Second Street Learning & Technology Center
Located in Opportunity House at 430 North 2nd Street, The Second Street Learning Center opened in October 1996 to give homeless mothers an opportunity to participate in life skill classes offered at our shelter. It quickly became the answer to working parents in the Reading area. A combination of an increased need for these services and support from the community allowed the learning center to expand its hours and services to reach more children in our community.
Today, parents rely on The Second Street Learning Center for high quality education and care that prepares students for academic success.
We ARE OPEN Monday through Friday 5:30 am to 6:30 pm.
We are focused on meeting the needs of low-income families in the Greater Reading area. Our extended hours give parents the flexibility they need to accommodate their work schedules and provide financial security for their families.
The Second Street Learning Center added an additional seven classrooms in September 2011 with the construction of the Technology Center, an environmentally friendly building with LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Today, our program serves over 350 children a year in the community, ages 6 weeks to 13 years old. Of these children served, 98% come from families at or below the poverty level. Our commitment to parents is to welcome all children and provide quality care and education to every child. Our classrooms are staffed by a qualified team of professionals, including supervisors, teachers, assistant teachers, and aides. We are an accredited Keystone Stars Program. Our Star 4 designations, demonstrates our commitment to continuously enhancing the quality of the learning.
Services Offered:
- Nutritious Meals and Snacks
- Indoor Activities – circle time, age-appropriate crafts, story time and more
- Outdoor Activities – summer camps and field trips
- Rest Time – scheduled afternoon naps
- Transportation – provided during the school year for children attending schools in the Reading school district as well as Catholic schools
- After school homework support
- Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts – for children ages 3 to 5 years old
Contact
- Questions about the school? Contact Tatiana Cardona, Director, Phone: 610-374-4696, x295, Email: tcardona@opphouse.org OR
- Crystal Rowles, Assistant Director/Education Specialist, Phone: 610-374-4696, x243, Email: crowles@opphouse.org
- Questions about registration or enrollment? Contact Viola Jones, Phone: 610-374-4696 x242
- Necesita ayuda en español? Contactar a Scarlen Jimenez, Learning Center Manager, Phone: 610-374-4696 x245, Email: sjimenez@opphouse.org
Infant
The infant classroom is for children 6 weeks of age to 11 months. Our highly qualified staff is able to provide close attention to your little one. The children are able to crawl, learn to take small steps and begin to socialize with peers. Scheduled music and movement classes are a favorite of all our infants. Our staff is able to provide personal attention and promote basic intellectual and social skills by reading books, singing songs and emotionally supporting each child’s growth and development.
Toddler
Our toddler classroom is the first transition for infants. At 11 months they begin to spend part of their day in the toddler area. This classroom and is geared toward teaching our toddlers self-help skills, such as being potty trained, how to drink from a cup and self-feeding skills.
Preschool
Our 3 to 5 year olds spend their days participating in early literacy activities, math, and comprehension skills through hands-on learning, structured activities and independent exploration. Work sampling as well as Ages and Stages measures the progress of child development throughout the year. The staff continues to nurture each child and supports the self-help skills that they began to learn as toddlers. As child develop we assess each child’s ability to recognize letters, shapes, colors, sight words and sounds.
Pre-K Counts
Eligible children, ages 3-5 years, spend their school day, Monday through Friday from 9:00 until 2:30 focusing on kindergarten readiness skills. Our Pennsylvania state licensed teachers provide hands-on activities in a variety of ways that focus on each child’s individual needs. The Teaching Strategies GOLD assessment tool is used to measure and monitor the progress of each child’s development throughout the school year. The Ages and Stages screening tool is used to evaluate each child’s current developmental levels to determine what areas are of the child’s strengths and what areas need to be focused on. The staff nurture each child and support their social-emotional development while focusing on literacy, math, cognitive, language and motor skills.
School Age
As children reach their school-age years they enjoy peer socialization, fun games, introductory learning experiences and time outside for physical activity. The children are offered a variety of centers and activities based on the STAR program, and are assisted and supported with their school work each day. They also have access to Reading Eggs, a literacy based software program that enhances literacy skills. In the summer this age group has the opportunity to participate in off-site activities.
FAQs
Q. Do you provide meals for the kids in daycare?
Q: Do you provide transportation?
A: Transportation is provided during the school year for children attending schools in the Reading school district as well as all Catholic schools in the Reading. Transportation is included in our fees.
Q: Do you take children in the daycare program with special needs?
A: Yes, we accept children with a variety of special needs. Children are evaluated on a case by case basis. (We are not able to provide tube-feeding.) For specific questions, please call Tatiana Cardona, Learning Center Director at 610-374-4696 ext 295 or via email at tcardona@opphouse.org.
Q: What are the hours of the Second Street Learning and Technology Center?
A: Monday through Friday from 5:30 am until 6:30 pm.
Q: What do I need to bring in order to register my child at the Second Street Learning Center?
Please bring the following:
- Copy of child’s most recent physical
- Copy of child’s immunization records
- Child/Children’s Social Security Card
- Child/Children’s Medical Card
- Your Photo I.D.
Q: What do I need to drop off with my child for infant care?
A: Diapers, a change of clothing, and pre-made formula.
Q: What does it mean to be an accredited Keystone STAR 4 Center?
We are accredited through the Keystone Stars Program (Star 4) and are committed to continuously enhancing the quality of the learning program through Keystone STARS while maintaining compliance with program regulations.
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