The Piedmont Family YMCA’s Child Watch will kick off the week of August 26 at the Jefferson School City Center—just in time for the start of PVCC’s fall classes, several of which will be offered at the Jefferson School. But Child Watch is not just for PVCC students. As Brookes Sims, Director of Child Care Services at the Piedmont Family YMCA, explained ,it’s also for parents looking to have a date night, use Carver Recreation Center, or just catch a movie downtown.
Sims and the Child Watch staff, Amanda Johns, Coordinator, and L’oreal Lee, Teacher, have created a thematic set of activities to ensure children have a fun, healthy time while their parents are out on the town or in class. “We’ve created a theme for every month,” Sims explained, adding that each evening will feature a variety of activities, including at least 30 minutes of physical activity, homework help if children need it, arts and crafts, science, music, and drama games. “There’s no TV on our schedule,” Sims added.
Johns, who holds a degree in elementary education from the University of North Florida, wants parents to know that “the Y is a safe and healthy environment for their kids to come and grow. Even if they’re only here for a couple of hours, the values and skills we teach them are life long.”
Child Watch is available for children ages 3-12, Monday through Thursday evenings from 6:00 pm to 10:15 pm, though is open to expanding its hours if there’s a demand. “If other organizations in the Jefferson School Center are having events on Fridays or Saturdays, we’re here,” Sims said. Because Child Watch is a licensed program, parents are required to register their children in advance. In partnership with Piedmont Virginia Community College, PVCC students and staff can register their children for Child Watch at a discounted rate of $5.00/hour/child. The general admission rate is $8.00/hour/child. For more information about Child Watch, or other offerings from the Y at the Jefferson, call 434-202-0118 or email office@piedmontymca.org.
New Face at Literacy Volunteers
Literacy Volunteers recently brought on board Amie Whittemore in the newly established role of Tutor Recruitment and Communications Coordinator. As Ellen Osborne, Executive Director, describes it, she had a list of “hundreds of things” with which she could use some help. Over the last few months Osborne was able to narrow that list and create a role that, while still being invented, emphasizes the need to recruit more tutors to meet the needs of the many students on Literacy Volunteers’ wait list.
Whittemore brings with her three years of experience working as the Academic Resource Center Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. A recent Charlottesville transplant, she is happy that her new role draws on two of her passions: tutoring and writing. “While I certainly won’t miss the Wisconsin winters,” she said, “I knew I would miss my tutors when my husband and I decided to relocate to Charlottesville. I feel incredibly fortunate to have found a job where I can continue to support the great work tutors do.”
Whittemore immediately got to work on recruiting volunteers for the new tutor training, scheduled for September 14 from 9:30 am to 4 pm. To register for the training or for more information, call 434-977-3838.
Vinegar Hill Cafe – Extended Hours & Pancake Breakfast Partnerships
To better serve students attending PVCC evening classes at the Jefferson School, Vinegar Hill Café will extend its hours starting Monday, August 26. The café will be open until 7:00 pm, Monday through Thursday.
Additionally, café manager Joel Schechtman announced that Vinegar Hill will be partnering with local nonprofits to host Pancake Breakfast Fundraisers. Organizations will be responsible for selling tickets to Saturday morning breakfast buffets and providing volunteers to help out at the breakfast. Ticket-buyers will enjoy a pancake buffet, complete with toppings, syrup, and beverages, while learning more about the partnering nonprofit. Proceeds will be split between the cafe and the organization. For more information about the program contact Taikia Walker at 434-245-5811 or taikiawalker@gmail.com.
Jefferson School City Center is a voice of the nine nonprofits located at Charlottesville’s intergenerational community center, the restored Jefferson School. We are a legacy preserved . . . a soul reborn . . . in the heart of Cville!
