Programs
Preschool
SSYC Preschool has served the community since 1970. The center provides high quality child care to children between the ages of 3 and 5. SSYC is a collaborative partner with the Plainfield School District and provides free Preschool to all Plainfield residents.
We provide a comprehensive full day program (7:00am – 5:30pm) year round. Early childhood experiences are our focus. The High/Scope Active Learning Curriculum is used. This Curriculum allows the child to plan their own day. Children’s’ experiences are child directed, with teacher’s assistance.
Presently, the Preschool program focuses on Kindergarten readiness and can support a maximum of 210 students in 14 classrooms. Each classroom has a certified P-3 teacher and a teacher’s aide. WE operate a b-lingual program implementing the High Scope curriculum prescribed by the Plainfield School District. Under the Wrap Around program the Pre-school schedule is extended from 7AM to 6PM. The Preschool program was accredited by the National Association of Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in 2011 and re-certified in 2014.
Our Philosophy is to educate the whole child through experiences that enhance intellectual, social and emotional growth that leads to building a positive self-image. We are creating 21st century learners through the integration of STEM and the promotion of executive order thinking into our children’s everyday learning experiences.
Read more about our Preschool Program at the Second Street Youth Center and how you can register your child.
After School
The After School program is a bridge between home and school and offers safe out of school programming for elementary school students in Plainfield. We provide literacy strategies, leveraged learning, standardized test preparation and STEM projects such as robotics.
The After School Program began in 2007. It is open to kids 5-11 and supports 100 kids daily, with our dedicated staff. The program was accredited in 2012 and was re-accredited in 2016. Accreditation examines human resources, program organization, content, facilities and meals. Accreditation takes place regularly. Our staff has been trained to understand their role in the success of the program which follows the NJ Quality Standard for After School.
Summer STEAM Camp is available during July and August (8 weeks) for 3-15 year-old kids. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math as well as arts and crafts, field trips and projects are offered to the attendees. In 2018, we had 150 kids participate in our programs. In partnership with Arts for Kids, our children also experience the arts with artist in residence coming to SSYC and providing, African Dance, Drumming, Chorus and, Visual Arts to name a few.
Family and Community Services
Our community outreach department at SSYC employs three full time family workers and two part-time community outreach coordinators. The Family workers coordinate services for the families of SSYC preschool attendees, linking them to community resources, serving as intermediaries between the parent and the student as well as advocating for resources required for families to be successful.
Through our partnership with the United Way of Greater Union County, SSYC coordinates the Family Support Prevention Program that provides social services support, financial literacy training and financial resources to assist working families with financial emergencies. Through outreach, we are able to identify families within the community that need these services and link them to SSYC for assistance.
Also in partnership with the United Way of Greater Union County, SSYC is leading an Out of School Youth Employment and Training Program. We are collaborating with the City of Plainfield Police Division Youth Bureau to identify at-risk youth ages 16-24 who are not in school. We provide comprehensive leadership training, soft job skills and links to employers in the community. SSYC is uniquely positioned to offer this program because, where possible, we introduce the youth to early childhood education as a potential career path. We work closely with a job developer who finds work sites for our participants. Those interested in the early childhood field are assisted in securing their Child Development Associates Degree through 4C’s of Union County.
SSYC utilizes a holistic approach to provide a continuum of programming that positively impacts access to preschool, nutrition, physical and emotional health, environmental factors, community and family structures, summer learning loss, and quality of educational instruction.
Summer STEAM Camp
Summer STEAM Camp is provided for children between the ages of 3 and 15, from July 1 to August 31. Our center provides full day service during the entire summer. The SSYC Summer STEAM Camp program provides youth with a safe-haven and also helps reduce “summer learning loss”. Activities include roller skating, bowling, swimming, field trips, games and summer school work projects as well as Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) projects and activities.