50 years of St. Zeno Kindergarten: A festival full of children's laughter in Isen!

50 years of St. Zeno Kindergarten: A festival full of children's laughter in Isen!

On June 3, 2025, a very special event was celebrated in the St. Zeno Catholic kindergarten: the 50th anniversary of the institution. The celebrations began with a service in the church, which not only emphasized the spiritual dimension of the occasion, but also provided a festive setting. Afterwards, children, parents, employees and a delegation from the brass band made a happy parade to the daycare center. It was a day full of children's laughter and joy, honoring the past five decades of the kindergarten.

In the last 50 years, an estimated 5,000 children have attended the St. Zeno kindergarten. Currently, 14 teaching staff, two cleaning staff and one kitchen worker look after a total of 95 children in four groups. The history of the kindergarten, which was founded in 1969, began in 1975 with the inauguration in October. A comprehensive general renovation of the gym followed in 1995, which cost around 1.6 million marks.

A new concept and ongoing developments

Manuela Maier has been at the head of the kindergarten since 2015. Under her leadership, the facility was expanded to include an after-school care group. In 2018, the sponsorship changed to the Forstern-Tading Church Foundation, which opened up new perspectives for caring for the children. In 2021, former youth rooms were converted into after-school care rooms to meet the changing needs of children. Another important step was the creation of a sensory garden, which was realized in 2023 with financial support from the Ordinariate. A “forest garden” is currently being built on the north side of the building, which will offer the children even more opportunities for exploration and experience.

A particularly emotional moment during the anniversary celebration was the release of balloons that the children sent into the sky with their wishes. This gesture reflected the hopes and dreams that the boys and girls have for their future.

A similar anniversary was celebrated in the St. Antonius kindergarten in Ammeloe, which also turned 50. The celebrations there began on April 23, 2023 with a service in the St. Antonius Abt Church and offered visitors a colorful program that ranged from coffee and cake to games and fun. This event highlighted the important role of kindergartens in the community and how core educational institutions continue to evolve over the years.

The celebrations in the St. Zeno kindergarten and the parallels to other anniversaries illustrate not only the importance of early education, but also the commitment of the community that fights for the well-being of the youngest generations.