Advantage Learning Lab On Roosevelt Island Offers Free Academic And Enrichment Activities For Kindergarten To Grade 8 Blended And Remote Students - Youngsters Recite Poem Telling Us What They Like About Program

According to the Advantage Learning Lab of Roosevelt Island:

HCK Recreation, Inc. is approved by the City of New York to provide a Learning Lab program for up to 200 seats through the Learning Bridges Initiative. Funded by the Department of Youth and Community Development, the Advantage Learning Lab on Roosevelt Island program will provide, at no charge to families, academic support and enrichment activities from 8 AM to 3 PM weekdays while public schools are in session...

The Roosevelt Island Advantage Learning Lab provides:

Learning support for K-8 "Blended" and "Fully Remote" DOE students. 

Free, nutritious breakfast and lunch every day Professional learning help for every student 

Added enrichment like chess, Legos, arts & crafts, games, and socially distanced gym activities 

Peace of mind knowing your kids are in good hands throughout the day 

Registration is FREE!

Advantage Learning Lab youngsters tell us what they like about the program in a poem.

Thank You DOE from Advantage Learning Lab on Roosevelt Island
My learning lab is great because, It helps me learn each day.
And when I’m not online with school, I draw, jump rope, and play!
At chess I’ll take your queen from you, Spend time creating art,
My Lego town’s the biggest yet, And all 6 feet apart!
So DOE, thank you so much,
For our home away from home-
A safety net for families,
We hope you like our poem!

The Advantage Learning Lab facilities:

... at 250/281 Main St. on Roosevelt Island offer specifically designated areas for classroom space and recreational activities. Thanks to a collaboration between the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (a New York State Public Authority) and the Roosevelt Island Racquet Club, they include:

• the west half of a 41,000-square-foot athletic center (“Sportspark”)
• the Racquet Club’s north bubble, which is 25,000 square feet
• two outdoor sports fields

The program provider is HCK Recreation, Inc., a for-profit corporation that is the Managing Partner of the Racquet Club. Its President, Skip Hartman, previously co-founded and served as CEO of two public charities: New York Junior Tennis and Learning (NYJTL) and New York Edge (formerly the Sports & Arts in Schools Foundation). Those organizations are the largest provider of after-school sports, arts and academic support programs in the New York City public schools.

HCK has appointed Paul Fontana as Director of the Lab....

I spoke with Advantage Learning Lab's Mr. Fontana and Joyce Short, a Roosevelt Island resident about the program.

Contact Paul Fontana at Pfontana@AdvantageTennisClubs.com and 212-371-1804 for more info. Web site is here.

Or sign up for the program here.

Advantage Learning Lab On Roosevelt Island Closed For Winter Break, Reopening February 22 - Provides Free Academic And Enrichment Activities For Kindergarten Thru Grade 8 Blended And Fully Remote Students

According to the NYC Department Of Education: 

Learning Bridges is a new program that provides free child care options for children from 3-K through 8th grade on days when they are scheduled for remote learning.

As previously reported, the:

... Roosevelt Island Learning Bridges program for K-8 grade students is available from HCK Recreation, the managing partner of the Roosevelt Island Racquet Club...

utilizing:

... space in the Sportspark facility, located at 250 Main Street, and surrounding outdoor space, the north bubble of the Roosevelt Island Racquet Club, and Firefighters Field....

According to the Advantage Learning Lab on Roosevelt Island:

HCK Recreation, Inc. is approved by the City of New York to provide a Learning Lab program for up to 200 seats through the Learning Bridges Initiative. Funded by the Department of Youth and Community Development, the Advantage Learning Lab on Roosevelt Island program will provide, at no charge to families, academic support and enrichment activities from 8 AM to 3 PM weekdays while public schools are in session...

Joyce Short, Marketing Specialist for Advantage Learning Lab on Roosevelt Island adds:

Like NY's public schools, the free Advantage Learning Lab on Roosevelt Island will be closed for "February break" from Friday 2/12, to Monday 2/22. The Learning Lab has provided service for all children from kindergarten through 8th grade who were enrolled in Blended learning. The NYC Department Of Youth & Community Development recently expanded its policy so that Learning Labs can also include Fully Remote students.  

Students are not only attending their on-line classes

under the watchful eyes of professional staff, they are also able to enjoy enrichment activities 

 like chess, art, and gym activities, 

with adult oversight to maintain social distancing.  

Admission is available on a rolling basis by contacting Paul Fontana, the Director, at pfontana@advantagetennisclubs.com. Parents can take advantage of the February break to contact Paul and make the needed arrangements to begin when public schools and the Learning Lab are back in session on 2/22.

Learn more about the Advantage Learning Lab on Roosevelt Island from their newsletter below

and web site.

Enroll Now In Roosevelt Island NYC DOE Learning Bridges Program For Free K-8 Child Care, Academic Support And Enrichment Activities At Sportspark And Tennis Bubble

According to the NYC Department Of Education: 

Learning Bridges is a new program that provides free child care options for children from 3-K through 8th grade on days when they are scheduled for remote learning.

and is available even as public schools have closed due to the rise in Coronavirus cases.

Learning Bridges are still open while @NYCSchools buildings are closed. Priority is given to children of essential workers. Learn more and apply today: https://t.co/RdNQ6T2Jgz pic.twitter.com/Uhsupsj09Z

— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) November 20, 2020

As previously reported, a Roosevelt Island Learning Bridges program for K-8 grade students is available from HCK Recreation, the managing partner of the Roosevelt Island Racquet Club:

... HCK Recreation Inc. recently received approval from the City of New York to provide a Learning Lab program for up to 200 seats through the Learning Bridges Initiative. This City funded program will provide, at no charge to families, academic support and enrichment activities from 8 AM to 3 PM weekdays...

... The program will utilize space in the Sportspark facility, located at 250 Main Street, and surrounding outdoor space, the north bubble of the Roosevelt Island Racquet Club, and Firefighters Field. The facilities were thoroughly inspected by the City, culminating in an approved air quality test. 

HCK Recreation Inc., which is the managing partner of the Roosevelt Island Racquet Club, was approved by the City as a qualified provider based on the combination of excellent facilities it could provide as well as HCK’s 20 plus years of experience operating summer day camps licensed by the NYC Department of Health (DOH). Skip Hartman, CEO of HCK, has past experience as the CEO of two charities, NYJTL and Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation, now named New York Edge, that are together the largest (160 schools) provider of afterschool sports, arts, and academic support programs in New York City public schools. ...

... Skip Hartman, CEO of HCK stressed that, “The key to success will be our ability to provide sound academic coordination and motivating enrichment activities while maintaining a safe environment for the children and the staff. We do have, thanks to RIOC’s collaboration, fabulous spaces.” HCK has qualified staff on board and is also actively seeking approximately 25 additional staff, that include licensed teachers in math, stem, literacy and technology, college grads, and college students taking a gap year....

Roosevelt Island parents can pre-enroll their children in the Roosevelt Island Learning Bridges Program by calling Paul Fontana, the Director of the Roosevelt Island Learning Lab at 914 656 0614 for more information or also email at pfontana@advantagetennisclubs.com

HCK Recreation has been talking with Island Kids recently about working together on the Roosevelt Island Learning Bridges program at Sportspark and Tennis Bubble. The Island Kids application for a separate Learning Bridges program was rejected without explanation in October by the NYC Department of Education. The HCK application was submitted last July and they learned in October that it was accepted.

But Learning Bridges child care service is not currently available for Special Needs families.

WCBS TV Channel 2 News reported on a Roosevelt Island Special Needs family that is not able to use the Roosevelt Island Learning Bridges site. 

According to CBS Channel 2 News

... "a HCK Recreation spokesperson said: ... Unfortunately, at this time, we are not able to enroll children with individualized education plans due to limitations with our program staff"....

For more info on enrolling your child in the Roosevelt Island Learning Bridges program, call Paul Fontana at 914 656 0614 or email pfontana@advantagetennisclubs.com   

UPDATE 8:10 PM:

I believe there is a Roosevelt Island pre k Learning Bridges application waiting for approval by @NYCSchools

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) November 23, 2020

Right now there are several solutions for all children except for those in prek at ps217, somehow they got left behind

— Ron Feiner (@feineron) November 23, 2020

UPDATE 11/24 - HCK Recreation's Skip Hartman responded today to CBS Channel 2 News story about enrolling Roosevelt Island resident Kristin Braun's special needs daughter in the Roosevelt Island Learning Bridges program

The well publicized rejection of Kristin's daughter was actually my mistake in instructing the staff not to accept special ed children as we were not equipped to handle them. With all the start up tasks, I had not focused on this enrollment issue and did not consider the full range of children that encompasses the special ed population. 

Many children with special needs can fit in just fine, although others may not. It is a case by case matter. Our Education Specialist on staff is well versed in these issues and interviewed Kristin, Alice's mother, yesterday morning. 

We did accept Alice Bruan after we understood her needs. She was the first and only child we had rejected - so we were able to change our policy on a timely basis and correct the error. Any applicants identifying with special needs will be considered for the program on a case by case basis.

RIOC Announces RI Racquet Club Managing Partner Bringing NYC DOE Learning Bridges Child Care Program To Roosevelt Island - What Happened To Island Kids Application For Program?

 Reported last Saturday on a petition drive and virtual rally organized by Island Kids

to bring NYC Department of Education Learning Bridges child care program to Roosevelt Island including statement from NYC Council Member Ben Kallos in support of these efforts. According to Mr. Kallos:

Families and public school students at PS/IS 217 on Roosevelt Island serving 632 students rallied for a “Learning Bridges” - remote learning center - where there currently is none. Island Kids had been working since August to become a Learning Bridges site to serve 45 children, but was rejected on October 27, 2020 with a form letter that included no explanation. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright, and Acting RIOC President Shelton Haynes joined Council Member Ben Kallos and more than 40 families for a virtual rally with signs drawn by children calling for the city to open Learning Bridges on Roosevelt Island. An online petition for Learning Bridges started on October 30 has already exceeded 100 signatures....

... Mayor de Blasio must provide more than one hundred Roosevelt Island families with Learning Bridges on Roosevelt Island and work with the providers we’ve lined up on the Island to serve our families and children...

This evening, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) tweeted that the managing partner of Roosevelt Island Racquet Club was bringing a Learning Bridges Program to Roosevelt Island.

 

DOE’s Learning Bridges comes to Roosevelt Island! Approval has been given to HCK Recreation, managing partner of RI Racquet Club, to provide a Learning Lab program. Space will be used at Sportspark, RI Racquet Club & Firefighter's Field. For info, go to https://t.co/hTfiZ1MCqI pic.twitter.com/lkQm7NDlNE

— RIOC NYS (@RIOCny) November 6, 2020

Not known at this time if local child care organization Island Kids is involved in the new Roosevelt Island Learning Bridges program. Stay tuned for more.

More on Roosevelt Island seeking a Learning Bridges program at this prior post.  

UPDATE 11/8 - Statement this evening from Island Kids Executive Director Nikki Leopold:

Read more »

Join Island Kids And NYC Council Member Ben Kallos In Virtual Rally Sunday Afternoon To Bring NYC DOE Learning Bridges Child Care To Roosevelt Island - Sign Petition Too

According to the NYC Department Of Education: 

As the New York City Department of Education resumes in-person schooling, most schools and early childhood programs are operating on a blended learning model. This means that each week, students have some school days in person, and some school days remotely. Learning Bridges is a new program that provides free child care options for children from 3-K through 8th grade on days when they are scheduled for remote learning....

The Learning Bridges program would be of great benefit to Roosevelt Island families and our local Island Kids is trying to bring the program here but they need your help. According to Island Kids Executive Director Nikki Leopold.

Dear Parents,

Dear RI Families-

The Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) has rejected Island Kids' application to become a Learning Bridges site with no explanation. But we are not giving up!

It is clear that DYCD has no understanding of the unique child care needs of Roosevelt Island families due to our geographic location.  Providing parents with one option, away from the Island, exacerbates the stressful circumstances that families are currently living under. 

 

Councilmember Ben Kallos, has been a faithful supporter of Island Kids, and a partner in the fight to bring a Learning Bridges site to Roosevelt Island.   He takes this matter very seriously and is working diligently to put pressure on DYCD and the Department of Education to make Learning Bridges a reality in our community.  To that end, Councilmember Kallos and Island Kids are co-hosting a virtual rally to bring attention to this critical matter. 

Please join Councilmember Kallos, Island Kids and other elected leaders for a virtual rally to bring attention to this critical matter. 

 

Date: Sunday, November 1st

Time: 1pm-2pm

Zoom registration link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYlfuyvqT8oHtZaIrLe5d3NdM_fYjgAlCxl

 

It is very important that DYCD and the DOE see that this is an important matter to a large number of Island families.   

 

In addition, please sign the petition at the following link.  https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/we-need-learning-bridges-on-roosevelt-island

We need as many families to participate as possible. Please pass on the above Zoom link and the link to the petition to anyone who cares about this issue.  

 

Your support is critical in helping DYCD and the DOE understand the overlooked childcare needs of Roosevelt Island.  Please join us in this fight!!!

Feel free to reach out to me with any questions.

Sincerely,

Nikki Leopold

Executive Director

Island Kids, Inc. 

Petition to Bring Learning Bridges to Roosevelt Island is here.

UPDATE 11/1 - Here's video of today's Roosevelt Island Learning Bridges rally


and press release from City Council Member Ben Kallos.

Families and public school students at PS/IS 217 on Roosevelt Island serving 632 students rallied for a “Learning Bridges” - remote learning center - where there currently is none. Island Kids had been working since August to become a Learning Bridges site to serve 45 children, but was rejected on October 27, 2020 with a form letter that included no explanation. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright, and Acting RIOC President Shelton Haynes joined Council Member Ben Kallos and more than 40 families for a virtual rally with signs drawn by children calling for the city to open Learning Bridges on Roosevelt Island. An online petition for Learning Bridges started on October 30 has already exceeded 100 signatures.

“After not hearing anything for a month, I reached out and was told that we were on the waiting list, which basically gives us no chance of attending. We can’t afford additional child care because we already pay for my younger son. My husband and I are alternating schedules … It is extremely stressful and tiresome and requires additional energy from me … On Friday, my son turned 5 and he really didn’t want me to share this, because he doesn’t think his birthday wish would come true. His birthday wish when he went to bed that he told me was that we could all be together as a family … I worry that there is a growing disparity that is affecting our community and will affect the learning level of our children because we can’t facilitate their school work and work efficiently at the same time,” 28 minutes into the video cried Amy Rodriguez, a frontline worker at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, a Roosevelt Island resident and parent of two-boys.

 

“It is nothing short of a nightmare not to have Learning Bridges on Roosevelt Island and while I was really excited that she got a spot at the YMCA, when I looked and saw that it was at the Vanderbilt site, I was crushed because it was useless to me,” 32 minutes into the video said Kirstin Bruan, a Public Defender and essential worker who must still appear at the Kew Gardens Court House in a the Queens redzone, a Roosevelt Island resident and parent of a young girl.

 

“This is really needed for the community. We want to stress for pre-k kids that this is really needed. I feel that I am failing my daughter, we put her to watch screen time more than we have desire, that we would allow her to do it,” said 37 minutes into the video said Elizabeth Diago Navarro, a city employee living on Roosevelt Island with a 4 year old and infant child.

 

So far there are only 62 Learning Bridges locations in Manhattan to serve 195 elementary and middle schools with 78,002 public school students in 3K through 8th grades. Council Member Ben Kallos originally proposed the idea of remote learning centers to accommodate families who needed child care while students were learning remotely on July 10th 2020 in a letter to the Mayor and Chancellor as covered by the New York Post. On July 16, 2020, Mayor de Blasio announced the adoption of remote learning centers as “Learning Bridges” for up to 100,000 students from 3K to 8th grade. On July 23, 2020, Kallos was joined by Council Member Lander in demanding more seats as covered in the New York Post. By mid September Council Member Kallos joined parent sentiments in stating that Learning Bridges “was a mess” as they learned only 30,000 slots would be available.

 

“Our essential workers and families of color who have paid the highest price are owed more than a thank you together with lip service and the promise of free childcare 40 minutes away. 

 

Mayor de Blasio must provide more than one hundred Roosevelt Island families with Learning Bridges on Roosevelt Island and work with the providers we’ve lined up on the Island to serve our families and children,” said Council Member Ben Kallos.  “When Mayor de Blasio promised universal pre-kindergarten and then didn’t offer it on Roosevelt Island, we found a provider and got the school seats we needed, and we can do it again.”