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De Anza students can send kids to CAMP
By Michelle Alaimo
All parents are faced with the daily juggling of priorities. Now, thanks to the De Anza College math department, some students won't have to sacrifice extra tutoring because of a lack of child-care.
Starting with the upcoming spring semester, students enrolled in beginning math through intermediate algebra can take advantage of two hours of free child-care twice a week.
"I sometimes find it very difficult to get things done," said De Anza math instructor Lenore De Silets. "I noticed that a lot of parents were having the same problem I was." In response, De Siltes helped create the program to provide child-care, so students could study math without any interruptions
"I'm just a math teacher who saw there was a need," said De Silets, mother of 4-year-old Justin.
De Silets, with the help of the Associated Student Body and the Child Development Center, formed the Child-care Assisted Math Program (CAMP). The program allows parents to meet with tutors and use math software on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for two hours, while their child is cared for in the room next door.
The parents are able to study, or get help from tutors, without interruptions. Paid CDC staff members and De Anza instructors can accommodate up to 20 2-to 8-year-olds at a time. Children are introduced to a variety of energetic cultural activities, such as Israeli dancing and folk-tale reading. The little ones also learn about science through water experiments and participate in fun math activities. Caregivers also serve children a healthy snack.
De Silets said free child-care is limited to two children per student. Parents must fill out an application, committing themselves to the CAMP sessions. A waiting list will be kept to replace those who do not stick with the program.
When De Silets first came up with the idea for CAMP a year and a half ago, she said she had a hard time finding program funding. The ASB stepped in with a $5,000 spring semester donation, which finally got the ball rolling. De Silets figures that after spring, costs to fund the program will run $2,000 to $3,000 per semester.
"I'm hoping CAMP will become a template for other colleges," De Silets said. "I know parents could really use this."
CDC site supervisor Adele Cruz-Reuter said she hopes to expand the CAMP program as interest grows.
For more information on CAMP, or to request an application, call 408.864.8703, or pick up an application in the De Anza College math division office.
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Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
