October 8, 2026 HCN Staff SPRINGFIELD — This October, HCS Head Start is celebrating Head Start Awareness Month by recognizing more than six decades of Head Start’s impact on children and families while highlighting the dedicated professionals who continue that mission every day. Head Start programs provide comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and family support services [...]
The Department of Health and Human services has proposed a huge cut to Head Start Programs across the country, with even the president stating the nation has “no money for daycare”. So Monte Belmonte and Kaliis Smith of The Fabulous 413 head to the Holyoke, Chicopee and Springfield Head Start to see their programs [...]
Join us as we speak with Nicole Blais, the Executive Director of Head Start Holyoke Chicopee Springfield. Having been with the organization for over 30 years, she is a testament to why Head Start is so important in the lives of children and families across this nation. In their annual report it shows a [...]
Episode 266: September 28, 2026 You could say Nicole Blais knows Head Start well, from her childhood, as a program participant, to her 30-year career with the early-childhood organization, including her role, since 2021, as CEO — and her honor this past spring as the Massachusetts Head Start Association Leader of the Year. In [...]
Proposed federal changes prompt uncertainty at Springfield Head Start Updated: Sep. 06, 2026, 6:04 a.m. | |Published: Sep. 06, 2026, 6:00 a.m. by Daniel Jackson | djackson@repub.com Veteran Head Start teacher Donna Asare watched a familiar scene in the day care center on Madison Avenue in Springfield. It was one of the first few [...]
HCS Head Start is incredibly proud to have been named “Best Child Care/Preschool” in The Republican's 2027 Reader Raves! This recognition means so much because it reflects the trust and support of the families and communities we are honored to serve every day. Our dedicated educators and staff work tirelessly to [...]
Published: Sep. 02, 2026, 10:08 a.m. By Nicole Blais, CEO, HCS Head Start My connection to Head Start began at Parkside Early Learning Center in Ludlow, where my teacher was Janis Santos. Decades later, after Janis had devoted 49 years to HCS Head Start, I became the CEO of the organization she had helped [...]
By BusinessWest Staff August 27, 2026 SPRINGFIELD — Holyoke Chicopee Springfield (HCS) Head Start Inc. announced that three longtime members of its team have each reached a milestone of 25 years of service: Casondra Alexander, site director; Myrna Nunez, infant/toddler teacher; and Nakeisha McLaurin, infant/toddler teacher. Together, Alexander, Nunez, and McLaurin represent 75 years [...]
The Republican Business Desk Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield Head Start (HCS Head Start) recently gathered team members from across the organization for a Professional Development Day held at the Castle of Knights in Chicopee. The event served as an opportunity to celebrate the dedication, leadership, and impact of individuals who continue to make a difference [...]
Read on Business West SPRINGFIELD — Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield (HCS) Head Start is investing in the future of early childhood education through Tomorrow’s Teachers, a paid internship program designed to introduce individuals to careers in early childhood education while helping address the growing need for qualified educators across the region. Managed by HCS Head [...]
(Mass Appeal) – School may be out, but learning doesn’t have to stop! At Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield Head Start they have simple, fun, and affordable ways families can keep preschoolers learning throughout the summer months. Nicole Blais, Chief Executive Officer and Mara Charizio, Director of Education are here to show us how to keep [...]
HCS Head Start Celebrates Team Members, Volunteers, Leaders By BusinessWest Staff June 5, 2026 SPRINGFIELD — Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield (HCS) Head Start recently gathered team members from across the organization for a Professional Development Day held at the Castle of Knights in Chicopee. The event served as an opportunity to celebrate the dedication, leadership, [...]
SPRINGFIELD — Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield (HCS) Head Start is recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month by reinforcing the critical role mental wellness plays in a child’s overall development and long-term success. At HCS Head Start, mental wellness is not a concept reserved for discussion. It is something children experience every day through intentional practices, supportive [...]
HCS Head Start, Square One, Springfield Public Schools, and the YMCA have created a new agency, "Foundations for Success," to help families find the proper types of support according to their situation and needs. The agency connects families, parents, caregivers and community support programs, with personalized guidance. Business West Early [...]
Business West By BusinessWest Staff April 22, 2026 SPRINGFIELD — Nicole Blais, CEO of Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield (HCS) Head Start, has been named the 2026 Leader of the Year by the Massachusetts Head Start Assoc. (MHSA). This recognition honors her decades of leadership, commitment, and impact on children, families, and the broader Head [...]
Nicole Blais, CEO of HCS Head Start, discusses the economic impact of early learning with host Jill Monson on Living Local's BizBuzz podcast. Listen here!!
