Violette fulfills dream of opening day care
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — It took Rona Violette 25 years to realize her dream of running her own day care, but that dream has finally become a reality.
A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY was held earlier this month at Rosa’s Day Care in Presque Isle. Owned and operated by Rona Violette, the center-based day care features everything from a reading and writing area to a dramatic play area. 
Attending the ceremony were, from left, front row: day care attendees Aiden, Kilian and Hattie. Middle row: Gail Clukey, Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce director; Megan Ouellette, Violette’s daughter; Carmen Violette, Rona’s mother, who is holding her great-granddaughter, Kadence Cormier; Violette, and Bonnie Pack, chamber director. Back row: Theresa Fowler, executive director of the chamber; Kassie Smith, family friend; Marie Gilligan, niece, holding Smith’s son, Gauvin; and Amanda Berube, cousin.
“I had all the things I needed … the tables, chairs and toys that I had been collecting, but they all got sold years ago and it just wasn’t in the cards, so I put that dream on hold,” said Violette, owner and director of Rosa’s Day Care in Presque Isle. “I guess I’m having my midlife crisis this year as I’m turning 50 and one thing led to another. I believe in fate, and someone had been after me to do it. I saw this building and everything fell into place.”
Located at 24 Industrial St., site of the former Grace Interfaith Food Table (GIFT), Rosa’s Day Care officially opened Feb. 6.
“We’re a small, center-based day care. Right now it’s a toddler/preschool age program, but I would like to offer a school-age program, an infant program, and my first passion would be an evening and weekend program because I feel there’s a real need for that service,” said Violette, who has a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from the University of Maine at Fort Kent, as well as a high concentration of special education classes under her belt. “I’ve had a few people ask me already if we are doing evenings, so hopefully that’s something I’ll be able to do in the future.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
HAVING FUN playing with blocks are, clockwise from left: Rona Violette, owner and director of Rosa’s Day Care in Presque Isle, who is holding her granddaughter, Kadence Cormier; and day care attendees Aiden, Kilian, Gauvin and Hattie. Rosa’s Day Care is located at 24 Industrial St. 
“Right now I have four kids enrolled, but I have room for 17,” she said. “I would like to see the numbers grow.”
Violette, who is CPR/first aid certified, said she helps teach the children and make learning fun.
“In a center you have to have different areas for kids,” she said. “There’s a reading and writing area, a dramatic play area, we do a lot of hand manipulative and sorting activities, we have a large area where we do gross motor activities, as well as play with blocks and trains. We also do music.”
Violette, who currently works at the day care alone, also provides breakfast, a snack and lunch for the children.
“We do cold and warm meals with a slow cooker; I don’t have a stove as that would have cost more money,” she said.
The day care also includes a fenced in area with toys in the backyard.
“I have balance beams out there, and I’m adding gross motor activities that the kids enjoy doing … not only things that help them educationally, but also their minds and bodies, too,” Violette said. “I have different activities that I plan for each time we’re out there. They like to throw balls around, and it’s just nice to be outside on a good day.”
A lot of work was done to the building to transform it into a day care.
“The big thing was adding in the alarm system,” said Violette. “We also added in cabinets for storage, and our kitchenette area. We also put in a lot of rugs and did some painting. It was fun putting it all together.”
Violette enjoys working with the little ones each day.
“What I get out of this is the joy, the happiness, the laughter and love,” she said. “I get so much from children; they’re so honest. They’re inquisitive and soak in the learning. Everything you bring in is an experience for them.
“When your children look at you and out of the blue say, ‘I love you Miss Rona,’” said Violette, “to me that’s what I’m doing it for. We’re open from 6:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. It’s a long day for a child and a long day for a parent worrying about that child. I want parents to feel really comfortable bringing their kids here and knowing that they’re going to be well cared for and loved. I have an open door, so I’d like people to come in and see what we offer and how happy the kids are.”
For more information on Rosa’s Day Care, contact Violette at 769-2080.
