Surprise Iftar meal for every construction worker on new Wonder Years Nursery site

At the Heart of the Community
Iftar meal for every construction worker on new Wonder Years Nursery site

As we go through the holiest month of Ramadan, The Wonder Years Nursery decided that it was time to offer a token of thanks to the construction workers labouring on the site of their new branch in Dubai Sports City. To help the construction workers celebrate when they broke their fast at sunset, the nursery wanted to surprise the men with an iftar meal. The construction workers were amazed and touched by the gesture which sought to acknowledge all their hard work of the past few months. The Founder and Director of both The Wonder Years Nursery and Victory Heights Primary School, Ms. Vineeta Nayyar, commented “It’s really due to all their hard work that our new nursery will be able to open on time in September, so this is the least we can do.”

This is the third project in the last 3 years where Nayyar has witnessed the remarkable faith that has enabled these devout men to continue to fast whilst labouring in the blistering summer heat. Having set up the original The Wonder Years Nursery in September 2011, followed two years later by the highly successful Victory Heights Primary School in September 2013, Nayyar is now due to open the second branch of The Wonder Years Nursery, scheduled for September 2014. Both nurseries and the school were in the final stages of construction completion during the summer months of July and August which have coincided with Ramadan these past few years. Working on each project, and observing the workers fast whilst toiling away in the near 50 degree heat, one summer after another, Nayyar has been incredibly impressed with the discipline, dignity and devout faith of the men whose labour has built their educational institutions and wanted to give something back to them. What better time than the holy month of Ramadan? Nayyar commented, “I always wanted to create a school with soul, an institution at the heart of the community.”

Sharing the same belief in the importance of community is the new Head of Curriculum The Wonder Years Nursery, June Hamer, who organised the iftar meal donation for the workers. Hamer, together with Katya Deere and Corinne Glauser, the Nursery Managers of each branch, constitute the new management team at The Wonder Years Nursery. Two of the ladies are British and one is Swiss – all are very highly regarded in the field of Early Years education and bring decades of experience with them, including many years at outstanding schools and nurseries like Horizon and Kids Island as well as extensive experience in their own home countries. Together with Ms. Sasha Crabb, Principal of Victory Heights Primary School, they form an exceptionally impressive management team. All share the same vision of education and firmly believe that every child is a unique human being to be valued as such. They all believe in working in partnership with parents in the community and agree that  “As parents entrust us with the most precious thing in their lives - their child – we will take care of and treasure their child as part of our own extended family here in Dubai.”

With such a strong management team, excellent new facilities, delightful design by world-class architects and the outstanding reputation of the existing nursery and school, it’s no wonder that there are only a few places still available at either the school or the nursery. Nayyar admitted that barely 6 months after opening, Foundation Stage places at Victory Heights Primary School were already significantly oversubscribed and there is now an extensive waiting list. The school has commenced construction on Phase 2 just to accommodate its existing students – this new block will increase the school’s capacity by another 30%. The construction of the second nursery was also a response to intense demand for places after the first branch filled up in just over a year. The rapid growth and success of both nurseries and the school have taken everybody, including Nayyar, by surprise. As part of an independent, privately-owned family business, The Wonder Years Nursery and Victory Heights Primary are a bit unique in Dubai where large corporates dominate the educational scene. Both the school and the nurseries have a cosy, informal, family feel to them, similar to Early Years settings and primary schools back in the UK but quite unlike many others here in Dubai. The difference can obviously be felt by parents and children who have clearly decided what they prefer!

Ramadan Kareem!