Our Staff
Our staff is trained in all aspects of school-age youth care. Training includes, but is not limited to, creating stimulating curriculum, mental health, safety and parent involvement. We have an in-house training program that ensures that our staff has more than the State required 20 hours of training each year. Our staff has the acquired first aid and CPR certifications. Our staff is motivated to be role models and mentors to the youth.
Ms Carina
Carina, “The Doc”, is a part of our lead staff and has been working alongside Ms. Laura and Mr. Matt for the past six years! Carina is an alumna of Ms. Laura and Mr. Matt, and so previous to working in child care, she has gotten to witness their teachings from a student perspective, allowing her a unique approach and introduction into her career here at Ocean State Kidz Club (OSK).
Outside of her work in childcare, Carina excels in academics and has always dreamed of being a surgeon. In high school, she was a part of the Medical Pathways Program at Cranston West High School, where she received training as a CNA and Emergency Medical Technician. She then attended Bay Path University where she graduated in three and a half years with her Bachelors Degree in medical science, with a focus in pre-medicine. Alongside working at OSK, she is currently working the third shift at a hospital, staying committed to her dreams.
At OSK, Carina is known for her versatility. She is usually seen assisting and engaging in activities with students in every area at OSK. She has a passion for helping others and ensuring the safety of everyone. This is what has given her the nickname “The Doc”. Her main reason for working with this age group is not only to give back to students the same amazing and fun experiences she had as a child, but to also help guide them and teach life skills to ensure their success as young teens and adults.
Amy Sloan
Ms Amy
Amy Sloan is an artist and educator native to Rhode Island. She received her Bachelor of Science in photojournalism from Boston University and has studied art at BU, CCRI, and many other venues. We met Ms. Amy at the tailend of our first summer camp season, where our students were allowed to personally ask her questions, interview her, and give her a tour of our site. This not only allowed the children to be comfortable with her, but for Ms. Amy to get a feel of what it was like to be in our environment. Needless to say, they hit it off, and the rest is history.
As a parent and proud member of the community, Ms. Amy is passionate about sharing her love of the arts with OSK, and through her work here, has continued to put her art out into the world. This has created an entrepreneurial path for her, known as AmyGraceSloan through her social media, where she continues to showcase her artwork both that she does for herself, and for others. A couple of her projects include the window paint mural for The Chocolate Boutique in Cranston, as well as the mural at Edgewood Highland Elementary School, where herself and a team of volunteers worked together to create a beautiful work of art. Ms. Amy is excited to continue her work at OSK and discover new projects everyday.
Ms. Kiki
Ms. Kiki’s creative spectrum is vast both in fashion design and sewing, as well as in her leadership for games of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). Starting at OSK, Kiki started our fashion and sewing club, where students met one to two times a week, creating various items from scratch, such as pillows and even pajama pants! Ms. Kiki has a knack for being patient with the students and taking the time to teach them proper techniques for sewing, and then guiding them through projects she has planned. If a student has their own idea, she is able to guide them through that step by step, and see it through with them.
While Ms. Kiki continues this club in the present, she also found a new interest with the students in the exciting games of D&D. Creating characters and storylines are just a piece of the game, and their imaginations grow bigger and bigger with each game. Ms. Kiki continues sparking the interest of new ideas, and is great at supporting the ideas that come through from students, and encouraging them to continue learning new skills, even in games.
Ms. Pat and Abbey
It is hard to believe that my 5-year-old Golden Retriever, Abbey, and I are approaching our one-year anniversary being part of the Ocean State Kidz Club family. As a member of the Windwalker Humaine Coalition and a credential team through the DJ Professional Pet Assisted Therapy DJ Program offered though that organization, we were referred to Ms. Laura and Mr. Matt who were looking to incorporate Pet Therapy into their after-school program for middle school students.
After meeting with them and seeing the center, we decided to see if a good fit for us would be. We look to be sure it is a safe environment for the pet as well as for the humans participating. What I was soon to learn was that the Kidz Club is a wonderful place for young people to grow and develop and a safe and welcoming place for Abbey and me to begin a Pet Therapy program.
Here are some things that I have seen and witnessed:
-a caring, compassionate and knowledgeable staff
-a balance of boundaries and love for each of the youth on an individual basis
-the programs are carefully determined with vision and goal setting with an understanding and knowledge of the growth development and needs of middle school youth
-the environment is a youth-friendly and safe place
That is enough from me. Here is what Abbey has to say:
I first went to the Ocean Ste Kidz Club to take a few sniffs and check it out. I met Mr. Matt who was very nice.
My first day with the kids weas very exciting. It felt like the kids knew I was coming, and they knew about me and how to interact with me to make me feel comfortable. I heard later that Ms. Laura helped them to be ready to meet me.
I know that my job is to present to the kids and to play with them. We try to develop a friendship with as many of the kids as we can. Sometimes they have had a bad day or tough week and I like to give them special attention. If they are happy about something, I am there to celebrate with them. I have heard that our visits make a big difference for some of the kids.
They say that I am easy to be with and seem to love my job. That is very true, but I also get something from being with them. It is a chance for me to work off some of my energy by playing fetch, running and chasing, playing in the pool in the summer and so much more. But I also love the attention they give me as we work together with training and learning for me to practice to be more patient. I still can’t roll over and they have tried to teach me that a lot. Sometimes we just sit together relaxing and chilling out.
It really is the highlight of my week when I can go see my friends there. I have the best job in the world!