Cityspace-Text Only

Cityspace, 457 Allen Street, Allentown, PA 18102, Phone 610-432-2632

Cityspace has a new home in Dubbs Memorial United Church of Christ at 457 Allen St., in Allentown. Since 1989, Cityspace has provided quality child care in a safe environment for school age children of working parents.

Cityspace is a non-profit, state licensed, school-age child care center which serves inner city children in grades K-7. The center offers before and after school care during the school year and full day child care in the summer. Cityspace provides highly qualified and educated personnel with skilled training to insure that the program offers enriching age appropriate activities. Van transportation is provided to schools in the Allentown School District.

In its original conception, which continues to the present day, Cityspace is more than just a “latch-key” program. With a focus on life skills and social development, the center offers a variety of experiences. In addition to arts and crafts, programs include music, drama and puppetry; science and nature; healthy lifestyles; urban gardening techniques and hydroponics; nutrition and cooking skills; educational and developmental games; computer training, reading, physical education; field trips and a swimming program in the summer.

Program Hours and Location
Cityspace is at 457 Allen St., Allentown. directions
We use two floors with spacious rooms in the church during our hours of operation.
Before school child care begins at 6:30 a.m. After school child care ends at 6 p.m.
Van transportation is provided to the child’s school in the morning and in the afternoon.
For more information, call Connie Rought at 610-432-2632 or email her at cityspace@verizon.net.
Download a Cityspace enrollment application and review tuition requirements for all our programs.

Summer Program begins
Parents looking for 11 weeks of fun educational activities can sign up now for Cityspace’s full-day summer camp. The camp, which runs Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., June 21 through Sept. 2, includes weekly swims at local pools, an indoor soccer program, an outdoor garden, a computer education program, field trips to places of local interest, and music and theater events.
All children who are going into kindergarten in September to age 13 are eligible to enroll in the summer camp. Children also receive lunch for the majority of the summer camp. Weekly fees are $132. This year we are offering free registration and $15 gift cards to a local grocery store for each parent who is referred to us by another parent. To receive the gift card, the child must complete a two-week enrollment period. Some scholarship assistance is also available to eligible parents.

Our swim program trains children to be safe in the water. Children participate in a positive, physical outlet that is refreshing on a hot day. Planned by our Keystone STAR 2 certified teachers, our field trips encourage children to learn more about the history of the area and to get fresh air and exercise. Trips include visits to museums, gardens, wildlife sanctuaries, and events that will enrich their cultural and educational experiences.

Cityspace, a Keystone STARS-approved center has provided quality child care in a safe environment since 1989. This nonprofit, state licensed, school-age center has room for 72 children.

Under the direction of Connie Rought, Cityspace offers a variety of experiences. In addition to computer training and a summer camp, programs include arts and crafts classes, music, dramatics and puppetry, science and nature, healthy lifestyles, urban gardening techniques, cooking and nutritional classes, writing workshops, educational games, reading and physical education. The goal is to help children build self-confidence and to promote the spirit of cooperation in the midst of a culturally diverse environment.

Cityspace is open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. The center is closed on July 5.

Parents will need to drop their children at the child care center at 457 Allen St. before 9 a.m. to have their children participate in these summer activities. Our secure entrance is on the Fifth Street side of the Dubbs Memorial United Church of Christ building.
For information, call 610-432-2632 or email Cityspace@verizon.net. Visit us at www.dubbsmemorial.org/cityspace.htm

Cityspace achieves STAR 2
Cityspace achieved a Keystone STAR 2 level. This 20-year-old child-care center strives to improve its programs and staff qualifications through Keystone STARS, a state-sponsored, quality improvement initiative for Pennsylvania’s child-care providers. At the STAR 2 level, Cityspace’s staff was evaluated on their professional development, communication with parents and children, management and business practices.

A Keystone STARS designation lets parents know that their children are in a safe, respectful environment in which they are learning new things every day to support their current and future successes in school and in life. Since 1989, Cityspace has served the need for affordable, quality child care for parents in Center City Allentown. This STAR 2 designation will enable Cityspace to purchase learning materials for the children and offer bonuses to the staff. As Cityspace celebrates its 20th anniversary, the Center’s future goals include upgrading the computer room and expanding the arts and recreation programs.

Cityspace celebrated its 20th anniversary on Sept. 19, 2009. To help us remember our past, celebrate our presence at Dubbs UCC and look hopefully to the future were guest speakers: Rev. Dr. Tim Downs, co-founder; Ralph Todd, first board president; Janet Quinn, current board president; Carol Kobayashi and Rev. Carl Siegfried, Dubbs pastor.

Thanks to grant money, our programs are doing quite well!
The computer lab with eight PCs with Internet access is getting organized. Children whose parents have given their permission to use the computers are spending time each week on educational activities that reinforce their school work. Our homework program now enables ASD children to research educational topics, and to improve their computer literacy skills. Many of our children live in homes with single parents or in low-income households with no computers.
Also, we will have 10 children beginning an eight-week indoor soccer program at the end of March. This program is designed to increase physical activity and to promote teamwork.

Cityspace's Mission
The mission of Cityspace is to assist in the development of school age children by building self-esteem, teaching them cooperative non-violent solutions to conflict and celebrating their diversity through academic and social programming.

Our Board of Directors
Janet Quinn, President -St. John’s UCC
Amy Feidler, Vice President -Dubbs Memorial UCC
Cassidy Bell, Treasurer -St. John’s UCC
Doris Todd, Secretary -St. John’s UCC
Marion Demilio -Dubbs Memorial UCC
To Be Filled -Community Member
Trudi Egan -St. John's UCC
Connie Rought, Center Director
Carol Smith Development/Marketing Director

Philosophy
We believe that school-age children learn through play, exploration, and discovery and reach their full potential in an atmosphere that is supportive, creative and challenging. We nurture and educate each child, regardless of race, gender, ability, ethnicity, social and economic standing, or religion. Cityspace does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national or ethnic origin, ability or socio-economic standing.