Albert F. Argenziano Community After School Program Holds Event in Recognition of U.S. Veterans

Students attending the Albert F. Argenziano Community After School Program in Somerville recently participated in a special program made possible by a gift honoring the life of U.S. Army Veteran, James K. Donahue. Mr. Donahue was a military veteran honored for his service to our country during World War II in Normandy for which he was awarded the coveted Bronze Star medal and the Silver Star for his service in Korea.

The Argenziano Community After School program offers students innovative opportunities for social engagement, learning and development. The program provides children with a variety of supervised enrichment and academic activities for families who are at work, school, or want their child to have the opportunity to socialize with other children their age outside of the classroom. The goal of the program is to support children's healthy social, emotional and academic development with programs including Yoga, Martial Arts, Parkour Generations, Cooking, Art and more.

During this special event, children’s author, Sheila Duncan, co-creator of the character, Trouble The Dog, performed a reading of the story - “Where There’s Trouble…There’s Hope.” The book introduces a new character to the popular book series – a puppy named Hope. It’s a sweet story that inspires children to have hope, believe in themselves, and follow their dreams. The sponsor of today’s program is also enabling every child in the program to receive a plush Trouble dog, an autographed copy of the storybook, and a custom Trouble doghouse to decorate and keep as their own.

“We serve a culturally diverse population of preschool, kindergarten and school age children with a strong focus on the nurturing and development of every child,” said Hilary Muntz, program coordinator, Albert F. Argenziano Community After School Program. “We’re always looking for new, innovative programs to engage the children. We’re so grateful for this generous gift which will enable us to provide additional learning and growth opportunities for the children.”

Sheila Duncan works with several prestigious organizations where plush Trouble dogs and storybooks are utilized as part of successful play therapy at hospitals, local schools, and with several social services agencies. Trouble The Dog is known to be a source of comfort for children and is often used as an effective tool for early childhood educators.

“The Trouble storybooks deliver a message of hope, compassion and resilience that children are simply drawn to,” explains Duncan. “We do programs like this with schools and have designed a workshop that helps Early Educators learn how to use the plush dogs as a coping mechanism for children facing difficulties – including anxiety or behavioral and learning issues. Trouble and his storybooks are also used to engage and comfort children by guidance counselors and teachers in schools, and by child life specialists in hospitals across the country.”

For more information about Trouble the Dog, visit: www.troublethedog.net.

Photo:

Eddie Jones, 5th grade student attending the Albert F. Argenziano Community After School program in Somerville, proudly displays his creation during a special program honoring U.S. Veterans. The program was made possible by a generous gift to the school honoring the life of U.S. Army Veteran, James K. Donahue. The Argenziano Community After School program offers students innovative opportunities for social engagement, learning and development.

During the program, children’s author, Sheila Duncan, co-creator of the character, Trouble The Dog performed a narrative of the story - “Where There’s Trouble…There’s Hope” - a story that inspires children to believe in themselves and follow their dreams. Every child in the program received a plush Trouble dog, an autographed copy of the storybook, and a custom Trouble doghouse to decorate and keep as their own.