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SSC offers a full range
of programs, including:
After School Program:
Children 5 - 12 Years
old
2:00PM - 5:00PM
From September through June, the children in Troy might not look forward to
going back to school, but they definitely anticipate the return of
Sunnyside’s After School Program. Elementary school children ranging in age
from 5 to 12 years old participate in this program, which consists of a
balance of both structured and unstructured activities that meet the
developmental needs of the children who attend.
There are a variety of materials and activities presented that stimulate
physical and emotional wellness, and special emphasis is placed on homework
assistance and peer socialization. Other components of the After School
Program include indoor and outdoor recreation, arts & crafts, cooking, games
& leisure activities, music, computers, tutoring, and academic enrichment.
The most recent addition to the after school activities is the EQ
Program, which is run in collaboration with students from Siena College and
teaches the children emotional intelligence skills.
Summer Programs:
During the summer months, the After School Program is replaced by another
children’s favorite; Sunnyside’s Summer Program. This eight-week program
runs through July and August, and provides recreational alternatives to
unsupervised care in a safe and supportive environment.
Children from 5 to 12 years old are divided into six groups according to
age, and follow rotating schedules that include activities such as outdoor
recreation, swimming, arts & crafts, music, playground time, computers, and
academic enrichment. Once or twice per week, children also participate in
the SAP (Substance Abuse Prevention) and FLY (Forward Looking Youth)
programs.
In addition to the regular daily activities, each Friday brings a different
all-day special themed event, such as the annual Hawaiian Luau, the All-Camp
Birthday Party (complete with a bouncy-bounce), or Sportsmania Day. Special
Friday activities sometimes culminate with an end-of-the-day “all-camp”
activity, like a Lip-Sync Contest or a Dance Party, which are always big
hits with campers and counselors alike.
Each year, the last day of the Summer Program brings a camp favorite—the
Sunnyside Olympics—as a way to send out the summer in style!
Daycare Programs:
Sunnyside’s Daycare Program consists of three rooms in the Sister Claudette
Harris Child Development Center—an Infant Room, a Toddler Room, and a
Pre-School Room—accommodating three different age groups of children from 6
weeks to 4 years old.
Each room of the Daycare Program is designed to meet the emotional, social,
cognitive, and physical needs of the children in an environment that
accentuates mutual respect, trust, and healthy adult-child and peer
relationships.
The program provides interesting and stimulating activities and materials
that maximize the opportunities to learn in a structured yet relaxed
environment. A supervised free play activity occurs daily that allows
children the necessary time to develop positive social and behavioral skills
while interacting with others.
Program components of all three rooms include age-appropriate versions of
fine and gross motor activities, storytelling, music, and art. The
Pre-School program also includes role-playing activities, as well as
pre-readiness and readiness activities in language development, reading,
writing and math. As an added program component, children in the Pre-School
Room have been partnering with residents of the Eddy Geriatric Facility in
Troy.
Arts and Crafts:
Designed to broaden the children’s natural abilities and
encourage free expression that aids in the process of communication of feelings
in a non-threatening way. Students will acquire skills that aid in
emotional release, independence, flexibility, free thinking, social interaction,
accomplishment, positive self-esteem and fine motor activity. During a 10
month period, 49 out of 95 students will change in one or more of the following
ways:
- Positive self esteem
- Proof of their own talent
- Independence
- Show a willingness to get involved in an activity
Verifying Targets are met:
- Display of work
- Art teacher’s feedback
- Child’s originality
- Finished Products
Computer Lab:
Offers individual as well as group experience using a variety of computers
and software. Students acquire technical skills
in keyboard use, writing, language arts, social studies and art.
Students are often able to complete school assignments during their time
spent in this lab. During a 10 month period, 10
out of 95 students will change in one or more of the following areas:
- Skills in operating a computer
- Ability to use the keyboard
- Create their own product
Verifying Targets are Met:
- Teacher feedback
- Child’s performance
- Accomplishment of work
Academic Enrichment:
Offers learning stations that encourage students to use an experimental
approach to gain knowledge in science, social studies, math, reading and
language arts. Students will acquire skills in
problem solving, social interaction, creative thinking and time management.
During a 10 month period, 55 out of 95 students will change in one or
more of the following ways:
- Gain reading skills
- Improve upon listening skills
- Appreciate learning through creative ways
- Improve their knowledge of science, language arts and social studies
through fun methods
Verifying Targets are Met:
- Teacher reports
- Hands on experiments
- Creative writing
- Samples of children’s work
Homework Assistance:
Specifically designed for students who are not maintaining an acceptable
academic average, often due to truancy, delinquency, disability or other socio,
economic plights. Students will acquire skills
in working independently, academic maintenance, problem solving techniques, time
management and organization in order to improve their grades and self confidence
in themselves. During a 10 month period, 39 out
of 55 students will change in one or more of the following ways:
- Completion of work
- Accuracy of work
- Ability to work on their own
Verifying Targets are met
- Feedback with Teachers
- Counselor Notes
- Improved Grades (report card check)
- Better Social Skills
- Ability to work more on own
- Parent Feedback (limited)
Mentoring Program:
The Sunnyside Mentoring Program was established for children who attended
School 2. Students in grades 5 & 6 came to Sunnyside and helped younger students
in grades K-2 with numerous study skills.
The children would work on math, reading, and creative writing skills. One of
the projects that we did was creating a short story. The children had to build
story boards, write an idea chart and create all of their own illustrations. The
children then had the chance to read and share their stories with everyone.
This program provides consistent support, guidance, and concrete assistance
to help the younger person gain the skills and confidence to be responsible for
his/her own future.
Would you like to volunteer and be a Mentor for a child in our program?
Please call Sunnyside Center,
and let us help you get involved in volunteering!
Food Pantry:
In addition to all of the programs for children, Sunnyside Center operates
an off-site food pantry as another means of offering support to the families
in the North Central Troy community.
What Can You Do To Help? The need for Sunnyside’s services is
increasing at an overwhelming rate, and the Center needs your help to be
able to continue helping the community. Any type of assistance—from
volunteering in one of the programs to making a monetary donation—would be
both welcomed and appreciated. To find out how you can help, please
contact Sister Claudette Harris by phone or by e-mail.
You’ll be glad you did!
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