is when the children are leaving. You get so attached to them and just when you feel you have gained so much with each of them, it is time to say for them say goodbye and move on."
