Saturday Service - Welltrack Junior Academy

Saturday
Service!

Birthday Parties

If your stomach churns with just a little bit of anxiety every time you think about hosting a child’s birthday party let us step in and help you! Our fantastic team who are some of the most amazing, reliable, and artistic individuals around will look after the planning and entertaining of the littles in the academy building.

Hours: 12pm-6pm.

Some Fees May Apply

Birthday cakes may be supplied by parents or baked in house by our amazing and talented chefs.

Sample Menu:

Chips and sausages.
Plates of iced buns and Rice-Krispie buns.
A big jug of diluted orange.
Birthday cake.

Activities

Yoga

Yoga offers many psychological benefits for children as well. A growing body of research has already shown that yoga can improve focus, memory, self-esteem, academic performance, and classroom behaviour, and can even reduce anxiety and stress in children.

Weekly Sports Days

The physical well-being of our young children is of utmost importance. Here at Welltrack Junior Academy, we have weekly sports days for our ECCE class. Sports activities help to teach the young people in our care the importance of teamwork, engaging positively, and following rules. These are skills that not only set us up for our later life interactions but also build a young persons self-esteem and confidence.

Mindfulness

This is introduced to children in a fun and creative manner. It can be implemented via art, stories, visualisation, art and discussions. Children today have a busy lifestyle and mindfulness is of grave importance especially in light of the recent COVID outbreak. This class allows the child to relax and to calm their minds, to focus and to pay attention. Which in turn enables them to understand and to express how they feel, and think and to find empathy within themselves and with others. This allows the child to become content and happy within themselves and to project this outwards in a positive manner. This will equip the child with the strength to face life challenges from now and into their adulthood. A skill that is imperative to all.

Nature

We have created an area that allows children to be at one with nature. This is both a sensory and informative area where the children will learn the different types of plants, trees, vegetables and the texture attributed to each. The children will partake in the growing of plants onsite at the creche as well as bringing home items to their families. Essentially the life cycle of the plant etc will be taught to the child in a child friendly manner with the child actively involved in each stage.

Baking

This will be taught in a weekly basis and will focus on the health and wellbeing associated with eating the correct foods. The children will be actively involved by tasting the items as per the food pyramid. This will work in conjunction with the weekly menu.

Music & Dance

Singing and dancing are fun activities for children yet have advantages for their development. By singing, children can understand language and sound. They can improve their vocabulary and communication skills. Language development is not the only benefit of music. If children have a successful musical experience they can bond emotionally and intellectually with others in a creative learning environment.

P.E

Our young ones love to get up and move throughout the day. Physical activity breaks up their time doing ‘work’ and gets the children excited to participate, and allows them to get their energy out. There are many physical, social, and emotional benefits to having children partake in consistent physical activity. A lack of physical activity in children could lead to physical health issues in the future, along with negative effects on their mental and social well-being.

Water/Sensory Play

Water play enhances children’s eye/ hand coordination and strengthens their physical skills. Water play activities also help to develop and strengthen children’s gross and fine motor skills.

Meet Our Exceptional Team

Elaine WhelanDirector

Elaine is the founder and director of The Welltrack Group, and subsequently Welltrack Junior Academy. Elaine has worked In the field of childcare for over 20 years. Her experience spans from Preschool care to residential care Inclusive of challenging behaviour & Intellectual disability to aftercare and subsequently to elder care/healthcare. She has worked In conjunction with TUSLA, HSE and HIQA and brings a wealth of experience within the division of childcare. Elaine studied counselling and psychology and Is currently studying PTSD.

Elaine provides clinical and monitoring oversight to the services.

Jack TchrakianDirector

Jack is a practicing barrister and the non-executive chairman of the Welltrack Group, a social care provider that he co-founded with Elaine Whelan in 2019. Their vision was to bring social care to a new level of quality and efficiency – from infancy, all the way through to old age and spanning all generations between – employing the best practices and technologies available to bring the process to life.

David McDonnellOperations Manager

David has worked in the social care field for the last 10 years. During this time he has become a lead runner in the field aspiring to reach the highest level of quality and care for his staff and his clients. It is this wealth of knowledge and expertise that brings David into this role ready for the challenges that the childcare sector brings.

AmeliaManager

I’m Amelia. I am an Inclusion Co-ordinator with a BA Hons Degree in Pre-primary education with special mention in pedagogy therapeutic. I have over 10 years of experience working with children from 0 to 12 years old, attending different needs. I have years of experience working with children with autism as experience in ABA, OT, and PECS.
I love my job where I can do my best to helps others. I believe that the early years are the most important period of life.
I am originally from Spain, but I’ve been living in Ireland for 6 years. I love travelling and photography. I am very friendly and motivated person.

AshleyDeputy Manager

I’m Ashley. I’m originally from Dublin but have lived in Greystones for almost 10 years. I have an 11 years old son.
I have my QQI Level 6 in Childcare and a diploma in Advanced Autism Awareness.
I enjoy walking, reading and the odd sea swim. My favourite colours are purple and teal.
I am a fun-loving person, maybe a little crazy according to my co-workers. I really enjoy working with children and get great joy from my job.

NeasaDeputy Manager

I’m Neasa. I am a lifelong resident of Greystones, and as a mother of 4, with 23 years of experience working with children, I am dedicated to delivering best practice and giving every child the best possible experience in their early years. I am also passionate about the outdoors and believe it promotes wellbeing as the children have the freedom to explore the natural environment.
I have a degree in Early Childhood Care and Education, and I am qualified as an Inclusion Co-ordinator. I love working with children, everyday is filled of fun and learning and the children constantly remind me of enjoying life’s simple pleasures.

LudmillaRoom Leader

I’m Ludmilla. I have been a teacher for 20 years. I have a degree in Pedagogy and post graduate
degree in Phsycopedagogy in Brazil.
I really enjoy teaching and developing skills in children.
I love sports especially swimming and my favourite colour is blue.

Natasha Early Years Practitioner

I’m Tasha, I live in Bray and have over 5 years experience with children from 2 to 12 years of age
along with a FETAC level 6 in childcare.
Success for me is when all the children are content and happy in the classroom. This means making
sure we adjust any curriculum that might be too challenging enough for certain students and
ensuring all their needs are met.
Hands down my favourite part of teaching is seeing the enjoyment of the children faces when they
learn how to do something new.

JonathonEarly Years Practitioner

You can call me Jon. I am a Primary School Teacher with mention in Special Education.
I’ve been working with young children (2-5 years old) for 4 years, so I can demonstrate educational
and interpersonal skills on these stages.
I am very empathetic and curious about different subjects of the life, and I love to help others, as it is
something that makes us feel better.
In my free time, I love sports (to watch and to practice), read about psychology, science, or
philosophy, listening and produce music and being in contact with the nature, whether hiking or just
walking in a good environment.

ElaineEarly Years Practitioner

Hi, my name is Elaine McManus. I am in childcare for 23 years and I have Fetac Level 5 and Level 6 in
Montessori Teaching.
I like swimming and walking.

AnnaEarly Years Practitioner

I’m Anna, I’m a childcare practitioner with 7years of experience.
I have a degree in Early Childhood Care & Education and I am passionate
about my job. My goals every day are to create, move, sing, discuss,
observe read and to play.
I like to prepare a rich, varied and happy classroom environment full of
interesting activities and learning opportunities.
My success is when all my children in my classroom feel safe, valued,
respected and happy every day.

KwantaChef

My name is Kwanta, I am from Thailand and have been living in Ireland
with my family for 8 years.
I have loved cooking since I was a young child and worked as a chef since
coming to Ireland. My specialty is Thai and Japanese cooking, I love
preparing sushi as it gives me an opportunity to skilfully present delicious
pretty food.
I am a passionate and diligent cook and take great care in preparing fresh
healthy food. In my free time I grow my own vegetables and herbs as I get
great joy from growing my own organic produce which allows me to create
my own home-grown dishes. I believe food presented beautifully is more
appealing and appetising which