Second Street Learning & Technology Center
The Second Street Learning Center is located within the Opportunity House at 430 N. Second Street, Reading, PA. We are a Keystone Star 4 accredited, DHS licensed center that provides a high quality, hands-on, nurturing learning environment for children within the community. We also partner with the homeless shelter to provide a safe, developmentally appropriate place for the children to learn and grow.
The Second Street Learning Center is open Monday through Friday from 5:30 am until 6:30 pm. Our extended hours, give parents and families the flexibility that they may need for their work schedules. Our program serves over 350 children each year from ages 6 weeks until 13 years of age. We offer care for infants, toddler, preschool and school-age children. In addition, we have a Pre-K Counts program for children ages 3-5 years of age, funded through the Department of Education.
Services Offered:
- Nutritious meals and snacks
- Homework support
- Transportation to and from local schools
- Developmentally appropriate curriculum geared towards individual child needs.
- Safe, clean learning environment
- Caring, responsive staff-trained in early childhood education
- Age specific playgrounds that provide multi-sensory play opportunities
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, x250, 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 to 12 months in age. While your child is enrolled in the infant classroom they will have the opportunity to develop their motor skills, enhance their sensory development and increase their language development through the hands-on activities planned by the staff. The soothing, calm environment paired with our high health and safety standards creates a wonderful environment for your infant to grow, socialize and develop.
Toddler
Once your child has turned 1 year of age they will begin the transition to our toddler classroom. While your child is enrolled in the toddler classroom, they will have the opportunity to develop their self-help skills with a focus on getting potty trained, drinking from a cup, and self-feeding. Throughout the day, your child will also have the opportunity to increase their motor skills, develop their play skills and increase their language development through songs, stories and engaging activities.
Preschool
Once your child has turned 3 years of age, they will begin the transition to our preschool classroom where they begin to prepare for kindergarten. While your child is enrolled in the preschool classroom, they will have the opportunity to develop their early literacy and math skills by completing activities that focus on their names, letters, letter sounds, counting and numbers. Child centered lesson plans will help promote development and progress in other areas as well, including social emotional skills, language skills and motor skills.
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
Once your child has registered for kindergarten, they are eligible for our school age program. While your child is enrolled in school-age, they will have the opportunity to socialize with peers, maintain and enhance their learning, as well as spend time outside for physical activity and receive homework support. Each child will have access to their own account for the Reading Eggs program, a multi award winning program that promotes literacy development. In addition, to quality childcare, we also offer transportation to and from several local elementary schools (public and private). During the summer months, the school-age program will provide field trips off-site as well as welcome various community members and agencies on-site to extend their learning and provide hands on connections to the real world.
OTHER
- The staff at the Second Street Learning Center work collaboratively with several early intervention agencies to meet the individual developmental needs of the children.
- We are certified by the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and provide 3 meals and 3 snacks throughout our scheduled day.
- Enrollment Requirements:
- Copy of child’s most recent physical (on DHS approved form)
- Copy of child’s immunization record
- Child’s social security card
- Child’s medical insurance card
- Parent/Guardian’s photo identification
SUCCESS STORY
Alvin’s Story: From Despair to Gratitude –Opportunity House
Alvin was never afraid of hard work. After growing up in Douglassville, Alvin began his career at Gudebrod in Pottstown. When the plant closed, he began working at Stanley Flagg. Eventually, he got a job loading trucks at Boscov’s Department Store. Alvin always lived in the home grew up in. When his mother died in […]