Teen parents hoping to complete high school in Weyburn have a new resource in the Sunrise Infant Toddler Care Centre, a support centre that offers daycare services during regular school hours.

The Sunrise Infant Toddler Care Centre, which is located in the older portion of the Weyburn Comprehensive School, opened its doors on Aug. 29, the first day of the 2005-2006 school year.

"We're open. We're operational," said Lynne Buchanan, superintendent of student services for the Sunrise School Division, who helped oversee the opening of the centre.

The Sunrise Centre can be used by young parents either trying to complete high school or classes at the Southeast Regional College. It will only be open during the regular school year.

Currently, the centre has space for six infants (0 to 18 months) and five toddlers (18 to 30 months), said Buchanan.

However, children must be no older than 30 months to be enrolled, and preference is given to parents under 22 years of age.

While the centre can be used by students older than 22 years, Buchanan said available spaces must be given to younger parents.

"If we have younger parents coming in, then we have to bump the parents who are older," she said.

Sunrise Centre director Nicole Wendt said they have about six children enrolled so far.

"We're excited to get into the year, and have lots of fun ideas," she said.

Wendt noted that, while they have the basic amenities, the centre is in need of outdoor play equipment, child-sized soft furniture, high chairs, baby swings, receiving blankets and quilts, books and toys appropriate for infants and toddlers.

The help of the public would be greatly appreciated. Anyone wanting to make donations can contact Wendt at the Sunrise Centre; she can arrange to either pick up the items or have them dropped off.

This is the first year the Sunrise Centre has operated in Weyburn. Renovations were done throughout the summer in order to get the space ready for the daycare service.

The idea behind the centre is to enable teen parents to finish high school, which can be very difficult while looking after infants and toddlers.

The program is subsidized entirely by the provincial government. The Sunrise School Division has no involvement in its finances.

Buchanan said the centre is currently staffed by Wendt and another part-time permanent child care worker, but additional staff can be appointed based on need.

There must be one care worker for every three infants and every five toddlers. At their maximum capacity, the centre can have a staff of three child care workers, said Buchanan.

While the Sunrise School Division is not involved in the centre's management, director of education Jan Chell had nothing but glowing praise Monday for its start-up.

"We've got teen mothers (at the Comp) that have indicated that they may not have been able to finish their high school if it hadn't been for the support," she said.

"There's no question in my mind that it's a service that we needed in Weyburn, and a service that will serve our community well over the long term."