The Shutesbury Elementary School has a Caregiver Resource Center in the Library. Materials are available on a variety of issues including caregiving, siblings, health topics, discipline, special needs, and much more. All materials are available to be borrowed. We update our offerings each year. Please stop by to browse through our material. In honor of the volunteer efforts of former PTO president Ellen Kalt, the PTO has committed to an annual donation to purchase up-to-date books and materials to maintain this important community resource.
The Shutesbury Elementary School holds an annual meeting for caregivers who have children receiving Title I supplementary services every fall. Caregivers and Title I staff are encouraged to attend. The Title I PAC meets on a regular basis to enhance caregiver involvement and follow through with the responsibility of the home/school compact in support of student learning.
Our local Parent Advisory Council is comprised of caregivers who have or have had a child in need of special education or Title I services. Meetings are held regularly and caregivers are encouraged to attend. Please contact Special Education Director at the Special Education Office (413-423-3331) for meeting dates.
Supporting Families and Providers in the communities of Erving, Leverett, Shutesbury, New Salem and Wendell.
https://sites.google.com/erving.com/cncprogram/home
The Community Network for Children is funded by CFCE grant funds through the Department of Early Education and Care. Our Community Network for Children program was established in the spring of 2009 by joining the Massachusetts Family Network (MFN) and the Community Partnerships for Children (CPC) funding to maximize the current limited resources to support families and early care and education providers in our communities. It is our intent to continue to offer the best of both programs and to continue to be a support to families and early care and education professionals in our communities. We support initiatives to create programs that address the needs of families and early education and care professionals with young children living in Erving, Wendell, New Salem, Shutesbury and Leverett. We strive to collaborate with existing human service agencies to further fulfill these needs.
If you live in one of the 5 towns and have a young child (ren), then your family can benefit from the School Union # 28 Community Network for Children.
Program Objectives
Act as a community based, information and resource hub for all families in order to increase knowledge of and accessibility to high-quality early education and care programs and services for families with children birth through age 8.
Promote family education, engagement and literacy through activities that:
recognize caregivers as their child’s first teacher;
build on family strengths;
bolster caregiver leadership;
create caregiver opportunities for mutual support and social connections; and
build early and family literacy skills.
Through a variety of methods, including, governance council meetings, email distribution, community resource guides and web postings, provide access to information and resources that support early education and care and out of school time educators/providers and programs across the public and private sectors in delivering high quality services:
Caregiver-child Playgroups are held at:
Erving Elementary School
Shutesbury Elementary School
Wendell Free Library
Story Hours and special events and programs are held at the public libraries of all 5 towns in the network. Call CNC for current schedule and programs 978-935-4909
Things We Do Together:
Opportunities for caregivers to become involved in their community and see themselves as their child’s first teacher.
Collaboration with other service providers: REACH, Early Childhood School based-programs, Private community childcare programs, Community Action!,
Newborn visiting program
Caregiving workshops and educational services
Newsletters to families and early care and education providers, programs and partners
Collaboration with local community libraries to offer children’s activity kits and joint family literacy activities
Informal support groups
Family and community events
Sharing ideas, talents and interests for future events
For a current listing of EEC Licensed Early Education and Care Providers (Public and Private) use this link
http://www.eec.state.ma.us/ChildCareSearch/EarlyEduMap.aspx
or call (978) 544-5157 and we can help you access the list. You can search for all area programs in public schools, family childcare homes, center based and school age programs. We also support families in accessing information about how to get assistance paying for childcare, preschool or after school programs.
Resources for Early Education and Care Providers
Provide information and referral to assist early education and care providers in accessing professional development opportunities.
Support to eligible families in your program in accessing the MA State Wait List for Child Care Vouchers.
Networking with other providers in your communities
CNC Council Meetings - The Union #28 Community Network for Children Council is a mechanism for developing and enhancing collaborative relationships and partnerships that improve the quality of family supports, resources and early education and care in the community. Caregivers, early education and care providers, service agencies, community programs, and businesses work together to form a cohesive system of programming and support for young children in our communities.
The Union #28 Community Network for Children Council allows families, early educators and community members participation in the assessment of and response to the needs of young children while sharing their voice in the decision making process for programs that benefit both families and communities as a whole. Meetings are held throughout the year. The council is open to all interested and always willing to have new members involved:
Local Council Memberships Consist Of A Variety Of Community Members:
Caregivers Of Young Children
Family Child Care Providers
REACH (local Early Intervention program)
Head Start and Early Head Start
Public And Private Preschool Teachers/Directors
School Principal(s)
CNC Program Coordinator
Resource And Referral Agency (Child Care Outlook)
And Others
To find out more about the services we offer or how to get involved, please contact Gillian Budine, the Community Network for Children Coordinator at 413-422-0170 or e-mail budine@erving.com . If you are expecting a baby or have a newborn and live in one of the 5 towns, please contact us to be put on our mailing list and receive a new baby gift bag!
The Community Network for Children Office Location is at the
Swift River School
201 Wendell Road, New Salem, MA 01355
Voice: 978-544-5157 | Fax: 978-544-2253