Missionaries operate Schenectady day care

By PAT PASTERNAK- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

When people think of missionaries, places such as Africa or India come to mind, not Schenectady. However, a small group of missionaries is working there with children.

Recently, the missionaries had a big reason to celebrate: Pope John Paul II beatified the founder of their order, Blessed Tommaso Maria Fusco.

The order, the Daughters of Charity of the Most Precious Blood, runs Villa Fusco, a daycare center for 12 children between the ages of three and five.

Small but mighty

Sister Josephine Alberuccio, DCPB, is mother superior of the five-member community at Villa Fusco. Originally from Italy, she has also been head of the daycare center since 1990. Two of her sisters are from India; another comes from Italy; and one is from Nigeria.

The pre-school education that the sisters designed utilizes what Sister Josephine calls the "global method" of teaching; that is, it incorporates different methods when teaching basics like the alphabet and numbers to the children.

"We have found that this method helps them best when they enter regular school," she said.

Acres of learning

Since Villa Fusco is so big (it occupies two acres of what used to be a Montessori school), the children have opportunities available to them that make their learning experience unique.

For example, "we have a 'dramatic play' area where the children spend time each day," Sister Josephine said. The children dress up in costumes and participate in simple plays that develop the use of their imaginations. "It gives them the opportunity to role-play whoever they wish to be on any given day."

There is also a playroom stocked with toys and a room where the children learn music, arts and crafts -- and take naps. Outside, a large, fenced-in area allows for play and exercise.

(Currently, there is one opening in the daycare program. Call Sister Josephine at 377-1613.)

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