At-a-Glance: Our Ministries

Providence Family Support Center (PFSC)

Clubhouse Kids Keep Busy
Children in Providence Family Support Center’s Clubhouse for Kids (after-school) program have been working on expanding their vocabulary and improving their reading skills. Each day, the staff introduce a new word with its definition and ask each child to use it in a sentence. Sample words include junction, lag, synopsis and pinnacle. The children also complete a minimum of 20 minutes of independent reading with a tutor and read aloud to the group weekly.

As a Christmas service project, Clubhouse kids made Christmas cards for men who are in prison. Sister Carol Tenerovich, who works with the Sisters of Divine Providence’s Prison Ministry and volunteers at Providence Family Support Center, distributed the cards to the inmates throughout the holiday season.

Finally, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts both started new troops at Providence Family Support Center on December 1. The troops meet every Friday and focus on community activities and crafts.

Progress Reports Provided to Parents
During the month of November, Group Supervisors from Providence Family Support Center’s Child Care Program scheduled individual appointments with parents to review their children’s “Observations of Student Progress” evaluations. During the one-on-one meetings, parents were provided with a written report that addressed age-appropriate areas of development specific to each child. Developmental areas evaluated in the Toddler Rooms included Self Esteem and Independence, Interactions and Cooperation, Communication, Discovery and Exploration, Physical Capabilities, and Creativity.

The Preschool parents also received reports that identified how their children are moving along in acquiring the skills they need to succeed in kindergarten. The developmental areas evaluated in the Preschool included Reading Readiness, Math Concepts, Fine Motor Skills, and Character Development.

Mystery Readers Captivate Children
A new Providence Child Care Program titled “The Mystery Reader” began in November. Special guest readers have been invited to share a favorite book or a book that goes along with the center’s weekly theme. Mary Beth Parks, a librarian at Woods Run Library (below), was the very first mystery reader. Since the program began, Mary Beth has shared stories about Halloween, Thanksgiving, spiders and dogs. Providence Connections staff and Providence Family Support Center parents have also volunteered to be the mystery reader.

“The kids really get excited when a new face comes into the room, and it drives home the importance of reading and books,” says Ann Royster, assistant director of Providence Family Support Center. “Our hope is that as staff and parents continue to get involved new relationships will be built. Everyone has a unique personality that can help reading come alive.”

If you would like to be a Mystery Reader, please contact Ann Royster at 412.766.6730, ext. 213 or aroyster@providenceconnections.com.

Providence Child Care Center-South (PCCC-S)

PCCC-S Goes International
The children and staff at Providence Child Care Center-South are enjoying a rich and rewarding international experience this year as they learn to play with and care for three children who were adopted from foreign countries. Samantha, who is 18 months old, and Alison, who is 3, were adopted in China; and Connor, who is now 2, was adopted in Russia.

All three children understand and communicate in English, though Connor is often treated to a quick conversation in his native tongue with Vera Margargan, one of the caregivers in the Infant Program. Vera, who was born in Armenia, speaks English, Russian and Turkish fluently so PCCC-S is well prepared should there be an influx of other adopted children from Eastern Europe.

“All parents are anxious when their children first enter a child care program,” says Sister Kathleen McGrady, director of PCCC-S. “With adoptive parents, the anxiety level is understandably a bit higher. We recognize this and work closely with them to expand and enrich their role in their children’s early childhood education. We emphasize that we’re their partner in their children’s care and another resource that they can turn to for extra help and advice about ongoing health, developmental, language and literacy issues.”

Samantha, Allison and Connor have all adjusted extremely well both to their new families and to PCCC-S, indicating that they’re comfortable in their new environments, which is a testament to the unconditional love and countless hours of undivided attention they’ve received from their adoptive parents. “It’s truly a privilege to care for these children and watch them thrive and to work side-by-side with their parents,” says Sister Kathleen.