The three founders of the daycare/kindergarten Island4Kids are also educators in Montessori, Music, Arts, Yoga and Theatre. Antonija, Marina and Karoline met at their mutual place of work (a kindergarten) where they worked together and appreciated each other’s work from the very beginning. As they enjoyed working together the idea to found their own daycare evolved. Within a year of 2013, they had all become mothers and the desire to create a high quality daycare where their own children, as well as other children, are cared for lovingly, became even stronger. In autumn 2015 the vision became a reality: All kids are welcome on the „Island4Kids“!
Team
Karoline Jallow
Daycare leader, Music educator, Governess
Karoline Jallow grew up in Austria. Since 2007 she has lived in Switzerland. After graduating from high school, Karoline studied Instrumental and Vocal Pedagogy at the Anton Bruckner Private University for Music, Drama and Dance in Linz/Austria. She is a professional piano teacher and has given private piano lessons in the last few years. At the same time she has worked in child care, privately and in a kindergarten. In 2011, Karoline decided to undertake her second vocational training as a children`s educator. She completed the training in 2014. Karoline is married and mother of a girl, Sinah, born in 2013 and a boy Emil, born in 2020.
Antonija Ostojić
Montessori educator, Deputy daycare leader
In 2002 Antonija Ostojic completed her vocational training as a nursery teacher at Nursery Teacher College in Novi Sad, Serbia.
During her studies she became interested in Maria Montessori’s approach. In 2009 Antonija moved to Dublin, Ireland, where she studied Montessori education at Liberties College.
Antonija has international experience: She has worked in Serbia, Ireland, Croatia and Switzerland. Antonija moved to Switzerland in 2011. She is married and mother to Maksim, born 2014 and Ada born in 2020.
Marina Tomić
Art educator, Yoga teacher, Theatre educator
Marina Tomic attended a wide range of courses during her studies in the field of artistic practice and research. She has been involved in many creative, collaborative projects in the Netherlands, Italy, Turkey, Ireland, Serbia and Slovenia.
In 2009 Marina received her MFA in the Dutch Art Institute/ArtEZ, Holland. Before that she had studied Visual Arts at the Art Academy Novi Sad, Serbia.
2013 Marina completed Theater Education studies in Zürich (Till-Theaterpädagogik).
In 2012 she completed her Teacher Training in Hatha Yoga, certified by the Worldwide Yoga Alliance. Further specialised Yoga courses were Kids Yoga and Laughter Yoga 2012/13 and Meditation Teacher training 300U in 2020.
She lives in Switzerland since 2009 and has a daughter Panka Banu, born in 2014.
Our Team>>>
Operational ground-plan
Target group
Children from six months to school age
Groups
The children are looked after basically in two groups. It is possible that, at marginal times or if there are only a few children present, only one group will be operational. In a group four babies can be accepted .
Interaction between the groups: Mostly the two groups spend their days in the day-care centre independently of each other. Until the afternoon program, the groups are not mixed unless there is a special occasion and something has to be practised, or similar. In the afternoon a group may be dissolved and the children will be placed in their interest group. The teachers place emphasis on the children being able to experience as much uniform structure and rituals in their daily daycare routine as possible. This gives them a feeling of security and orientation, and helps them to express and develop their whole personality.
Places in the day-care centre
A maximum of 24 places in the daycare, 12 places in two groups; one baby counts 1.5 places
10 places in the obligatory kindergarten group (from August 2021)
Care options
Full-day care
Half-day care
Required attendance: 2 full days minimum (=4 half days)
Languages
English and German, the kindergarten teacher is German speaking
Facilities
The total surface area of the day-care centre is 309 square metres. The spacious facilities with high ceilings have a lot of daylight thanks to a large glass front. For each group there are two rooms, one of which is a resting room. In addition to the required group rooms for the children, there is a movement and play room within the day-care centre with a slide and trampoline. Further rooms in the day-care centre include a large kitchen, a children’s cinema, an office and toilets that are designed for children. In the entrance area there is a cloakroom for two children’s groups.
The kindergarten class is located in the building next door. There is a separate wardrobe for the kindergarten children, two rooms with much light and a toilet.
Outdoor area
Use of the public playgrounds nearby
Meals
We make meals for mid-morning and mid-afternoon freshly each day for the children. Lunch is delivered by a catering firm. The children love our eating rituals; they sing, decorate and help to set the table.
Parents’ involvement
* Close collaboration with the children’s parents
* Educational counselling
* Talks with parents: participants are the parent or parents with the child’s primary carer in
the day-care centre, at least once a year (or more frequently if needs be) in an
undisturbed room; observations, experiences and impressions concerning the child’s
behaviour are exchanged
* Tips and advice on a spontaneous basis
* Openness of carers for suggestions, information and criticism by the parents