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COMMUNITY PARTNERS |
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The DAA sponsored our Cares 4 Kids
Constant Contact account.
The LEGO Children's Fund awarded a grant to our STARS Robotics Program.
The Edith Glick Shoolman Children's Foundation
The Shoolman Foundation awarded a grant to our RISE (Reading Is So Exciting) program.
"In an ideal world every child, regardless of economic or social status, would enter school prepared to learn and to take full advantage of available opportunities. However, the Trustees have observed first hand that not every family has the resources to make this a reality for its children. Through this grant, the Edith Glick Shoolman Foundation is delighted to support South Shore Day Care's RISE literacy program, which is designed to equip young children and their families with the early literacy skills that they will need to enter school ready to learn."
Henry Berman, Ed.D., President and Co-Trustee of the Shoolman Foundation |
| Summer Carnival Fun
at South Shore Day Camp |
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As we approach the shortest days of the year, we are reminiscing about the long sunny, warm days of summer. This year we had over 300 campers aged 6-12 attend our 8 week day camp program at Hale Reservation. One of the highlights was Carnival Day, which happened with the help of enthusiastic volunteers from Dunkin' Brands of Canton.
Dunkin' Brands Volunteer Crew |
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Are YOU Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? |
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Spirit of State Street Volunteers Take on the Challenge |
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How many zeros are in the number 1 million?
What states border West Virginia?
How many ounces are in three pints of water?
Is a bat a mammal?
Spirit of State Street volunteers took on 5th grade students at the Weymouth Afterschool in a friendly game show challenge. Students were most impressed that some of the volunteers had witnessed historic events, and the volunteers were most impressed that the 5th grade students were on top of their geography facts! Special thanks to Kris Ostopowich, Weymouth Afterschool Center Director, and Donna Caliri, Special Projects Coordinator, for organizing the challenge.
Spirit of State Street - game show whiz kids!
Answers:
a. 9 zeros
b. PA, OH, VA, KY & MD
c. There are 16 ounces in one pint
& 48 ounces in 3 pints.
d. Bats are the only mammals that are able to fly. |
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Celebrate the Spirit of Giving |
Social Service Staff Suggest Ways
INCREASE Fun and DECREASE Spending |
| Art Weingarten, SSDCS / Stars Director of Social Services, compiled a list of holiday ideas for familes that focus less on spending and more on family and the spirit of giving.
Ideas for gift giving and cutting down:
· Encourage non-monetary gifts. Have family members create a coupon book with gifts of service (dog walking, cleaning, erands).
· Exchange "appreciation cards" with family members or create them as stocking stuffers. Everyone likes to hear; "I like you because ....or You are special because ...".
· Establish or pass on traditions that include children.
· Decorate together. Cook, bake and eat together.
· Get together with friends and family.
· Have children go through old toys and clothes and donate. Encourage discussions about "wants" vs. "needs".
· Play games together, read a story together, take a walk together, or find and attend a free local holiday event.
· Establish a one gift rule.
· Have each person in the family pick one name out of a hat and set a dollar limit or gift theme.
· Establish an overall dollar limit. Help your children to make choices within the limit. | |
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| VOLUME ONE ISSUE FOUR |
December 2009 |
Greetings!
Over the past year we have seen our constellation of partners continue to grow. Despite the challenges of the economy, our parents, schools, funding partners and communities continue to support our community-based approach as a vital service to families in the region. During 2009 over 484 volunteers provided 6,280 hours of service to our programs, and our Community Partner list doubled. We achieved this year's strategic plan goals and continued to invest in and advocate for high quality, affordable options for working families.
Many, many thanks for your continued support and best wishes for a joyful holiday season.
Sheri Adlin
Executive Director |
| Grit = Perseverence and Passion for Long-Term Goals |
"Grit entails working strenously toward challenges, maintaining effort and interest over years.... Nobody is talented enough to not to have to work hard, and that's what grit allows you to do."
Grit Study: University of Pennsylvania, 2007
Everyday we promote the essential qualities of grit in our programs; perseverance, persistance, and sustained effort are part of our language and are built into our expectations for children of every age. We realize that they may enter the world without special advantages, but that won't keep them from reaching their destinations.
This year, our Annual Appeal celebrates SSDCS/Stars' commitment to grit. As we move into our 40th year of providing excellence in education, enrichment and family support we continue to be mission driven; we work hard and have passion for our long term goals.
Please help us to continue our resolve by supporting our Annual Appeal.
Donate Now >> |
| Annual Meeting / Children's Choice Award |
The Board of Trustees voted a new slate of officers at the 39th annual meeting held at the Milton Library in September.
Newly elected Board President, Maddy Pope, and Past President Michelle Carson, recognized retiring Board member Marlowe Farrar for his twelve years of service to SSDCS/Stars. The Board also recognized artist Donna Green of Marshfield for her work with children through the Magical Moon Foundation.
Board member Rosemary Wahlberg with Children's Choice
Award winner Donna Green.
Board Members Nereyda Garcia and Bruce Haas with
Executive Director, Sheri Adlin. |
| Afterschool Program News |
Stars Robotics Robotics Rally featured in YouTube Video
7th grader Kharim Edge puts his robot in
motion for the challenge.
The STARS team of Chris Logan and Keenen Billy
celebrate their winning score with family members.
Randolph Community Middle School Afterschool STARS hosted a second Robotics Rally on December 8th. The rally was designed as a friendly competition between teams of students who have participated in afterschool robotics clubs over the last 11 weeks. Fifty students designed robots to complete a challenge using LEGO Mindstorm kits and were judged on their ability to complete the task as well as the overall design of the robot. Volunteer judges evaluated style, creativity and uniqueness of the robots and rated team dynamics.
Highlights from the inagural Robotics Rally in June can be viewed in a YouTube video produced by the Randolph Herald.
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| Community Partner News |
LOCAL COMPANIES LEND A HAND FOR LITERACY
Reading Is So Exciting (RISE), began a new chapter this fall thanks to volunteer help from two local companies. Employees from Electro Switch Corporation of Weymouth labeled, sorted and organized hundreds of books headed for the lending libraries in each of South Shore Day Care's 13 preschool classrooms.
Members of RockCorp, Rockland Trust Company's employee based volunteer group, put together literacy kits for children to use in our school age afterschool programs. Christine McGowan, SVP and Director of Information Technology for Rockland Trust, brought several employees from her department to participate in the bank's new community outreach program designed to aid nonprofit organizations located within the Rockland Trust footprint. "Rockland Trust is committed to strengthening the communities in which we work and live," stated RockCorp Coordinator Joan Reid, "We were pleased to help South Shore Day Care Services, whose work enriches children and families in our communities."
Electroswitch employees John Lemieux, Peg O'Hearn,
Bill Gillis, Ken Lloyd and Lou Saro.
RockCorp volunteers Patricia Woodward, Keith Brady,
Elizabeth Gomez, Lynda Reeves, Lyndsay Hammond,
Marcia Clark, Sandra Schleicher and Christine McGowan. |
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South Shore Day Care Services, Inc. / Stars200 Middle Street
East Weymouth, MA 02189
Mission Statement: SSDCS/Stars provides comprehensive early education and youth programs, using a family support approach, that enhance the development of children from economically and culturally diverse families through collaboration with parents, schools and communities. | |
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