The mission of Greenwood Shalom Outreach Community, Inc is to work with children, parents, and young adults within the community to guide them in achieving, to the fullest extent possible, their God-given potential. Our goal is to provide a safe and nurturing environment where we will attend to the spiritual, educational, physical, and social needs of children, parents and young adults. We believe in working in partnership with parents and the community to better equip children, youth, and their families to become productive members of society and to encourage and support parents in their own personal growth and development.
Key Partners:
Greenwood Memorial United Methodist Church
Key Programs Offered:
Unlike some after-school programs, Greenwood Shalom moves well beyond simply homework assistance. Program participants are instructed in literacy and math skills based on Massachusetts' curriculum frameworks. Tutors teach components of the Children's Defense Fund's curriculum Freedom Schools. Further, they engage in "Harambee" gatherings, where community members entertain and inspire them. Monthly field trips are also important components to the children's after-school experience. To ensure the success of the program, Greenwood Shalom offers Parent Empowerment Seminars, advocates for children and their parents and teaches parents how to become more involved in their child's education. Recognizing the significance of studies on teacher-student ratios, Greenwood Shalom boasts a one-to-five staff-student ratio. This is accomplished through the use of high students as assistant tutors, volunteers from Sudbury United Methodist Church and Hearts for Boston. Greenwood's cultural sensitivity and our specialized work with children with special needs are a few of the key areas that set our after-school program apart from most others. For the 2005-6 school year, 30% of the children had disabilities. These children require a one-to-three (and sometimes one-to-one) staff-student ratio.
