Overview
Nuts Nursery School officially opened in new building
When the new Nursery Education Act was introduced a few years earlier, Aalten mayor E.S. van Veen said during a council meeting that he expected nursery schools to start springing up like mushrooms. Mr Van Veen’s prediction proved correct, as Aalten had since gained four new nursery schools. Number four was the Nuts Nursery School, formerly the Ten Hietbrinks School, which moved into an ultra-modern two-classroom building on Damstraat and was officially opened on Monday afternoon.
Miss Manschot laid commemorative stone
Even in the first part of the opening ceremony, the foundation board’s warm appreciation for Miss J.A.G. Manschot, who had donated the land on which the new school was built, was clearly evident. This elderly lady was given the honour of being the first to enter the school and then unveiled a commemorative stone set into the building in her honour. After this formal moment, the many guests, including the mayor and aldermen and representatives of other nursery schools, were invited to inspect the building.
Visitors were immediately struck by the warm colours of the walls and ceiling in the very spacious entrance hall, enhanced by carefully installed indirect lighting. The two classrooms had also received the greatest attention; nothing had been omitted to make them as pleasant as possible for both children and staff. The large sandpit in the playground was almost unique in shape: instead of the usual square design, it had been made in the form of a four-leaf clover.
All in all, it was a school that met every requirement, and those involved received many compliments. At a gathering in Schiller-Prins café, the guests were first addressed by Mrs Hartman-Mulder, chair of the foundation board. She recalled the tension two years earlier when a priority declaration had to be awarded either to the Roman Catholic nursery school or to the Nuts Nursery School. Fortunately, both eventually received the much-coveted declaration, so it was thought that building work could soon begin.
Nut Savings Bank helped out
Money was still needed, however, and the municipality did not have it available. This obstacle was overcome by persuading the Nut Savings Bank in Winterswijk to act as the proverbial ‘rich uncle’. There were also difficulties concerning the central heating included in the plans, as this was not permitted for a two-classroom school. Several fully automatic oil-fired heaters were installed instead. A final obstacle was posed by two large trees blocking the entrance to the school. The mayor and aldermen were reluctant simply to remove this piece of village greenery.
In the end the council gave way. In his speech, mayor E.S. van Veen remarked that ‘one woman is too much for a thousand men’, by which he meant that the chair had virtually dragged him to the school to convince him that the trees really did have to go. Mr Van Veen nevertheless expressed great respect for Mrs Hartman’s perseverance and complimented the board on having succeeded in every respect.
The nursery education inspector, Mrs Bloemink-Rehwinkel, said she was delighted that the completion of this school meant the last inadequate nursery-school accommodation in Aalten had become a thing of the past. She also expressed the hope that this fine building would allow the child’s overall development to flourish.
Much appreciation
Many further words of appreciation were addressed to the board, with particular praise for the chair’s inspiring leadership. Other speakers included G. Hagedoorn and H.J. Siebrands, both board members of the Aalten branch of the Nut society; L.J.M. ter Linde of Winterswijk, a former school board member; Mrs Klein Hesselink-Westendorp on behalf of the parents’ committee; Miss E. Vaags on behalf of the Protestant Association in Aalten; and finally Mrs Kos and Mrs Braakhekke, respectively the current and former heads of the school.
Images
