The JCC’s Bulletin dates back to the 1930s, when it was a premier source of news for the local Jewish community. We are proud to continue this tradition of keeping our JCC community informed via our virtual Bulletin.
The bulletin circa 1974
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 We are so excited to announce our new Core 24 Summer Basketball Camp, under the direction of Mike Reape, our Director of Sports & Recreation!
Core 24 Basketball Camp will help kids become well-rounded basketball players through drills that develop game IQ and skills like ball handling and shooting. Our program includes activities tailored to every child’s age and skill level. When they’re not practicing or having friendly competitions, campers will have fun playing board games and swimming! Learn more HERE! This year, we’re celebrating the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island’s 90th birthday. As the JCC turns 90, we reflect back on the milestones the organization has achieved over the years. February is Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month, a worldwide effort to raise awareness and advocate for people with disabilities. At the JCC, we believe that providing services to people with disabilities is a core component to everything we do, and we have a long history of creating programs to support their needs.
We continued to expand our offerings for people with disabilities to help during at all stages of life. In 1989, under the direction of Early Childhood Education Director Beth Howard, the JCC developed the First Foot Forward Program, an educational program for young children with speech delays, sensory needs, and motor issues. The program started out small and continued to grow under the guidance of Jayne Smith, our Chief Program Director for Early Childhood and Disability Services. The current program, which is offered at three sites, includes individualized instruction with different types of therapy for children’s various needs.
In the summers, children of all abilities are able to create wonderful memories and make new friends at summer camp. Marvin’s Camp for Children with Special Needs, named in memory of Marvin Weissglass, is a unique recreational summer program customized for children with disabilities. Campers are able to enjoy the great outdoors, go on trips, and socialize in a safe and inclusive environment.
We engage our participants in opportunities to be healthy, social, and active members of the community with a maximum degree of independence.
Watch this video from UJA Federation of New York of our Day Hab participants enjoying their music class. Acceptance and inclusion are key components to all of our programming at the JCC. We offer inclusion opportunities in many of our traditional programs, including sports, camp, and after school programs, so that children and young adults with disabilities are able to take part in a wide array of activities. In every one of our sites, we emphasize the importance of creating a space where everyone feels welcome. The JCC is proud to be a place where people of all abilities can feel safe and included, and most importantly, where they can learn and have fun.  Teen Travelers visited Hershey Park last summer! When we think of summer camp, we tend to think about our experiences as younger children. However, at the JCC, we know that positive, safe summer camp experiences are just as important to older kids as they are to little ones. This is why we offer Camp Nesiyah, better known as Teen Travel, for kids entering 8th and 9th grade. Recognizing that teens’ interests differ from our younger campers’, we tailor our Teen Travel program to include trips teens will enjoy most, while remaining true to the core principles of JCC Camp—friendship, discovery, and fun. Teen Travelers have the opportunity to adventure and try new things every day, while also building strong friendships with their fellow campers.  Teens also visited MetLife Stadium last year! Where will they go next? Each day of camp, Teen Travelers will visit favorite summer locations and discover new ones. Trips in the past have included water parks, amusement parks, Broadway shows, sporting events, museums, boardwalks, hands-on activities, rock climbing, laser tag, and much more! Campers will also enjoy overnight trips, including a 3 day trip to Busch Gardens and Water Country USA in Williamsburg, Virginia! As we gear up for Summer 2020, our camp staff is hard at work to plan even more awesome excursions for this year! Does your teen want to spend their summer going on fun adventures with their friends? Be sure to sign up for Teen Travel camp at camp.sijcc.org!
In September, we launched our reimagined after school program, Explorers: Kids Building Our World, which was designed to promote holistic development for children in our community. Every day after school gets out, kids come here to the J to participate in activities that stimulate their minds, bodies, and spirits.   When the kids arrive, they have a healthy snack before settling in to do their homework. DOE-certified teachers are on hand to ensure that everyone gets the academic support they may need. Next, the kids participate in scheduled activities based on their age group. With a wide variety of activities, there’s sure to be something enriching and enjoyable for every child! Our program is centered on three core ideas: Expand Your Mind, Nourish the Body, and Mindfulness. To expand their minds, our Explorers take music lessons at the Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute, play chess and other games, and take part in STEAM activities and arts and crafts. To nourish their bodies, they play sports and Gaga, do fitness activities like Kidzercise, Yoga, Zumba, and Jiu Jitsu, and participate in cooking projects that teach them to make healthy nutrition choices. The kids also practice mindfulness, a key part of mental and spiritual development, by participating in meditation circles and social-emotional learning activities, and by learning about Jewish values.  The Explorers program is a great opportunity for kids to spend a few hours working on homework, learning new things, and socializing with their friends. It’s also a great option for parents who work late. They can feel confident that their children are in an environment that is safe, nurturing, enriching, and, of course, fun! To learn more or sign up for Explorers, contact Lisa Quinn at LQuinn@sijcc.com.  One thing that makes the JCC’s Camp special is that we offer year-round programming so that the fun doesn’t have to stop when summer ends! This month, our campers had so many opportunities to hang out with their friends from camp! Campers started off the new year together at the 13th annual Camp Reunion on January 5. They were treated to a fun afternoon complete with bouncy inflatables, entertainment by Jester Jim, and a build-your-own sundae bar! The kids loved seeing all of their friends and counselors from camp! Check out some great photos from the event here: Next up were Camp 365 and Middle School Madness, two monthly programs that allow campers to enjoy a variety of camp-like activities while their parents enjoy some quiet time on a Saturday night. Noting the chilly January weather, the kids made cute penguin crafts and some tasty penguin treats! On January 19, the campers got together again for a Frozen-themed Sunday Funday. After watching the film, the kids were inspired by the catchy tune, “Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?” so everyone built their own edible snowman out of donuts!
 No matter what your kid loves, we have a program for them! Check out our winter schedule, and click on each class to get more information on how to sign up!
Soccer Our winter soccer program, led by our new Head Coach Alejandro Jimenez, includes classes for players at all levels. The session runs from January 5 - April 10. There will be no programs the week of February 16 - 21. All classes take place at the Bernikow Building.
Basketball Our winter basketball program includes introductory classes for players of various ages, as well as advanced training opportunities. The session runs from January 5 - April 11. There will be no classes February 17 - 21. We offer classes at both the Avis building and the Bernikow Building.
Tennis Our winter tennis program runs on Sundays from January 5 - April 5. There will be no classes on February 16. Lessons take place at the Bernikow Building or Staten Island Academy (715 Todt Hill Road). Private lessons are also available. Get more information and sign up here Aquatics Winter swimming lessons are a great option for swimmers at every skill level! If your child is new to the pool, you can be sure that they’ll learn the skills they need to have a safe and fun summer in a few months. And more advanced swimmers can continue having fun in the pool year-round! There will be 6 classes during the winter swim session, with one make-up class offered. Classes begin the week of January 5. All classes take place at the Bernikow Building.
Get more information and sign up here Music The winter session is a great time to introduce your child to the joys of music! We have class options for children of all ages and we also offer opportunities for parents and children to make music together!
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 This cold weather has us dreaming of sunny summer camp days...but summer won't seem so far away when you join us for our Camp Reunion! Reunite with your friends and counselors from camp and enjoy bouncy inflatables, Jester Jim’s Juggling Show, and a make-your-own-sundae bar!
Sunday, January 5, 4-6pm Bernikow JCC, 1466 Manor Road $10 per child / Bring a new friend to camp and each pay only $5 Contact Glenn Wechsler at gwechsler@sijcc.com to register by January 2. Throughout the year, the JCC is proud to offer family-oriented programs that bring children and their families together to create special memories. The most recent in our great lineup of events was a Hanukkah party on December 15. The Cultural Arts department put together a fabulous party with activities for everyone to enjoy together. Partygoers were entertained by a clown and a magician, who performed an act with a live rabbit. The entertainers also painted the children’s faces and made balloon animals! Everyone got into the Hanukkah spirit with the help of a costumed dreidel character. Families decorated Hanukkah-themed gingerbread houses with candy and gelt. No party would be complete without food, so guests were treated to delicious latkes and soufganiyot. Thanks to everyone who came to celebrate the Festival of Lights with us! We wish you and your families a very happy Hanukkah! Who says camp fun has to end when summer does? Our campers have a blast year-round with Camp 365—one weekend each month, we host campers for a few hours of fun and friendship. It’s a great time for the kids to reunite with their friends from camp and parents love having a few quiet hours, knowing that their children are having fun in a safe environment. Since our campers weren’t together on Thanksgiving Day, they celebrated the holiday at their December Camp 365 event. They made turkey headbands and gobble-gobbled up some tasty treats! We can’t wait to see our campers again at our 13th Annual Camp Reunion on January 5 and at our next Camp 365 event on January 11!  This year, Giving Tuesday falls on Tuesday, December 3rd. We hope you’ll take the opportunity to donate to our KIDS IN NEED programs, which serve children facing cancer, disabilites, food insecurity, and financial instability.
Learn more about how to get involved and watch some videos highlighting our programs here! |
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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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