Project Connect CFCE

We are excited to introduce you to Ms. Beatrice our newest Parent Educator and Ms. Ashley our new Program Assistant.

Ms. Beatrice has a Masters of Arts in teaching. She is a New England native who has recently moved back to the East Coast with her wife and toddler. She enjoys a good podcast, a good book paired with an herbal tea, and supporting her toddler in her development. She looks forward to bringing her passion for teaching and learning about social emotional health for young children, parent education, as well as childbirth education to the community.

Welcome Ms. Beatrice!

Ms. Ashley might be a familiar face to you as she has been a part of Project Connect for many years. She has three amazing children Lily, Luke, and Laci and a German Shephard named Stella. Her hobbies include, cooking, art and crafts and watching Reality TV. Ms. Ashley and her children have created many meaningfully relationships through Project Connect and she is very excited to now help other families do the same.

Welcome Ms. Ashley!

We are also very happy to introduce new playgroups, parent support groups, designated ASQ time and parent education classes this session. Staff has been working hard for the past few months to bring new ideas to Project Connect to help engage and support more of our families. Please take your time looking over the newsletter with all the new additions.

Playgroups will begin the week of Jan. 9th through the week of Feb. 16th. Please include your child/ren's name, birth, home address and phone number when signing up. All groups birth through 5 years old are held at Project Connect's center unless specified. Please email Jacquie at jcapitanio@attleboroschools.com to register for all classes below.

Mondays, beginning January 8th and ending February 12th

Toddler Time from 9:30-10:45 am, early walkers to 2.9 years old with Ms. Beatrice (non mobile siblings welcomed) Toddler time allows children to learn through play at their own pace and discover their own interests. Activities will include sensory, fine and gross motor and social emotional experiences.

Fun with Early Literacy from 9:30-11:00 am, 2.9-5 years old with Ms. Sarah (non mobile siblings welcomed) Come join us as we explore stories in a more preschool-like setting. Friends will have the opportunity to engage in sensory, fine motor and social emotional experiences that all tied to the story of the day. (This group is offered twice, please choose one to attend)

The Baby Group from 11:00-12:15 pm, birth through pre-walkers with Ms. Beatrice (siblings welcomed) This playgroup is designed to support babies and their parents/caregivers to play, share ideas, and chat about the ups and downs of parenting. Activities will support a baby’s social, emotional, and physical development. Each week will also include facilitated conversations to build community and share skills & resources with each other.

ASQ Office Hours from 12:30-1:30 pm- Ms. Beatrice will be available to help any family that would be interested in learning more about your child's developmental milestones using an ASQ: SE and/or ASQ 3 questionnaire tool. These will be scored and a Parent Educator will contact you with the results.* Note: These questionnaires are kept confidential*

Tuesdays, beginning January 9th and ending February 13th

Fun with Early Literacy from 9:30-11:00 am, 2.9-5 years old with Ms. Sarah (non mobile siblings welcomed) Come join us as we explore stories in a more preschool-like setting. Friends will have the opportunity to engage in sensory, fine motor and social emotional experiences that all tied to the story of the day. (This group is offered twice, please choose one to attend)

Mixed Group from 9:30-10:45 am, birth through 5 years old with Ms. Dana

This playgroup is based on promoting children's development milestones including: social/emotional, language, cognitive and movement in play setting. Activities include free play, reading and circle time.

Mixed Group from 11:00-12:15 pm, birth through 5 years old with Ms. Dana

This playgroup is based on promoting children's development milestones including: social/emotional, language, cognitive and movement in play setting. Activities include free play, reading and circle time.

Wednesdays, beginning January 10th and ending February 14th

Fun in the Kitchen from 9:15-10:15 am, 2-5 years old with Ms. Dana (non-mobile siblings welcomed) Each week you and your child can make some easy, nutritious snacks. This is a fun way to foster your child's cognitive, fine motor and social emotional development. Let's get cooking!

Boston Children's Museums presents TINKER Playgroup from 11:00-12:00 pm 3-5 years old with Ms. Dana (siblings welcomed but supplies for the group will only be provided for the participating child) This group is a 6 week STEAM course developed through the Boston Children's Museum. Your child will do a different STEAM activity every week. *Note this class will start on January 15th to February 28th (not on Feb. 21th due to vacation).*

Winter Wonderland Explorers from 2:00-3:00 pm, birth-5 years old with Ms. Beatrice Bundle up and play outside on and around the playground for 20-30 minutes. Then come inside to warm up with a snack and circle time!

Thursdays, beginning January 11th and ending February 15th

Me, You, We from 9:30-11:00 am, 2.6-5 years old with Ms. Sarah (siblings welcomed) Come join us as we explore social emotional topics each week through story telling, fine motor, sensory and dramatic play experiences.

Playtime @ the Gym from 10:00-11:30 am, birth- 5 years old at the Bartek Recreation Center, 81 Pine St. Attleboro with Ms. Dana Join us for gross motor activities and circle time. *Note: This is drop-in playgroup, no registration required.*

Messy Play from 10:00-11:00 am, 18 months-5 years old with Ms. Beatrice

In this playgroup your child will experience fun with shaving cream, finger paints, playdough, water play and more. This is going to be a mess of a time!

New Parent Nest from 2:00-3:00 pm, with Ms. Beatrice (babies in arms welcomed) The group is for parents to come and connect with other parents of newborns and young babies. Topics of discussion will include sleep, routines, baby development, self-care, and more! *Note: This group is a drop-in, no registration required.*

Friday's beginning January 12th and ending February 16th

Music and Movement from 9:00-10:15 am, birth-5 years old with Ms. Cheryl This lively group will nourish your child's love and natural enthusiasm for music, movement and fun! (This group is offered twice, please choose one to attend)

Music and Movement from 10:30-11:45 am, birth-5 years old with Ms. Cheryl This lively group will nourish your child's love and natural enthusiasm for music, movement and fun! (This group is offered twice, please choose one to attend)

Come and join us for this lively Saturday morning mixed group. Ages birth-5 years old from 9:30-10:30 am on the following dates:

January 13th

January 20th

February 3rd

Calling all Dads, Grandpas, Uncles or really any male-figure in the your child's life to come and join us for this nighttime mixed group. Ages birth-5 years old from 6:30-7:30 on the following dates:

January 11th

January 25th

February 8th

Come join us on this special Yay for Saturday mixed group. Activities will include free play and circle time. *Note: This is a one time sign up and separate from the other Saturday playgroups.*

Please join Ms. Cheryl on this special Saturday event. This lively group will nourish your child's love and natural enthusiasm for music, movement and fun!

We had Donuts with Dad now it is time for Muffins with Mom! Attention Moms, Grandmas, etc. join Ms. Cheryl for playtime and refreshments with your child(ren). *Note: When signing up please inform Jacquie of any allergies or food concerns*

Join Ms. Beatrice to have your child(ren) experience fun with shaving cream, finger paints, playdough, water play and more! This group is for ages 18 months-5 years old.

For over 20 years, Big Ryan has been telling silly stories and using puppets to make kids laugh. We are excited to have him for a special story time with a craft afterwards.

Come and join Ms. Beatrice as she reads The Mitten by Jan Brett. This group will include activities all connected to a story of the day including sensory, art, music, and movement. Come listen to a story and bring it to life with your brain and your body! Ages 18 months-5 years old.

Come join Ms. Sarah for some construction fun. We will explore all things building! Ages birth -5 years old.

The Parent Hour is a Zoom parent support group that will dive into different parent topics each week. It will be a place where parents/caregivers can talk about scenarios, concerns, etc. and get support/advice from a Parent Educator/fellow parents. This will run on the following dates:

Wednesdays 1/10, 1/24, 2/7 and 2/21

Thursdays 1/18, 2/1, 2/15 and 2/29

*Note: You can sign up for as many dates as you like or as little as you like.

Please let Jacquie know what dates you would like to attend.*

Please come join Ms. Cheryl for Coffee and Conversation. The is an in person parent support group that families can come and talk about scenarios and concerns while enjoying light refreshments. *No childcare will be provided*

This is an in person parent support group for families that are a part of the Friendship Project. The Friendship Project is an Attleboro based community that helps families create friendships among children with autism and other additional needs. If you would like more information about The Friendship Project please email: ckillion@attleboroschools.com

Learning to use the potty is a major milestone for a child. Ms. Cheryl will lead a discussion of positive approaches to potty learning. Signs of readiness, following your child's lead, avoiding power struggles, and practical strategies will be shared.

Consistent routine will help your child and their “body clocks” . Routines can help younger children to learn healthy habits with many day-to-day basics! Join Ms. Dana to learn & maintain routines as children feel more confident and secure when their daily activities are predictable and familiar.

Join Ms. Sarah for Getting Ready for Kindergarten. This class will focus the 6 important aspects of development (language, social emotional, self-help, fine motor, reading readiness and math readiness) and you provide a smooth transition for your child.

Come learn about your child’s developing brain and how we can support them through experiences of big emotions with Ms. Beatrice. We will discuss concrete strategies to help our children grow intellectually and support their mental health.

The PTO will be hosting two fundraisers this session to help us get to our goal of raising $1000 this year. Be on the look out for Katie's Kookies- Decorate Your Own Cookie Kit for Valentines day and Leap Year Papa Gino fundraiser on Feb. 29th.

The PTO will be having a meeting on Jan. 9th at 6:00 pm here at the center. If you have any questions about what the PTO does for Project Connect or would like more information on how to join please email pcfcpto@gmail.com.

If Channel 9, and local news stations announce, " No School for Attleboro", then Project Connect will be CLOSED. If there is a school delay, we will cancel the first morning group. Information will be posted on Facebook.

Project Connect will be closed and no playgroups will occur on the following dates:

December 22nd through January 1st

January 15th

February 19th through February 23rd

A big Thank you! to the following families for their generous donations:

Caouette, Costello, Dimond, Kennedy, Lewis, Marino, Martin, McGrath, McVeigh, Menig, Nikolayenko, Nolan, Perches and Radny

Also, Thank you to any family that donated books to the Free Library and the PTO PaperPie Fundraiser

Staff:

Andrea Witherell, Coordinator

Jacquie Capitanio, Sr. Clerk Typist

Parent Educators:

Beatrice Conover

Sarah Dorfman

Cheryl Killion

Dana Walker

Program Assistant:

Ashley Choquette

****Please ask how the ASQ Questionnaire can help support your child's development****

Telephone: 774-551-8251

Location: Attleboro High School, 1 Blue Pride Way, Attleboro MA

APS website: https://pcfc.attleboroschools.com/o/pcfc

Facebook: Project Connect Family Center- Attleboro CFCE

Email: jcapitanio@attleboroschools.com

Project Connect is grant funded by the MA Dept. Of Early Education and Care and supported by the Attleboro Public Schools.