Holyoke • Chicopee• Springfield Head Start is a multi-service agency, providing comprehensive programs, services and support to local communities, families and children. We provide early childhood education, to prepare preschool children for kindergarten, and for life.
We offer traditional part-day early childhood programs at no cost to eligible families. In addition, HCS Head Start offers a full day option for eligible parents working or enrolled at school full time. Fees for the full day option range from sliding scale to full tuition.
We provide family and parent support, and opportunities for families to engage in a child’s education and in the HCS Head Start community. We also provide family and parent programs including cooking, money management, parenting classes, a healthy relationships program, and more.
Since its inception in 1965, Head Start has improved the lives of more than 32 million children and their families.
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STAFF SHOUT OUT!!!![]()
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This month we are proud to recognize the dedicated members of our Marketing Committee. This group of staff volunteers plays an important role in helping us share the story of HCS Head Start across our community. From planning ideas and brainstorming new ways to highlight our programs, to capturing moments from classrooms and events across the agency, the Marketing Committee helps ensure the great work happening every day is seen and celebrated. Members also serve as important connectors to their teams, helping bring forward stories, photos, and updates that reflect the experiences of our children, families, and staff.![]()
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Their creativity, collaboration, and commitment help strengthen how we communicate and celebrate the impact of our mission.![]()
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Please join us in thanking the members of our Marketing Committee for their time, ideas, and enthusiasm: ![]()
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- Alisha Durocher, Interim Social Services Coordinator![]()
- Amy Santiago, Development & Training Coach![]()
- Angie Narvaez-Troche, Human Resources Coordinator![]()
- Brett Rogers, Social Services Coordinator![]()
- Cassondara Alexander, Site Director (Lincoln Grove – Chicopee)![]()
- Chastity Santiago, Community Outreach Liaison ![]()
- Chris Compton, Site Director (Parkside – Ludlow, Westover – Chicopee, & Robinson Gardens – Springfield) ![]()
- Christine Zaskey Cullen, Coordinated Family & Community Engagement (CFCE) ![]()
- Daniella Serra, Site Director![]()
- Deb Tolliver, Site Director (Madison – Springfield & Maple Street – Holyoke)![]()
- Eliza Hanna, Operations Manager![]()
- Erika Ynguanzo, ERSEA Coordinator![]()
- Heidi Fogg, Site Director (STCC Center – Springfield) ![]()
- Jennifer Kimball, Health Manager![]()
- Kayla Simons, Family Service Coordinator (Churchill – Holyoke) ![]()
- Kimberly Hollenbeck, Interim Site Director (Churchill – Holyoke)![]()
- Kristine LaFortune, Home Visitor (Early Head Start @ Home)![]()
- Leah Paixao, Home Visitor (Early Head Start @ Home)![]()
- Nicole Blais, Chief Executive Officer![]()
- Sara Korte-Popp, Site Director![]()
- Shanice Coppedge-Nicholas, Site Director (MGM Center – Springfield) ![]()
- Stephanie Santaniello, Site Director (Carew Street – Springfield)![]()
- Terri Lombardo, Family and Community Engagement Coordinator![]()
- Mayra Felix, Site Director (Mason Square – Springfield)![]()
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We are extremely grateful for all this group does to help tell the HCS Head Start story!
Our Development and Training Coaches recently came together to assemble the latest round of Kindergarten Readiness Bags for children preparing to head to kindergarten. This round of materials focuses on supporting our School Readiness Goals for cognition. ![]()
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Each quarter, coaches provide teachers with learning activities to send home to families in both English and Spanish for children who will soon be entering kindergarten. Along with the activities, families receive a bag of hands on materials that help children practice important early learning skills at home.![]()
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Classrooms also receive small group activities that align with the materials being sent home so children can practice the same concepts both in the classroom and with their families. It is one more way we partner with parents to help children build confidence, curiosity, and build that home to school connection for their next big step into kindergarten.![]()
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Nuestros Coaches de Desarrollo y Capacitación se reunieron recientemente para preparar la más recienteronda de bolsas de Preparación para Kindergarten para niños que pronto estarán entrando al kindergarten. Esta ronda de materiales se enfoca en apoyar nuestras Metas de Preparación Escolar relacionadas con la cognición.![]()
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Cada trimestre, las coaches proveen a los maestros actividades de aprendizaje para enviar a casa a las familias en inglés y en español para los niños que pronto comenzarán el kindergarten. Junto con las actividades, las familias reciben una bolsa con materiales prácticos que ayudan a los niños a practicar destrezas importantes de aprendizaje temprano en el hogar. ![]()
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Los salónes también reciben actividades para grupos pequeños que están alineadas con los materiales que se envían a casa para que los niños puedan practicar los mismos conceptos tanto en el salón de clases como con sus familias. Esta es otra manera en que trabajamos en colaboración con los padres para ayudar a los niños a desarrollar confianza, curiosidad y construye esa conexión entre el hogar y el colegio con la preparación para su próximo gran paso hacia el kindergarten.