The Daily Blog

2019 Summer Session

Tuesday, July 9 – Friday, August 16
9:00 am – 12:00 pm   Tuesdays – Fridays
Oakland Park / Medway Senior Center
76 Oakland St, Medway, MA 02053

Open House: July 8th @ 6:00 pm
Staff Training: July 8th 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

2019 Applications

Message from the Directors

2019 Message from The Directors:

Hopefully everyone is having a successful year! Although many of you may not be ready to start thinking of summer plans, we are already planning and preparing for another wonderful Sunshine Group session. As you might already know, this summer will be Barbara’s last summer as the Director of the Sunshine Group. Barbara has been vital part of the program for over 30 years and has been the Director since 2000.

This year, I will be working alongside Barbara as a Co-Director and will take on the position as Director next summer. Please allow me to give you a little more information about myself:

I Am an Educator

I have several years of experience working in classrooms at various age levels and with children of varying ability levels. As a 3rd grade teacher, I have experience in both special education and inclusion classrooms. I am currently working on my Masters in Special Education.

I am able to support students by regulating behavior and by accommodating and supporting their communication and social-emotional skills. I am excited to use my experience as an educator to support the social-emotional growth of both the staff and the children as we play, learn and have fun each summer.

I Love to Play

Although I may not be a regular at the gym, I stay active by doing what I love the most – playing sports! I play volleyball and softball, but I am willing to give anything a try (frisbee, golf, hockey) and love learning new games.

I Love to Smile

I enjoy telling jokes and making puns. I love learning about others and making connections with new people. One of the major reasons that I continue to spend my summers in Medway with The Sunshine Group is the impact that I have seen the program have on the children and the staff (including myself!). The smiles created by small moments of friendship, success, teamwork, respect and compassion have kept me coming back for more. Let’s keep the smiles coming!

Please contact me with any questions you may have about our program. I look forward to talking more with you as the summer approaches!

Best Regards,

Jessica Peck
sunshinegrp@gmail.com
978-790-9779

The Town of Medway will be holding a dedication ceremony for Oakland Park (our home again, I hope!) on Saturday morning, November 3 at 11:00 am.

The park will be dedicated to Paul DeSimone, who helped push for a separate “home” for The Sunshine Group.

I hope you can make it – if so, I’ll see you there!

Barbara Ohanian
Director, The Sunshine Group
ohanian6@yahoo.com
(508) 320-8518

Babysitters Available

If you need a babysitter during the school year, some of our counselors are available. Download their contact information here:

2018 Babysitter List

Letter from the Director

Summer 2018

Another year – another wonderful summer!

As we put the finishing touches on another Sunshine Group summer, I want to say a special thank you to the parents, children, and staff who helped make this summer so much fun.

We were Olympians, scientists, travelers, Hollywood stars, superheroes, and mythical creatures. Some of us were even wacky for a day or two.

We went swimming in the sun and rain. We went kayaking, hiking, to the live theatre and the movie theater.

Our home this summer was at the VFW, where we had plenty of space, and a shaded tent and pavilion when we needed them. Thanks John, Paul and Andrea for having us.

You received all the applications, blogs, permission slips, and general information through our website, which is masterfully managed by Dave Minot. Thanks, Dave!

Our last day, a beautifully sunny one, was spent at our Carnival. A very special thanks to the Lion’s Club, who generously donated funds to help make that day possible, to DifferRentals for all the blowups and food machines, to T. C. Scoops for the delicious ice cream, to Tim Rice Photos for the photo booth (a big hit this year), and to the parents for all the donations made throughout the summer.  Couldn’t have done it without you all!

Looking forward, it is with a heavy heart that I let you all know that next summer will be my last summer as Director of the Sunshine Group. I’ve been part of the 51-year-old program for over 30 years, and the extremely proud Director since 2000. I will leave it in good hands, I know. The program is only as good as its staff, and I have been so fortunate to have the best young adults working for me, some for several years!

Applications for registration will be available during February vacation of 2019.

Have a wonderful school year – great success to all of you – and we’ll see you again next summer.

With many thanks,

Barbara Ohanian
Director, The Sunshine Group
ohanian6@yahoo.com
(508) 320-8518