Welcome to the start of the Family Center’s 2010/2011 year! We hope you had a wonderful summer and are looking forward to enjoying all that the Family Center has to offer this year. Below is a description of some of the changes and events we wanted to direct your attention to. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our Coordinator, Kristin Carey.
NEW CENTER HOURS- This year we will be open on Mondays, Tuesdays and
Thursdays from 9:30-11:00 am. Our infant group will be on Wednesdays from
11-12 pm. We follow the South Hadley school calendar. When South Hadley schools are closed or delayed, we are closed.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS- We will be offering special small-groups programs
focusing on topics such as music & movement, bilingual song & story time and arts & crafts (just to name a few)! Each program is free but registration is required. Program sessions are 4 weeks and meet every Wednesday at the Center from 9:30 to 10:45 am. The first program will be bilingual song & story time (English/Spanish) and the session starts on Wednesday, September 15th. Please contact Kristin if you’re interested in this or upcoming sessions. More details to come!
NEW PAYMENT POLICY- Due to a significant reduction in our grant funding, we have adopted a new payment policy. We ask that all visitors contribute $2 to $5 per visit OR become members for $60 for half the year (September through January or February through May) or $100 for the entire year. Your first visit is free! Alternatively, you may contribute volunteer hours and/or donate items listed on the Center’s wish list. Please see Kristin for more details about these other options. No one will be turned away because of inability to pay.
We would like to WELCOME our new and returning Parent Advisory Council (PAC) members! Jen Sabourin is our newly elected President, Amy Beaulieu is our new Treasurer and Amanda Litz is our new Secretary. Thank you to Jen, Amy & Amanda for donating their time to these important Family Center positions! The PAC meets once per month and oversees the running of the Family Center. If you would like to be on the PAC or learn more, please contact Jen at eulalia321@yahoo.com or Kristin, our Coordinator.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Our next Parent Advisory Council (PAC) meeting will be at the Family Center from 7-8:30 pm on Monday, September 20th. All are welcome to attend!
The Family Center Open House will take place on Saturday, October 2nd from 10-12 pm. Come meet other Family Center families and learn about our exciting new programs. More details to come!
The Fall Foliage Walk & Nature Treasure Hunt will take place on Saturday, October 2nd (the same day as the Open House) from 10-2 pm. Come walk the one-mile trail around Mount Holyoke College's Upper Lake and enjoy all that nature has to offer this time of year!
The Family Center’s Halloween Party will be on Friday, October 22nd from 5-8 pm in Kidder Hall (above the Family Center). This party is geared towards children 5 & under (older siblings are also welcome) and includes crafts & games, live music, pizza, prizes and a costume parade. A donation of $10 per family is suggested to help cover the cost of this event.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! As a parent-directed non-profit organization, the Family Center depends on the efforts of parent-volunteers to be successful. Please lend your talents, skills and energy to the Family Center. All levels of commitment are welcome! Please contact Nicole at nlgbpc@aol.com if you are interested in volunteering or learning more about how you can help.
FAMILY CENTER WISH LIST- In lieu of a cash donation, please consider donating items we frequently use such as:
Paper towels
Small drinking cups
Clorox Anywhere spray
White copy/printer paper
US postage stamps
Hand sanitizer
Disinfectant wipes
Napkins
Pretzels*
*please do not donate pretzel nuggets as they can be a choking hazard |
