Woodside on the Move, Inc. believes that all children must have the necessary resources to succeed. Our goal is to promote a safe, nurturing, and exciting learning environment for all our students. Our commitment to excellence will be accomplished through the collaborative efforts of involved city agencies, parents, a supportive community, and a dedicated, caring staff. Our program will provide a safe, supervised, and supportive atmosphere in which young people’s academic, social, and physical needs will be met. Through the proposed program, young people will be assessed and their strengths and areas of need identified. By focusing on and reinforcing the unique personalities and ideas of each of these youngsters through both one-on-one and group interaction, youth will be encouraged to share their ideas and knowledge with others, thus empowering themselves and developing their sense of self esteem and self worth.
The Woodside on the Move After School Programs at P.S. 152Q, PS 11 serve approximately 500 elementary school children each year. The programs operate on Mondays through Fridays from 2:30 PM to 5:30PM during the regular school year. Additional holiday programming services are provided from 8:00am to 6:00pm during the school holidays, the winter, mid-winter, and spring recesses. The Woodside On The Move Summer Camp Program serves approximately 320 elementary school youngsters and operates out of local public schools for 8 weeks, M-F from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM during the months of July and August.
The targeted population of the programs will be youth ages 5 to 12 in grades K through 6 who live or attend schools in our Department of Education local regions. While the programs will be open to all age appropriate youngsters in this area, the predominant number of participants will likely be drawn from the host schools and the other nearest private schools serving elementary school age children. Additional participants will be drawn from neighboring elementary schools in the Woodside area, especially those who live within closest proximity. Program enrollments will be primarily youth from lower income families. Many of these participants will be from recently arrived immigrant families whose parents want them to become part of an environment in which they can experience greater exposure to the English Language, and gain familiarity with American customs. Other participants will be drawn from single parent or two working parent families who are in need of a safe, supervised, and supportive environment for their children while they are away from home. All participants and their families will be drawn by the need to meet their children’s academic, social and physical needs through the services provided in this program. The program will attempt to address the following factors and/or problems: Assist children from single parent homes, students with Limited English Proficiency, students from low income families, and other students from the general population who are in need of additional academic and social support. In addition, we will provide enrichment activities and physical fitness activities for a holistic approach to services for each child. The menu of activities from which students may choose will include: Homework & Academic prep, career exploration, computer club, drama club, health club, various arts and cultural craft clubs, foreign language, chorus, performing arts and drama, creative writing, music appreciation, test preparation, and educational board games, educational and recreational field trips and movie time. Regular or larger group activities could include basketball, soccer, volleyball, fun board and card games, arts & crafts and aerobics. Snacks are provided free on a daily basis during the afterschool program and breakfast and lunch are provided during the summer camp program.
Summer Youth participants also gain experience in community services through working closely with older youth interns with our seniors, planting in and cleaning up area parks and participation in our community summer graffiti removal and mural clean-up program. The summer youth program serves over 30 youth each summer. Teens participate in a variety of work training and internship opportunities for 8 weeks during the summer months. The program models an employment program where youth participate in daily workshops like time management, public speaking etc. and gain work experience through internship placements at local businesses.
Family literacy, ESL and Employment education seminars and workshops are proposed for the 2009-2010 program year. Services will be expanded to the parents of the children in our various programs. Services will include ESL weekly classes, education workshops to help parents better assist their children with homework help, monthly employment seminars and placement activities.
