KING STREET CENTER INC

EARLY EDUCATION: KING STREET CENTERS 5-STAR, HEAD START THERAPEUTIC CHILD CARE PROGRAM IS MADE UP OF THE TODDLER AND PRESCHOOL CLASSROOMS AND SERVES CHILDREN AGES EIGHTEEN MONTHS THROUGH FIVE YEARS OLD. GUIDED BY THE PILLARS OF PLAY, EQUITY, COMMUNICATION, AND HEALTH & SAFETY, THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING, GROWTH, AND SUCCESS IN A POSITIVE, DEVELOPMENTALLY-APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH CHILD-DIRECTED, OPEN-ENDED PLAY. THE PROGRAM EMPHASIZES SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND NURTURES CHILDRENS OWN INTERESTS AND NATURAL CURIOSITY. K-5: KING STREET CENTERS KINDERGARTEN-5TH GRADE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SERVES CHILDREN AGES 5 YEARS OLD TO 10 YEARS OLD THROUGH AFTERSCHOOL AND CAMP PROGRAMS FOR 42 WEEKS OF THE YEAR. THE PROGRAM IS ROOTED IN SOCIAL- EMOTIONAL LEARNING, POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP BUILDING WITH PEERS AND ADULTS, EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT, RECREATION, MEETING BASIC NEEDS, COMMUNITY CONNECTION, AND EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO FEEL A SENSE OF BELONGING. CHILDREN IN THIS PROGRAM ARE PROVIDED WITH A CARING ADULT MENTOR EACH WEEK TO WORK ON LITERACY AND PLAY EDUCATIONAL GAMES THROUGH OUR BOOK BUDDY PROGRAM. TEEN: KING STREET CENTERS TEEN PROGRAM SERVES MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH IN 6TH-12TH GRADE THROUGH AFTERSCHOOL AND CAMP PROGRAMS FOR 42 WEEKS OF THE YEAR, PROVIDING HEALTHY ACTIVITIES, EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND RISK-PREVENTION PROGRAMMING. TEENS ARE SERVED WARM MEALS DAILY. THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE EXPERIENCES OUTSIDE OF THE CENTER SO THAT YOUTH CAN FIND THEIR PASSIONS, EXPLORE POTENTIAL CAREERS, AND BEGIN PLANNING FOR A LIFE BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM PROVIDES MORE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT AND RECREATIONAL AND COMMUNITY OUTING OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS. IT ALSO INCLUDES A JOB CLUB PROGRAM WHERE YOUTH LEARN KEY SKILLS LIKE FINANCIAL LITERACY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE TO HELP PREPARE THEM FOR FUTURE JOBS. THE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM FEATURES AN ACADEMIC & CAREER EXPLORATION (ACE) PROGRAM EXPOSING STUDENTS TO POTENTIAL CAREER PATHS AND SUPPORTING THEM IN NAVIGATING POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION PLANS. ACE CONNECTS STUDENTS TO LOCAL BUSINESSES, ENTREPRENEURS, AND PROFESSIONALS WITH SPECIFIC SKILLS, AND OFFERS THE CHANCE TO FIND A PASSION TO PURSUE, WHILE PROVIDING A STIPEND TO PARTICIPANTS SO THEY DONT HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN GETTING A PART-TIME EVENING JOB AND PLANNING FOR THEIR FUTURE. MENTOR: KING STREET CENTERS MENTOR PROGRAM FOSTERS POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP BUILDING FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH AT EVERY STAGE OF CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE STARTING IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY MENTOR, BOOK BUDDY, AND PEER MENTOR PROGRAMS. COMMUNITY MENTORS ARE ADULTS MATCHED WITH K-12 STUDENTS, AND THE BOOK BUDDY PROGRAM MATCHES K-5 STUDENTS WITH ADULTS TO READ AND PLAY EDUCATIONAL GAMES WITH EACH WEEK WHILE AT THE CENTER. THE PEER MENTOR PROGRAM MATCHES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH K-5 CHILDREN TO MEET WITH WEEKLY AT THE CENTER.