Local Y Presents Programs, Initiatives at Manchester PTA Meeting

In kicking off their second general membership meeting of the 2011-2012 school year, the Manchester Township Parent-Teacher Association welcomed a trio of representatives from the Ocean County YMCA to discuss programs and activities that locals of all ages can enjoy.

“We all look at the Y as a family place of healthy choices,” said Ruth Hausvater, vice president of Youth Development at the YMCA at the Monday evening meeting at . “Families can use the facility together as a group or individually,”

The Toms River facility has programs for art, health and fitness, swim lessons for youths and adults, a swim team for young people, birthday parties and a youth night, held on the third Saturday of each month.

Hausvater explained that activities are offered for toddlers through senior citizens, and parents looking to get a workout in can leave their children supervised in the facility’s Child Watch Center for a maximum of 90 minutes. For those on a budget and who may believe the facility is out of their price range, the Y is still an attractive option.

“Financial assistance is available, no one is ever turned away – (customers) give us the criteria we need based on what their need is, and then our members, volunteers and sponsors help us with those sponsored members,” said Hausvater, noting that in 2011, Y customers were given $437,000 in financial assistance.   

“Everyone has an opportunity to participate,” Hausvater said.

Turning the podium over to her colleague, YMCA Camp Director Jasmin Almonte referred to the Y as “Ocean County’s best-kept secret.”

“I encourage you all to tour our facility, it’s free and you can come any time,” said Almonte. “I feel that over the years in giving tours to potential members, it’s always a surprise to see what our building has inside of it, as opposed to just what’s outside.”

Almonte mentioned that the Y’s summer camp program is an 11-week program, which has varied activities for children. In addition to the usual summer staples for camp like arts and crafts and swimming, the Y has a few other choices available for campers.

“We also have specialty camps, so that your kids have the opportunity to experience kayaking, surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, hiking. We just have such a huge variety (of activities),” said Almonte. Summer camp runs right up until when school resumes in September.

Almonte also said that a “holiday camp” is run on major holidays and during school breaks, from 6:45 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“We’re there to have a full day with the kids, so you can have peace of mind,” Almonte said. “What parents like most about our camps is that the fee that you pay for summer includes extended care. Our (summer) camp is from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and it does include extended care in both the morning and evening.”

Almonte added that all outings taken during the summer camp and swimming lessons are also covered in the summer camp fee.

“We have so much water here in Ocean County between lakes and beaches, and being able to show your kids to learn how to swim is part of our curriculum,” Almonte said. “What you’re paying for includes so much.”

Almonte also said that the Y’s pre-school program covers children from ages three and a half to five years old, and is held at Saint Barbara’s Greek Orthodox Church in Toms River from Monday through Wednesday, and back at the Y on Thursday and Friday.

School Age Child Care Director Veanna Knoeller then noted that the Y’s before and after-care held directly within local schools is “not just a daycare," but tries to tailor their environment like a traditional school day while being affordable. The program allows for enrollment either three, four or five days per week, and provides children with guidance on matters both academic and social.

“We teach core values like families do — caring, responsibility, honesty, and the school does that as well. We’re just an extension of that,” Knoeller said.

Knoeller said that the children learn teamwork, motor skills and socialization, while also receiving information on proper nutrition and healthy snacks. Focus on academic progress is also a hallmark of the program.

“We have a book club, which challenges kids’ vocabulary and reading comprehension, and encourages them to bring in their own books,” Knoeller said.

Knoeller also mentioned that a specific allotment of time is provided each day to discuss homework and teach children to encourage their parents to examine their homework as well.

“All of us are working parents, and it’s hard to find that place where we know our kids are going to be safe at,” Knoeller said. “It’s a great option that we’re right there in the school, before school starts and right after it ends.”

In other news from the meeting:

• PTA Treasurer Trish Conti said that all Manchester elementary schools and its middle school earned over $12,000 through fundraiser activities, which will go back into an account to fund student programs.

• According to Event Co-Chairperson Laurie Okaly, the PTA’s Gift Auction will take place on Thursday, March 29, 2012 at Woodlake Country Club in Lakewood. The event’s theme will be “A Trip Down Memory Lane," with each table at the function decorated in the style of different decades, spanning from the 1920s to the 1990s. Tickets will cost $38 per person, Okaly said.

• Legislative Chairperson Sheryl Claus described that the Manchester Board of Education to continue the Transitional Opportunity and Post-Secondary Services  (“TOPS”) program at past the current age of 21 years old, until the age of 25.

• “It would give (participants) additional support and put them in touch with certain community programs they could be a part of,” Claus said.
• 
  District Superintendent David Trethaway said that the program was extended to maintain enrollment, since Regional Day had lost students who advanced from the program when they reached 21 years of age.

• Also mentioned by Trethaway was legislation that could potentially move school elections from April to November, which he said had been approved by both the State Senate and State Assembly in New Jersey earlier that evening.
  
  “Now it goes on to our esteemed governor,” Trethaway said. Gov. Chris Christie now has 45 days to either sign the bill into law or veto it.

• Co-President Cara McAllister discussed the , held during the day on Monday at .
  
  “It was a great day and very inspirational, from what I’m told,” McAllister said.

• The high school’s food bank, dubbed “Food For Thought”, is open for those in need from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Manchester Township High School’s guidance office, Claus said.

• The two other scheduled general membership meetings for this school year will take place on April 2 at 7 p.m. at , and on May 7 at 7 p.m., at .

For more information, visit the PTA online at www.manchesterpta.org or on Facebook.