I hope this message finds you well and that, despite all that is going on, you took some time to experience the joy of the holidays with your loved ones.
Just over a month ago, we made the difficult but prudent decision to close our facilities to the public. In the weeks that have followed, every area of our agency has taken steps to ensure that we continue to serve our community’s needs and adapt to the unique challenges presented by this crisis. We are continually expanding our social services, which are needed now more than ever to assist the most vulnerable members of our community. We are especially grateful to have been able to provide Kosher for Passover meals for those in need. JCC staff members are also finding creative solutions to keep the social and recreational spirit of our community strong, including online lectures and virtual classes we can enjoy together at home. As I have said in the past, please reach out to us if you or someone you know is in need of assistance with COVID-19 resources—we are here to help you in any way we can. In addition, if there are any other virtual programs you would like to see, please let us know and we will try our best to make it possible. Finally, if you are participating in our J at Home programs—as we know many of you are—let us know. We love hearing from you and being reminded just how strong this wonderful community remains! Shabbat Shalom and enjoy the weekend! -Orit Lender, Deputy Executive Director IN THE NEWS In Memoriam: Bea Victor (1921-2020) We will never forget Bea Victor's many contributions to the JCC and our community. She will be greatly missed. Read more about her legacy here. - This year would have been Police Officer Gerard Carter’s 50th birthday. Our Gerard Carter Center is named for the late police officer, who died in the line of duty. Since we couldn’t be together, we recently hosted a Zoom event so everyone could join in and celebrate his life and legacy. Special thanks to Jozette Carter-Williams, Staten Island District Attorney's Office, NYPD, Port Richmond High School, friends and family of Officer Carter, our partners at DYCD, and all the community members who joined us!Check out some photos from the event here! - Recently, our South Shore ECE teachers wore blue in honor of Autism Awareness Month! 💙 At the JCC, we specialize in helping those with disabilities. We provide developmental, social, and recreational opportunities for a wide spectrum of individuals, beginning at age three and ranging through adulthood! To learn more, click here. - Our Teacher of the Day is Sal Grande, who works in our Adult Education department! One of Sal's favorite quotes is, "The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you." Thank you, Sal, for giving this special gift of learning to all of your students! - Did you know that April is Occupational Therapy Month? We have several wonderful OTs who work with children in our ECE department. Today, we're celebrating Alexa Winchel and Kirsten Ekelund! Thank you both for all of your hard work and dedication! WELLNESS Have you moved today? We know it can be hard to find motivation to work out when you can’t go to the gym, but there are plenty of ways to stay active without leaving your house! Check out this article which has creative ideas for how to sit less and move more while you’re stuck at home! - Practicing gratitude can help reduce stress and refocus our energy on the positive things in life—something we could all use right now! Read more about stress and its relationship to your overall health here and practice this short gratitude exercise described in the article:
SPORTS Our Sports and Recreation team has put together some drills you can practice at home to keep your skills strong before the season starts! For today's soccer drill, practice One-Touch Shooting. Adjust your body, head, and feet and try to complete a shot with just one touch. Keep practicing! As hockey legend Wayne Gretzky once said, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." The same is true in soccer! This drill will help you overcome hesitation, so you won't miss your shots! - Did you know that we offer four different sports camps in the summer? We have soccer, basketball, gymnastics, and aquatics programs! Not only will your child improve their skills, but sports will teach your child how to be a good teammate, the value of hard work, and the power of a positive attitude! Learn more here! ARTS AND CULTURE Visit the opera from home with this video of Mozart’s "Così fan tutte" as performed by Teatro Real de Madrid! - Our "Art of Broadway" class is going virtual! Starting this Friday at 11am, Fred Grieco will lead his weekly class on Zoom. Don't miss it! Meeting ID 115-119-374 Password 265999 - We are hosting our Virtual Book Club meeting on April 23 at 12:30pm. We will be reading "Beyond the Ghetto Gates" and will be joined by author Michelle Cameron on a Zoom meeting. Learn more here. MUSIC Check out a Very Young People's Concert by the New York Philharmonic! This fun performance will teach little ones the difference between "allegro" and "adagio" and will make famous pieces of music more accessible to them! CAMP The Weekly Schmooze: Celebrating Kindness on the Day of Caring and Sharing One of the highlights of our summer, the Day of Caring and Sharing reminds our campers that it is better to give than to receive and demonstrates that we can all make a positive impact on the world around us. This year, it’s more important than ever that we celebrate these values as we see the power of lending a helping hand in times of need. Read more about one of our favorite days at camp here! - We hope you will consider registering for camp again this year, as we intend to have another wonderful summer. Registration is ongoing at camp.sijcc.org. As we adjust to the shifting landscape of this crisis, we will inform you about any changes to our programming. In the event that we have to make the heartbreaking decision not to open camp in 2020, you will receive a full refund. KIDS AND FAMILIES Explore the ocean blue! Take a virtual visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium by checking out their live cams— you can spend some time with adorable penguins and sea otters, watch beautiful tropical fish swim through colorful coral, and more! Have fun and learn all about marine life with online games and printable activities here. After you've explored the aquarium, dive deep with some of our favorite movies that take place under the sea!
SOCIAL SERVICES For those in need, JCC social services have gone completely virtual, with staff members providing health insurance navigation, mental health services, legal support resources, and other COVID-19 resources over the phone and email. If you need assistance, please reply to this email, and someone from our staff will get in touch with you. - New York State announced a Special Enrollment Period for individuals who may have lost their health insurance as a result of their employment ending due to Coronavirus. If enrollment in Qualified Health Plans through NY State of Health Marketplace is completed between March 16 and April 15, 2020 individuals will have coverage effective April 1, 2020. Enrollment into Medicaid, Essential Plan and Child Health Plus is open year-round. Consumers can apply for coverage through JCC NYSOH Navigators by phone at 718.981.1400 or 718-475-5271. - Our friends at NYLAG put together this webinar with financial advice to help you get through the COVID-19 situation. The video discusses financial challenges, updates on government programs, and other resources. For more information, contact Devorah Weiss at dweiss@sijcc.com COMMUNITY EVENTS U.S. Census 2020 If you haven’t filled out the census yet, now is the time to do it! It is vital that we are ALL counted to secure funding for housing, transportation, schools, and other services we rely on. It takes less than 10 minutes and is confidential. You can fill it out by mail, online or by calling (844) 330-2020. - Every year, the JCC serves over 6,000 people in crisis. This year, that number will grow as Staten Islanders experience hardships related to COVID-19. Recently, we got a call from a woman in Israel whose 90-year-old mother lives on Staten Island. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the caller was unable to join her mother, who is a Holocaust survivor, for Passover and wanted to make sure she had food for the holiday. Through our Kosher Food Pantry and Social Services Department, we are also working to provide her with weekly food packages and help her receive additional benefits. This is just one example of the many families the JCC has helped in times of crisis. To help us continue to support those negatively affected by COVID-19, please donate to our Families in Need campaign.
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November 2021
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LocationSBERNIKOW/MID-ISLAND
1466 Manor Road Staten Island, NY 10314 718.475.5200 ABERLIN/NORTH SHORE
485 Victory Blvd Staten Island, NY 10301 718.475.5290 |
AVIS/SOUTH SHORE
1297 Arthur Kill Road Staten Island, NY 10312 718.475.5270 BERMAN EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
2221 Richmond Ave. Staten Island, NY 10314 718.475.5100 |
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