GROWING A HAPPY CHILD
A Parenting, Early Care & Education Calendar…
EXCITING NEWS!!! OCPCC’s GAHC Calendar is online!!!
Check out up-to-date listings
of workshops and events for parents and caregivers
in Northern Windsor and Orange Counties.
In this newsletter we will now just be giving
descriptions of ongoing and upcoming annual events.
Check the website for accurate dates & times
as well as directions and registration info.
No internet? No worries… Just call 888-685-2264
ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES
Ongoing New Parent Support Group Drop by this informal weekly group for new parents held every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon in the Family Center building at Gifford Medical Center in Randolph. Contact Nancy Clark, R.N., at 728-2274 for more information.
Ongoing Kinship Care Support Group This monthly support group brings together “kinship providers,” who are relatives caring for the children of a family member. This might be a grandparent, aunt or uncle, or other family member. Gather and connect, share strategies, build community, and learn about the resources that are available to help you in this important work. Dinner and childcare are provided. Co-facilitated by Cindy Blondin, an area kinship care provider, and Mary Ellen Otis, OCPCC’s Executive Director. Held at the Orange County Parent Child Center in Chelsea one evening of each month from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. For more information call Mary Ellen at 888-685-2264 or .
Ongoing Nurturing Parenting Program This parenting program is a community based curriculum designed to focus on family life skills. Meets once a week for 2 hours for 16 weeks with a certificate of completion. Light refreshments provided. Registration and intake required.
Contact Andrea Herrington at 888-685-2264 .
Ongoing STARS Application Support Designed for home providers and center staff who are actively working on their STARS applications or are interested in starting that process– with help! Bring all your materials and we’ll sit down and go through your specific application, page by page. To schedule a first meeting, contact Emily Marshia, OCPCC’s STARS Support Project Coordinator, for more information at 888-685-2264 or .
MARCH
FAMILY SUGARING DAY This OCPCC classic event is very weather dependent so please check the website to see if and when it will come! Just like the sap, this event may be returning as a sweet surprise this year!
Contact Emilyfor more information at 888-685-2264 or
APRIL
April is the National Month of the Young Child! Celebrate!
MUD SEASON MERRIMENTSaturday, April 11: Brave the mud and come out to play to celebrate spring! Games, crafts, seed planting, muddy handprints station and snacks from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. This is a free family fun-day event open to all families withchildren ages birth to age six and their older siblings
NEW THIS YEAR… TWO LOCATIONS!!! Randolph Elementary School AND Bradford Elementary School.Contact Andi for more information at 888-685-2264 or
19th Annual KIDLINKS DINNER Tuesday, April 28th, 5:30 – 8:30 pm. Tunbridge Town Hall.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Scott Noyes on “Successfully Working With Children With Challenging Behaviors”
Co-sponsored by OCPCC and OWSU’s Kidlinks Early Ed group.
This is an opportunity for parents and providers and teachers to have a night out without children!
Hope you can join us! The dinner is free with reservations.
Please call Sue Barnaby for reservations at least a week ahead at (802)-889-3736.
MAY
WELCOME BABY TEA in Bradford at Grace United Methodist Church. OCPCC’s Children Integrated Services staff invites all expecting and new families to join us for some light refreshments. This is an opportunity to meet other families with babies 6 months and younger in your area as well as get any questions answered by your local home visiting Family Support team. Want info on development? Local playgroups? Classes for parents/babies? Seeking childcare? Going back to work? Door prizes and give-away goodies! RSVP or just drop by and visit and enjoy! For more info contact Andra 888-685-2264
PAJAMA STORY HOURS A fun story hour for preschool children and their parents to visit their future elementary schools. Wear your pj’s, enjoy stories & a snack, take home a new book, and get to know your child’s future school with them! Co-sponsored by the schools and the Orange County Parent Child Center. Contact Mary Lou at 888-685-2264 or for more information. Complete schedule for the following schools will be posted online!
Braintree Elementary School Brookfield Elementary School
Randolph Elementary SchoolChelsea Public School
JUNE & JULY (sneek peek of things to come!)
TEDDY BEAR SOCIAL SUMMER TOUR Coming to your local weekly playgroup! Bring your favorite stuffie! Bradford at Elizabeth’s Park South Royalton Brookfield Randolph
Westshire (at the last Westshire playgroup until school restarts in September)
KIDS MUSIC FEST & TEDDY BEAR SOCIAL This rockin' event at the Chelsea Farmer’s Market for children of all ages will get everyonemoving! Join the lively teaching staff from OCPCC's early education program for dancing,singing, and instrument making. Little ones, bring your favorite stuffed friend so you have adancing partner! We'll provide the instruments and the rhythms, you bring your energy.