Tender Years Academy Center is growing along with its enrollment.

The daycare and educational center sports a new 1,600-square-foot building that includes three classrooms, in addition to two new playground areas.

“It’s wonderful space,” said Renee Asplin, the center’s director. “We’re all situated and now were getting it filled.”

“The expansion was needed to separate the age groups, especially those in the younger years when so many changes are occurring and milestones being achieved,” she said. “The (new) building really has been a labor of love, brought to completion through much blood, sweat and tears.”

By expanding, the

center increased its enrollment to 70. The center still is accepting new members of all ages, 5 weeks old

to children 6-12.

Tender Years, a family-owned operation, was established in 2002, and currently employs a staff of 14.

Classrooms are broken down by age and developmental stages, from infants to toddlers, pre-schoolers to school-age students. The school-age room will be open for summer programs in 2009.

The academy offers bus transportation to and from Lakeland Hills and Ilalko elementary schools.

Academy glance

• School: Tender Years Academy Center,

2406 A St. SE., Auburn

• Specializing: One-stop preschool/childcare/daycare center. Provides infant care, toddler care, a pre-school program and pre-kindergarten. Multi-cultural and family friendly atmosphere. USDA-certified food program available. Regular visits by the Bookmobile.

• Open house: Spook-tacular, Oct. 18, from

10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Program to include food, drinks and games, book sale and cookie walk.

• Information:

253-333-8224, www.tenderyearsacademy.com. Donations accepted.