Head Start and Early Head Start: Opportunities for Children and Families

There is something special about the start of a new school year—the excitement of welcoming children into our classrooms, reconnecting with families, and seeing new friendships begin. We are thrilled to have another year underway across our Bennington County Head Start locations and community partner sites.

This year brings many opportunities for the children and families we serve.

We are especially excited to have received one-time supplemental nutrition funding that will allow us to bring nutrition education and experiences to our children and families. Children will have opportunities to learn about healthy foods and families will be invited to participate in nutrition and cooking classes throughout the year. These gatherings will offer a chance to cook together and take home practical ideas for making healthy eating part of everyday life.

We continue to grow our partnerships in the community to provide our families with more choices and flexibility when it comes to early education and childcare. Our expanded partnership with the Southwest Supervisory Union (SVSU) Early Education Programs at Molly Stark and Division Street make it possible for children to attend classrooms at these sites Monday through Thursday mornings and then be transported to our North Bennington Head Start location for afternoon childcare. Families can also access full-day care on Fridays and year-round childcare through Head Start.

We are also excited to serve families in Shaftsbury again this year through our renewed partnership with Lil Peeps Preschool. Families attending Lil Peeps can choose to dually enroll their children in Head Start, bringing additional Head Start support directly into their children’s classrooms. Families also benefit from resources, referrals, and personal support from Head Start Family Support Workers.

Our community partnerships are important to us because we know every family’s needs are different. By working together with schools, childcare providers, families, and community organizations, we can create more opportunities for children to learn, grow, and thrive.

There is still time to join us this year! We currently have enrollment opportunities available, including preschool openings at our North Bennington location at 2 Park Street, infant and toddler openings at our Bennington location at 655 Gage Street, and preschool openings at our Pownal location at 97 School House Road.

If you or someone you know could benefit from Head Start or Early Head Start, we would love to hear from you. Please call April or Wenona at 802-442-3686 to learn more or begin the application process.

Most of all, thank you to our families for trusting us with your children, to our staff for the care they bring to their work every day, and to our community partners for helping us reach and support more families. Head Start has always been about more than what happens in the classroom—it is about building relationships, strengthening families, and creating a community where every child has the opportunity to succeed.

We are excited about what this school year will bring and look forward to sharing it with all of you.

Warmly,

Rebecca Bishop Ware; Director of Early Childhood Services

Bennington County Head Start and Early Head Start supports early childhood education and development through highly trained teachers, development of school readiness skills, commitment to continuous improvement and a focus on family engagement. For information on Bennington County Head Start and United Counseling Service programs visit www.ucsvt.org.