History


Since 1970, Stars (formerly South Shore Day Care Services), has been a resource for working parents on the South Shore. Our organization began as an offshoot of the Quincy Community Action Organization, a community based anti-poverty agency. Funding from President Johnson’s national "War on Poverty" helped to establish citizen committees to involve low-income residents in making decisions about programs and services, and to develop local solutions to poverty.

Child care for low-income parents was identified as a necessity to allow single parents to enter the workforce and exit the welfare system. The first Stars center-based preschool child care program was located in Quincy center and began work with local families in 1971. Since that time, Stars has welcomed and nurtured thousands of South Shore children and families.



Timeline


South Shore Day Care (SSDCS) was incorporated on August 6, 1970.


• 1971

SSDCS welcomes families at preschools in Quincy (Bethany Congregational Church/Quincy Center) and Randolph (First Baptist Church) and afterschool sites located at the Bicknell School in North Weymouth and the Broadmeadows School in the Adams Shore/Merrymount section of Quincy.

• 1972

Additional preschools open in Weymouth (at our current location in Jackson Square) and Milton. South Shore Day Camp opens at Hale Reservation in Westwood.

• 1973

Hingham Preschool opens in the Bare Cove Park area of Hingham.

• 1976

Inauguration of SSDCS’s Family Child Care system.

• 1978

SSDCS acquires a building on East Squantum Street in Quincy which today houses our Quincy Preschool Stars. The organization becomes a United Way affiliate.

• 1980

SSDCS opens an afterschool site in Hull.

• 1981

Weymouth Afterschool program moves to its current location at the Jefferson School.

• 1982

SSDCS acquires the historic Jefferson School building from the town of Weymouth.

• 1987

Randolph Afterschool opens and administrative offices move to the Jefferson School.

• 1991

Lakeview Manor Preschool opens in Weymouth.

• 2003

SSDCS initiates the RISE (Reading Is So Exciting) family literacy program. Randolph Community Middle School Afterschool Stars program opens.

• 2007

Weymouth Preschool and Lakeview Manor preschools merge.

• 2009

Randolph High School Afterschool Stars program opens.

• 2010

SSDCS becomes Stars and celebrates 40 years of service to the South Shore community.