SUMMER
FUN
- Opportunity, Inc. swings into summer with a curriculum based
on weekly themes. The children enjoy a variety of age appropriate
field trips and in house activities. They “rumble in the
jungle,” probe the “commotion in the ocean,”
explore the wild, wild west as they continue to learn through
play. Summer fun culminates with a family-style barbecue to celebrate
old and new friends alike.
ACADEMICS
- Opportunity Early Childhood Center follows a flexible, research-based
curriculum to support each child’s academic growth. Our
fully integrated curriculum is based on seven domains of learning--
literacy, mathematics, science, the arts, social, developmental,
emotional health and physical health-- designed to meet the immediate,
individual needs of the whole child.
FIELD TRIPS - This
curriculum is based on monthly themes. The children enjoy a variety
of age appropriate field trips and in house activities. They “rumble
in the jungle,” probe the “commotion in the ocean,”
and “explore the wild, wild west” as they continue
to learn through play. The program also includes visits to the
library, museums, zoos, parks, and other areas of interest.
KINDERGARTEN READINESS
- To support our commitment to language and literacy, provide
screenings for children ages three to five. Reading-readiness
skills and concept formation are the key components. Teachers
and volunteers read to the children daily to instill an appreciation
for the written word and to engage young imaginations.
FINE ARTS - Students
learn as they express themselves through visual arts, music and
movement. The students satisfy their sensory curiosity and experience
pride and the thrill of accomplishment as they discover hidden
talents.
DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS
- We apply a range of developmental screening systems to best
determine and meet the needs of each child. Working together,
we create individual strategies to address those needs. Studies
have proven that early intervention can improve the direction
of a child’s future.
OUTREACH SERVICES
– Opportunity, Inc. we deliver no cost outreach services
alongside a conveyor belt of other social programs to our clientele.
These services include but are not limited to: tax preparation
services, credit counseling, homeownership, educational/vocational
counseling, and benefits navigation, nutrition education, health
services, food supplies, human resource development, technical
support. Examples of the success of these services include: increased
family income capacity, first homes purchase ability and ability
to engage in continuing education and start a business. In special
circumstances, Opportunity, Inc. will also provide intervention
services for job placement and access to subsidized care on an
as needed basis.
Special holiday programs include Christmas Santa Parties, gifts
from our donor community, Thanksgiving food drives, Easter egg
hunts, onsite special guest appearances and activities. “Adopt
a family” during the holiday season is ongoing during which
we provide clothing, shoes, school supplies and other basic essentials
to families most in need.
HEALTHY ME - The
Healthy Me Program supports healthy nutritional habits, obesity
prevention and encourages disease prevention and health betterment.
This enables positive health choices and behaviors thereby allowing
for greater successes for lifetime application.
PARENTING SKILLS TRAINING - We plan, develop,
implement, coordinate, monitor and evaluate outreach programs
to maximize their accessibility to our families A wide variety
of Parenting & Family Classes are offered on a continual basis
covering a wide range of topics. The life skills classes are opened
to the community at large, not just families of children in our
early childhood program. Students With Involved Parents, No Matter
What Their Background, Are More Likely To Succeed!
LINKS TO LITERACY
- We use techniques that develop those characteristics of children
from birth through age 5 that are most closely linked to later
achievement in literacy: oral language development, phonological/phonemic
awareness, alphabetic knowledge, print knowledge, and inventive
spelling. . The on site lending library compliments this.
The following support services are engaged to further enhance
the work of Opportunity, Inc. :
• The Parent Child Center - Through support
from Palm Beach County, we work with families and agencies specializing
in health, vision, dental, speech, behavioral and developmental
supports. Linkages are forged with several low cost/free health
providers for this service.
• Parenting and Family Classes - This work
is done in collaboration with Planned Parenthood, The Society
of the Four Arts and The Florida Extension Services unit from
The University of Florida.
• Meals And Nutrition - Participation in
the Child Care Food Program for schools enables us to provide
well-balanced nutritious meals and snacks and to meet the U.S.D.A
requirements for young children.
• Referral Services - Referrals to agencies
such as AVDA (Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse), the Center for
Family Services, Child Find, the Children’s Services Council,
Healthy Mothers / Healthy Babies, Legal Aid Society, Child Find,
Early Steps, the Mental Health Association, Palm Beach County
Health Department, Palm Beach County School District and Samaritan
Clinic are on going.
Other
on going initiatives include: Quality Improvement
System (a voluntary early care and education improvement system),
Early Learning Coalition, education for teachers - scholarship
grants, Family Central: financial support for families, National
Accreditation Commission, - operating standards, VPK: education
standards, Dress for Success: Professional - clothing provided
for clients interviews and job placements.
