CHILDREN’S CENTER UPDATE 

As we are sure you have all heard, our Governor has officially closed all of the Early Education and Care centers in MA (preschool and school age) starting March 23rd through April 6th. 

We all understand that this will have a tremendous impact on families-in a time when there are so many other very pressing concerns.  It is certainly our hope that we will be able to reopen on April 7th but as we have seen, things can change hourly.  We will continue to reach out to you as new information comes our way.  Keep checking your Class Dojo for further updates.

In the meantime, it is our hope that everyone in our Boys & Girls Club family stays well and healthy!

The Explorer Room is designed for our youngest 3-year-olds and is open year-round from 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM. Parents have the option of choosing two, three or five days a week. 

Teachers in this program:

• encourage independence by teaching children how to express and take care of their personal needs and their belongings
• assist children in learning how to share and play cooperatively with others
• introduce literacy by encouraging children to listen and respond
• encourage children to interact with and explore their environment

The Sunshine Room is designed for our older 3- and younger 4year-olds.  It is open year-round from 7:30 AM -5:30 PM. Children may enroll two, three or five days a week. 

Some of our goals for children in this program are:

• to build positive self-concepts, gain confidence in their abilities and feel good about themselves
• to recognize and communicate their needs and feelings
• to acquire basic readiness skills through “fun” and “hands on” learning experiences
• to expand their natural creativity, curiosity and enthusiasm for learning

The Rainbow Room is designed for 4-year-olds who will be age eligible to enter Kindergarten the following fall.  It is open year-round from 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM. Children may enroll two, three or five days a week. 

In addition to the above mentioned skills, teachers will help children to:

• develop well rounded skills and interests
• to include healthy lifestyle habits
• acquire the social, self-help and problem solving skills that they will need for successful school and life experiences

The SEED Program is designed for children whose parents wish to give them an extra year before entering Kindergarten, for children who miss the public school cutoff date, and for children who turn 5 by December 31st. The year-round program operates Tuesday through Friday from 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM, with the option of adding Monday if needed.  

While much of the focus in this program is on readiness and preparing children for Kindergarten, there are other areas that teachers feel are extremely important to development.  These two areas also receive a great deal of emphasis throughout the day.

• Self-Help Skills: In order to function in today’s Kindergarten, children must have strong self-help skills. They need to take care of their personal and school belongings. They need to ask questions, give information and ask for help. Being able to finish tasks, use the bathroom independently and attempt to dress themselves (jackets, boots, gloves) are also very important skills.
• Self-Esteem: Feeling good about what you do sets the tone for who you are. Teachers choose activities that promote success. They give positive reinforcement to every attempt and accomplishment.