UPDATE: We are currently looking for a two kids born in 2007 to join the Kita in October 2010.

Billabong will take in up to twenty children. In filling these places, we aim to maintain the following:

• Age balance: We aim to have about half of the children in the age group 3-6 years, and half in the age group 1,5-3 years.
• Gender balance: We accept gender imbalances within individual age groups, but we aim for an overall balance between girls and boys across the kita.
• Bilingual environment: We have taken in children from a variety of language backgrounds and will go on doing so. However, to ensure that Billabong remains a place where both English and German are in equal use, we will offer a majority of places to children from already bilingual families.
• Parent involvement: As a parent initiative, Billabong relies on active parent involvement. We expect all our parents to attend regular parent and teacher meetings and to take on a variety of tasks as they occur. Furthermore, parents should be ready to work in the kita's governing body (Vorstand) for at least part of their child's time at Billabong - a job that will require a minimum of one day's work per week.
• Group stability: In order to reduce fluctuation and its impact on the children, we will give priority to families who intend to live in Berlin for longer periods and year-round. Also, we give priority to siblings of children already at Billabong.
• Special needs integration: Since 2005, Billabong can offer one place to a child with special needs. This place will probably become available again in August 2010. 

With these aims in mind, vacancies will always be defined in very specific terms (i.e. for a boy 2-3 years old of any language background). Because of this, we cannot operate a standard waiting list on which families move up as time goes by. Instead, we have a waiting pool from which we will invite families for interviews as suitable vacancies occur.

If you have any questions about Billabong, PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE KITA. Please feel free to drop us an email with your questions and a parent will be in touch with you.