Shooting Star Day Care was previously operated under Valley Children's Day Care, which had been in existence since April 17, 1978. Valley Children's Day Care operated as a parent cooperative at the old Ste. Marie's School on Dominion Drive.

In July 1994, Valley Children's Day Care Inc. purchased Garderie Rigolade and converted this Francophone privately owned and for profit licensed day care into a non-profit day care now operated by the same Board of Directors.

In August 1998, the doors at 4120 Elmview Drive were officially opened.

It has licensed capacity for 154 full-time equivalent children from the age of 18 months to 12 years of age. There are over 200 registered children (some part-time).

The children are divided into four different programs:

• Toddlers (18 months to 30 months)
  20 children enrolled in a bilingual program;
    
• Pre-School (31 months to 5 years)
  32 in the English Program and 24 in the French program;
    
• School Age (6 years to 12 years)
  30 in the English Program and 24 in the French program;
   
• After School Extended Program
  24 students who remain up to 10 p.m.

The big difference between the Licensed Day Care Centres and the Private Home-Based Day Care providers is that government subsidies are not available for people who place their children in private centers. 

The rates charged by SHOOTING STAR DAY CARE / GARDERIE ETOILE FILANTE vary with the age and number of hours that the children remain at the centre. They range in amount from $7 per day to $40 per day for infants, however, at this time there is no infant program offered by Shooting Star Day Care.

The fee not only covers the supervision of the children, but also all of the food and supplies during the day.

Student Page Is A Free Public Education Service Provided To
The Schools of Valley East by
Robert Kirwan, B.A. (Math), M.A. (Education)
Independent Education & Career Planning Advisor
Member of the Ontario College of Teachers
His office is located at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre, Hanmer, Ontario
Office Phone: (705) 524-7006       Home Phone: (705) 969-7215