KidsCare Program at Greece Central School District

Kelly Giudice is Greece Central School’s Coordinator of the KidsCare Program. Giudice joined Greece Central Schools in July 2021, hired to relaunch their child care division. Giudice has 25 years of experience in child care. Greece’s child care program closed down during COVID.

According to the GCSD website, “The district’s new and distinctive, before and after-school, KidsCare Program, offers care for students in K-5. The reinvented KidsCare Program is committed to developing settings that support the social, emotional, creative, and collaborative intelligence of the child. Through a child-driven and interest-based approach to recreational programming, it is our mission to highlight and develop each child’s innate strengths and talents. This program serves as the ideal complement to your child’s daily academic experiences as we strive, as a district, to support the whole child, and the needs of our families, with the development of an inclusive, joyful, and close-knit community.”

Giudice said the program was developed at GCSD with the goal of, “Wrapping the kids in a nurturing, play-based environment. This is the children’s time, we believe the work we are doing supports their academic development by focus on social and emotional skill development. Our programs helps kids to regulate emotions, and encourages creative expression through the arts. Not everyone is doing the same project. The focus is on the medium, the process and individual expression. We honor the fact that children are movers, there are many opportunities to get their bodies moving. We also help deepen their connection to the natural world through outdoor activities, spending a lot of time outside in nature. It is important that children get a couple of extra hours outside. It might be old-school, but we also realize the amount of screen time that kids today are experiencing. Time is needed outside, playing. Playtime outdoors is important because it provides kids with the opportunity to solve problems, have adventures and develop the social skills that free play offers.”

Also, the KidsCare Program seeks to develop community connections through service projects. Currently the kids are making potholders to sell at a small craft sale at school. The proceeds will be donated to local homeless shelters. This encourages the realization that they can truly make a change in their community through involvement.

In development of the program, GCSD took into account issues children are experiencing coping with the isolation brought on by COVID. Giudice said, “During COVID all kids were denied the opportunity for social play, and to communicate with one another, and with their community. They felt a real isolation. We support the building of relationships and connections through play. We foster curiosity, and are committed to being in touch with the kid’s interests. We listen to the subject of their play and follow through with programs designed to meet these interests and curiosities.”

Seven, of the eleven, elementary schools in GCSD are participating in the KidsCare Program. They provide care during the hours before school, 7:00am until school begins, and after school, until 6:00pm. There is a fee for the program. GCSD works to keep the rates below the market rates. “The goal here is not to make a profit, but to provide an affordable program so that all families can participate. GCSD is partnered with the Department of Social Services, serving families that receive child care services.

Currently there are 300 children, grades K to 5, enrolled in KidsCare in Greece. With a staff of 30 to 35 adults, each location has a site manager and KidsCare aides. They are currently looking for community members to work in the program. “It is the perfect job opportunity for college students, retired individuals and school personnel. We employ a diverse group on our staff, providing a way to be involved with children and with your Greece Central School community,” Giudice said.

For more information on job opportunities in the KidsCare Program visit www.greececsd.org and click on Job Opportunities on the Home Page navigation bar.

For more information on the KidsCare Program visit www.greececsd.org click on Parents & Community on the Home Page navigation bar.

Photos by Karen Fien