Dorothy Westerman
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 03/05) - Adorned in caps and gowns, a small group of graduates excitedly received their diplomas recently - then sat down for snacks and cake.

"We're not going to day care any more," said Chase Broman, who will be leaving the Kids First Child Development Centre for kindergarten in the fall, but is not a graduate because he wasn't there for the full year.

"When I'm five I'll go to school. I learned millions," he said excitedly about his day care experience.

Ryan Beck will remember his "most fun" as going outside and playing Mario.

Denise Drouin, a board member with the day care, said most of the children have been enroled at the centre for two years.

"They learn kindergarten readiness," Drouin said. "As long as they are kept busy, they really enjoy it."

Nora Kellogok, a teacher at the parent-run facility, said children learn the alphabet, numbers, how to write their names and simple crafts.

"We try to get them more advanced before they attend kindergarten," Kellogok said.

The kids especially enjoy learning and writing their numbers in their workbooks, she said.

Graduation has been held the last several years for the children, she said. Operating since 1996, the day care has space for 33 children, from infants to five-year-olds.

This year's graduates were Ryan Beck, Sydney Turner, Garrick Barnaby, Kyle Hopkins, Tyshanyah Koyina, Kirby Norwegian, Donavan Evans and Jennifer Drouin.