Lourdes finds new home for KnightsCare program

NEBRASKA CITY – Lourdes Central Catholic is moving its pre-school extended care program to a house across the street that was a former daycare.

School Administrator Fr. Jonathan Haschke said the house provides a great opportunity to solidify the KnightsCare program, which has two staff members and 24 children enrolled.

The program was started in 2022 and utilized the school’s primary building and an elementary classroom.

Fr. Haschke said the designated location for extended and after-school care frees up classroom space and offers a separate playground appropriate for younger students.

 

 Photos courtesy Lourdes Central Catholic

 Here is the school’s press release

August 30, 2024 (Nebraska City, NE) Lourdes Central Catholic announced the recent move of its KnightsCare extended care and after school program to a nearby house which the school purchased in June.

The home is located on the southwest corner of the main campus, just across from the school parking lot. The purchase of the home was made possible thanks to a gift from the Herbert J Lavigne Family Foundation. The school’s pre-school extended care program was previously located at the school’s primary building and also utilized an elementary classroom at the main building to accommodate its after school children.

 According to Fr. Jonathan Haschke, Chief Administrative Officer for Lourdes Central Catholic, the previous owner used the house as a daycare for a number of years which made for an easy transition for our use for extended care and after school care.

 “The home provides a great opportunity to solidify our KnightsCare program. Having a designated location for both extended care and after school care frees up classroom space and provides a separate playground appropriate to our younger students,” said Haschke.

 The school began offering extended and after school childcare in 2022 as part of its strategic plan goal to expand childcare options based on parents work schedules. Approximately 24 children are enrolled in the program today and the school has two dedicated staff members.

 KnightsCare includes extended care from 11:00 am to 3:30 pm for preschool-aged students and after school care for preschool through 5th grade students.

 While enrollment for the childcare program is currently full, Haschke said the school continues to look for ways to expand into full-day daycare services.

 “This expansion is an important to our Strategic Plan goals and would allow us to cater to the needs of families with younger children,” said Haschke.

 Deb Walton