Recent News

Kids on Campus aims to increase the number of Head Start programs on community college campuses to remove child care barriers for student parents. When Dayonera Rivera drops off her 4-year-old daughter Keilanys at the Holyoke-Chicopee-Springfield (HCS) Head Start [...]

Para leer este artículo en inglés, haga clic aquí. The Trump administration is asking Congress to eliminate Head Start, a national early childhood education program that is federally funded. The administration is proposing the cuts for the 2026 fiscal [...]

Opinion by Nicole Blais Since 1965, Head Start has been an essential source of support for millions of children and families, offering early childhood education, health services and family support to those who need it most. This 60-year history [...]

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A local leader has been elected to the New England Head Start Association (NEHSA) Board of Directors. Nicole Blais, CEO of Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield Head Start, Inc. (HCS Head Start), has been elected to the [...]

(Mass Appeal) – The Holyoke-Chicopee-Springfield Head Start is celebrating 60 years of providing comprehensive programs, services and support to local communities, families and children. Their Executive Director of Head Start, Nicole Blais, is with us now to tell about [...]

The Valley Visions Podcast with Matt Peterson is here for the community. Valley Visions is a local weekly public service show which highlights local organizations and individuals who are dedicated to improving their communities. On this Valley Visions podcast, [...]

New England Public Media (NEPM) - The Fabulous 413 February 5, 2025 (segment begins at 40:27) https://www.nepm.org/podcast/the-fabulous-413/2025-02-06/feb-5-2025-a-start-for-mischievous-kin

Holyoke Chicopee Springfield (HCS) Head Start recently elected its 2024-25 Policy Council, composed of parents of currently enrolled children and members-at-large from the communities served by HCS Head Start, which may include parents of children who were formally enrolled. [...]

HCS Head Start Gives Parents Seat at Table By BusinessWest Staff December 16, 2024 SPRINGFIELD — When Head Start began in 1965, its founders understood that parents are critical partners in its work to educate young children. They also [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

(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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]