A ribbon-cutting is planned for 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 9 to mark the opening of the Center at Whitko Career Academy, 710N SR 5, Larwill.

Monday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony is open to the public. Attendees are invited to tour the Little Cats Early Learning Center after the ceremony.

Little Cats, under the direction of Jamie Paino, is for children 3- to 5-years old. Before and after school care is provided for children pre-Kindergarten and older. Nurturing care for the infants and toddlers of the Whitko Community School’s faculty and staff also is available.

“I am thrilled for the opportunity to be Little Cats Early Learning Center director,” Paino, the mother of three, said, “and I am passionate about our mission and values. I am confident our program is going to be a tremendous asset to our families and children.”

Paino studied Elementary Education, minoring in Kindergarten, at Ball State University. She’s been in education for 13 years and taught Kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. She is currently pursuing an Applied Educational Neuroscience certification from Butler University. She and her husband, Anthony, and their children live in Warsaw.

An open house is planned for Little Cats families Tuesday, August 10 from 10 a.m. to noon and also from 4 to 6 pm.

The mission of Little Cats Early Learning Center is to inspire children to become life-long learners, problem solvers, creative thinkers, and global citizens through a culturally competent child-centered teaching and learning philosophy.