O’Dell Women’s Center Foundation Announces 2024 Grant Awards of $250,000 By BusinessWest Staff December 12, 2024 SPRINGFIELD — The O’Dell Women’s Center (OWC), Springfield’s first nonprofit women’s center, announced it has granted a total of $250,000 to eight other nonprofit organizations in Springfield to support programs that empower and create opportunities for low-income Springfield [...]

By Liam McLoughlin | Special to The Republican SPRINGFIELD — Preschools around the state haven’t always been receiving millions of dollars every year from the Governor’s Office. In fact, many of the first preschool programs were run out of dusty old basements, while teachers were treated as babysitters. Education has come a long way [...]

By BusinessWest Staff September 24, 2024 SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College (STCC), Holyoke Chicopee Springfield (HCS) Head Start, and dignitaries announced the opening of an HCS early-childhood program on the STCC campus. The opening of the facility will provide affordable childcare for qualifying families in the region, as well as learning and training [...]

Nicole Blais, CEO of Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield (HCS) Head Start Inc., was recently re-elected to the Massachusetts Head Start Assoc. (MHSA) board of directors and will also serve as treasurer. MHSA serves as the voice of nearly 30 Head Start and Early Head Start programs across Massachusetts. The not-for-profit membership organization provides collaborative learning [...]

Daily Hampshire Gazette SPRINGFIELD, May 29, 2024 Nicole Blais, chief executive officer of Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield Head Start, Inc. (HCS Head Start) was recently reelected to the Massachusetts Head Start Association (MHSA) board of directors and additionally will serve as treasurer. MHSA serves as the voice of nearly 30 Head Start/Early Head Start’s across [...]

Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia stopped by HCS Head Start on Monday, April 29 to read "Pete the Cat" with students. Reading and building vocabulary is important for children's success as they move toward kindergarten! Click on photo to view Channel 22 segment on YouTube.

LiftTruck Parts and Service celebrates 35 years by giving back to Head Start (Mass Appeal) – LiftTruck Parts and Service is celebrating their 35 year anniversary and are giving back to the local communities they serve by partnering with the Head Start programs in Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield, and Brockton, and they want you to [...]

In every community there is a struggle to fill the openings for early childhood educators and these roles are crucial in setting the youngest members of our communities on the oath to success. If you’ve ever considered being an early childhood teacher then now is the time to make the career move, with HCS [...]

Interview with Nicole Blais, CEO of HCS Head Start In this episode we chat with Nicole Blais, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer for Holyoke Chicopee Springfield (HCS) Head Start, Inc. located in Western Massachusetts. We cover: What Head Start offers for infants and toddlers ages 0 to 5 How Head Start not only [...]

Joe Bednar talks with Nicole Blais, CEO of Holyoke Chicopee Springfield Head Start LISTEN TO THE PODCAST At a time when so many families with young children struggle with issues of nutrition, education, mental health, and more, the services offered by the national organization known as Head Start are more critical than ever. On [...]

(MASS APPEAL) – Head Start is a federal program that promotes school readiness for children under age five, but your child’s learning starts with their relationships in the home. Here to tell us more is Mahera Chiarizio, Director of Education at Head Start, and Lori Chaves, Director of Clinical and Family Services. Visit mass.gov/head-start [...]

HCS Head Start Begins Recruitment Season with Kickoff Event By BusinessWest Staff April 12, 2023 22 HOLYOKE — Every year, Holyoke Chicopee Springfield (HCS) Head Start Inc. kicks off the preschool enrollment season with a door-to-door recruitment campaign. In order to reach those most in need of services, Head Start staff implement strategies designed [...]

Mayor Domenic Sarno joined students and staff at HCS Head Start this morning for a special read aloud to celebrate ‘The Week of the Young Child’. The mayor sat down with children to read books to a group of children with their educators. During the read aloud there was a special mayoral proclamation [...]

Educators, lawmakers, parents, and advocates gathered Tuesday to ask for an increase in funding to the Head Start budget item. Head Start provides early education and comprehensive services to the state’s most vulnerable children and families. The program offers family support, nutritional, health, and mental health services to families living below the poverty [...]

Nicole Blais, Chief Executive Officer, appeared on Mass Appeal on WWLP in January 2023 to discuss HCS Head Start's comprehensive programs, which include early childhood education, health, nutrition, social services, and activities for the whole family See clips from the interview in this video. Thank you to WWLP for having us on to [...]