Ella Fridman: What is the difference between "Russian" day care center "Islander’s Kids" and any other similar center on the Island?

 

A better question for Islander’s Kids Learning Day Care would be... What is the difference between Islander’s Kids Learning Day Care and other Daycares?

Islander’s Kids Learning Daycare Center is located on 219 Jefferson Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10306 (718) 979-5331.  Our Daycare is a safe, multi-cultural and warm environment where children love to come and parents know that their children would be protected and safe. It is their home away from home.

Islander’s offers a structured program that teaches our children knowledge and responsibility.  Our classes are broken up into the age group that best fits your child so they can absorb the proper knowledge and social skills for their age. Our programs are run by highly experienced teachers and staff who treat their children like their own.  We provide healthy, nutritious, home cooked meals throughout the day.  Our doors are open to everyone in our community. We offer many wonderful programs; such as daycare, afterschool, summer camp, art, piano, guitar, music, vocal, modern dance & ballet…

Our children start at 2 years of age and it lets them grow with us until the age of 6 years old.  Once they leave our “home” they always come back to us for our after school program and summer camp. They feel comfortable and relaxed coming to an environment that they know and love. Best of all, our parents don’t have the stress of worrying about their kids because they know their children are in the best of hands.

Joan Badali

 

What is your educational background?

I am a graduate of St. John’s University and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. I continued my education at Wagner College and received a Master Of Science Degree in Elementary Education specializing in Children’s Literature.

I am licensed by the City and State of New York and have many years of experience of teaching in both private and city schools.

Tell us about the Universal Pre-K Program.

The focus for the Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program is on Literacy and Mathematics. This program is developmentally appropriate, center based with activities and experiences that are individually geared towards each child’s abilities and needs. The curriculum encourages each child to develop not only intellectually, but emotionally and socially as well. Pre-reading and Literacy skills are taught throughout the day as Center Time becomes a large part of this program. Some of the centers that are part of UPK are: Library, Math and Manipulatives, Art, Science, Dramatic Play, Blocks, Sand and Water. When children are involved in learning centers, they are being provided the opportunity to experiment, explore, imagine, learn to share and get along with their peers. They are also given the opportunity to become independent and to make their own choices. Circle time and story time are large group activities where the children gather as an entire group. In small group activities, I work with children according to their specific needs and abilities.

The diverse community of children at Islander’s Kids gives everyone an opportunity to learn and share the Polish, Italian, African American, Russian, Indian, Hispanic, Chinese, Yugoslavian, Albanian, Egyptian and American cultures and traditions.

My years at Islander’s Kids have been both rewarding and successful. I have the pleasure of working with a professional staff, cooperating parents and a delightful group of children.

 

Arkadiy Fridman

 

 

 I came up with an idea for Staten Island Community Center to organize a multi-cultural festival  in cooperation with other organizations on Midland Beach and South  Beach . I was very successful and decided to continue with the festivals. By doing this, SICC brought attention to the achievements and problems of new citizens to elected officials and main stream media like NY Times, Staten Island Advance and channel TV-1.  

 

It has been a great achievement bringing our communities together as one and getting Staten Island to see that the Russian community is open minded and enjoy working with others.