Child and Youth Programs
Wow - it's been a celebratory year! From the Child & Youth Programming standpoint, it continues to be a privilege, honour and joy to assist with the connection of support services for kids and youth with barriers to learning. Whether through Tutoring 121, 'Break Away', Fitness Zone - SWIM, March Break Mini Camp, Blaze Summer Camp 2009, Lego Friendship Project or Teens Advance, it is our priority to partner with families with meaningful care and support that brings hope.
2009 in review -
- Launch of refreshed academic boost program - 'Tutoring 121' serves 16 elementary students from Port Perry and Uxbridge areas
- Understanding new needs and a support gap, Precious Minds developed 'Teens Advance' out of the 'Break Away' concept; increasing the number of kids we support on Saturday afternoons by 6
- 'Fitness Zone - SWIM' supports a returning group of kids and youth with developmental needs for two sessions (Winter and Fall) and breaks new ground, offering a similar program in Port Perry in the winter of 2009
- Blaze Summer Camp - our most intensive support initiative welcomed 41 campers (up 32% from 2008)
- We resurrected the creative 'Lego Friendship Project' for boys (ages 8-12) identified with Asperger's syndrome or learning disabilities
- Precious Minds and Lake Ridge Community Support Services agreed to partner for a social skills training program which will launch in fall 2010
Precious Minds gratefully acknowledges the generous support of many 'friends of the Centre' - volunteers, community groups, churches and corporate foundations who give of their time, expertise and finances to further our impact - ultimately joining hands with Precious Minds to provide needed support.
Supporting kids well is our priority! Whether your child's need is temporary or longer term, we are positioned to help through programs such as:
- Blaze Summer Camps 2010
- Break Away
- March Break Mini-Camp
- Teens Advance
- Social Skills Group
- Tutoring 1-2-1 (commences in January 2011)
- Sibling Support
- Fitness Zone -- SWIM
- Lego Friendship Project
We welcome your enquiries and thank-you again for the opportunity to build into your precious ones,
Sandy Ianuzzo
Family Support -- Child & Youth Programming
Contact me at: 905-982-0882, ext. 1 OR sianuzzo@preciousminds.com
Blaze Summer Camps 2010
Blaze camp program served 41 awesome kids! Session highlights included camp friends, soccer games, water days, freezies, art, our resident rabbit "Bugs Bunny" and flock of laying hens, djembe drumming under our new shelter, our own fresh produce mini-market, pony rides and introductions to far-out creatures, like hedgehogs and prairie dogs! Enrolment and our waiting list indicate an expanding need for care and structured support over the summer months for children and youth in North Durham. We enjoyed getting to know several new families and are thankful for the opportunity to have grown our relationships with many who have accessed the support services of Precious Minds for years!
It's a very special aspect of our journey to celebrate kids who started at Precious Minds as young children and who now participate in our youth camp exploring "Leadership" modules. The success of Blaze had much to do with the tremendous commitment of our compassionate volunteers and student staff team -- Jen Obie, Miriam Punnoose, Ashley Tiller, Krista Steinhart, Cameron Wilson, and Jared Wilson.
Break Away
A Saturday afternoon initiative for kids and youth with developmental disabilities. Designed with similar goals to Blaze summer camps, Break Away is FUN, a creative and theme-based structured few hours for kids & youth which includes elements of social skill building, fitness, art, music, healthy eating and play while providing caregivers and families with a regular window in the week to ‘fill up’ and break away...
Dates: Saturday afternoons, Oct. 16 - Dec. 4
Time: 1:30 to 4:30 pm
Location: Precious Minds Resource & Learning Centre
Cost: $25/afternoon or $160 per session.
Generously sponsored by United Way of Ajax Pickering Uxbridge and Unity for Autism
Teens Advance
Entering our third season, this social support opportunity for teens (Asperger’s, high-functioning autism, learning disabilities) is designed to be FUN, interactive and effective in helping teens transition to young adulthood. Program goals remain oriented to promoting independence, exercise and healthy eating, good hygiene, current styles, exploring aspects of leadership, volunteerism, honing interests and strengths with a view to contributing positively in life at home, school and in the community.
Dates: Saturday afternoons, Oct. 16 - Dec. 4
Time: 1:30 to 4:30 pm
Location: Precious Minds Resource & Learning Centre AND various off-site venues
Cost: $25/afternoon or $160 per session.
Generously sponsored by Township of Scugog & the United Way of Ajax Pickering Uxbridge
Fitness Zone -- SWIM
With a focus on water safety, level-appropriate instruction and lots of FUN in the mix, these sessions are proven life skill/social building opportunities for kids and youth with various disabilities. Participants are partnered with high school peers with swimming qualifications. Classes led by Beth McClelland, Red Cross Instructor; affiliate of Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Centre.
SWIM Uxbridge
Dates: Thursday after school, Oct. 7 to Nov. 25
Time: 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Uxpool, Parkside Drive, Uxbridge
Cost: $160.00
Precious Minds launch of 'Fitness Zone - SWIM'. Cheers to Beth McClelland,
USS student volunteers, and Uxpool staff who partnered for kids/youth with developmental disabilities.
We are grateful to General Mills Canada Corporation for their support through the
Champions for Health Kids grant.
REGISTRATION:
To register for any of these programs, please contact: Sandy Ianuzzo, Family Support – Child & Youth Programming Coordinator
Tel. (905) 982-0882, ext. 1 Email: Sandy Ianuzzo
Lego Friendship Project
Our goal in this unique support opportunity is to come around the social needs of boys, ages 8-12 with a diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome or high-functioning autism. Each afternoon is 'built to specs' with special focus on providing a safe and engaging setting, practicing everyday aspects to healthy relationships and utilizing Lego as a means of experiencing teamwork. We are grateful to various community players for their committment to join Precious Minds in making this support strategy possible. As well, we encourage high school students to consider this as a meaningful way to help fulfill their 'community service' hours requirement.
For more information, please contact Sandy Ianuzzo - Family Support, Child & Youth Programming at (905) 982-0882, ext. 1
Generously sponsored by United Way of Ajax Pickering Uxbridge
Social Skills Group
We're recruiting!
Do you have an adolescent 12-18 years of age with a confirmed diagnosis of Asperger's or high-functioning autism? Precious Minds is pleased to be partnering with Lake Ridge Community Support Services for a social skills program beginning in Fall 2010. In order to ensure this support program is sustainable and has impact for North Durham youth in the years to come, we are following a carefully set-out recruiting process which will include assessment/screening (Spring 2010). Please call Sandy to discuss your interest in getting involved - (905) 982-0882, ext. 1 We would love to hear from you!
Tutoring 1-2-1
Over the past few months, Precious Minds has put 'Academic Boost' under the microscope and what we're proposing for the new year is a more individualized approach to supporting elementary-age kids (SK to Gr. 8) who are struggling in the literacy and math strands.
This approach is called "Tutoring 1-2-1 (One to one)".
Many children struggle to keep pace with academic requirements at school. Literacy and numeracy skills are foundation stones for each child's development. The Precious Minds team is pleased to offer a fresh, individual approach to meeting the struggling student at his/her specific need, with the end goal of measurable improvement. In consultation with a qualified teacher, exercises and skills, based on the student's unique needs, will be worked through over an 8-week, 1:1 tutoring schedule. At the close of the schedule, the student's progress will be assessed and a support plan for continued improvement will be offered. It is our aim that 'Tutoring 121' will make a positive difference in your child's achievement, self-esteem and confidence.
Please call our office if you have further questions or would like to arrange an interview.
Contact: Sandy Ianuzzo, Programs Coordinator (905) 982-0882; sianuzzo@preciousminds.com
Start: January 2011
Sibling Support
Equally near to our hearts is the desire to support siblings of kids living with barriers to learning. They're a wonderful lot - developing character under pressure, shouldering extra responsibilities around home, processing more questions about their future than their friends and more often than not play second fiddle when you consider a parent's need to ensure that their child with special needs is cared for well. Siblings have issues of their own they need to work through. They need fresh air! Many crave friendships. So, for a few years now, Precious Minds has been developing a support program with the following specific objectives:
- Sib Support would facilitate a safe and trustworthy environment for siblings of kids with special needs.
- Healthy relationships would be fostered between siblings of families and the group mentors.
- Times together would be age-appropriately informative - opportunities where questions and concerns can be expressed, helpful strategies introduced and hope renewed.
- Sib Support events would be affordable and FUN!
Each Sibling Support event is led by qualified adults - most recently, a leader who has walked this path and understands personally, the very real need for support these kids have.
