Dear RCHS/EHS Families & Friends

As we move into the spring season, we are excited to share all the wonderful learning, growth, and connection happening across our classrooms.

Over the past few months, children have been exploring new ideas, building friendships, and developing important skills through play, creativity, and hands-on experiences. From music enrichment and classroom projects to outdoor adventures and everyday learning moments, it has been a joy to see their curiosity and confidence continue to grow.

With warmer weather here, we are especially looking forward to spending more time outside—exploring nature, engaging in active play, and making the most of the season together.

In this newsletter, you’ll find highlights from our classrooms, updates on recent activities, and a look at what’s happening across the program. We invite you to read on and celebrate these moments with us!

We are grateful for the continued support of our families and community partners. Thank you for being such an important part of our program—we truly appreciate all that you do.

With appreciation,

Rutland County Head Start & Early Head Start Team



-5K Run for Prevention-

💛April is Child Abuse Awareness Month💛

Rutland County Head Start & Early Head Start were proud to join our community partners this weekend at the 3rd Annual Running for Prevention 5K, hosted by Rutland County Parent Child Center.

We had a great time connecting with families, cheering on participants, and sharing more about our program with community members. It was a meaningful day centered around supporting children, strengthening families, and coming together for an important cause.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and events like this are a powerful reminder of what we can do when we work together as a community to support safe, healthy environments for all children.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello—we loved seeing so many familiar and new faces!

Sarah Meunier

Family Services Advocate

Bianca Acosta

Substitute Teacher

-Music is the Language of Childhood-

The Visionaries classroom recently welcomed a special guest, Tom Frink, for a morning full of music, movement, and creativity!

During his visit, Tom led a whole group music experience where children sang familiar songs like Puff the Magic Dragon and This Old Man, danced together, and explored fun vocal and face exercises—howling, stretching facial muscles, and practicing different singing voices. The group also enjoyed an illustrated folk song about an elderly couple and a crab, bringing storytelling and music together in a playful way.

In addition to the group activities, children had the opportunity to work in pairs with Tom, exploring his ukuleles. He brought both a soprano and concert ukulele, giving children a chance to try different sizes while learning the basics and experimenting with sound. These small group moments encouraged creativity, confidence, and a sense of musical exploration.

Children also had the chance to make music their own—taking requests, singing favorites like Baby Bumblebee, and even creating original songs. One group began crafting a birthday song, while another moment featured a joyful rendition of the ABCs accompanied by drumming.

It was a wonderful experience that brought music, movement, and imagination into the classroom. We are so grateful to everyone who helped make this visit possible!

-'Roots & Wings' Takes Flight-

Thank you to all of our Community Partners who participated in our Roots & Wings event on March 24th, 2026. Your collaboration was essential. And of course, a HUGE thank you to RCPCC for partnering with us— we are so grateful! We would not have been able to pull it off without Ava's assistance in planning and organizing, or without your beautiful 2-Gen Campus and the remarkable staff (Molly is a genius!) that provided wholesome, delicious food.

While this soft opening to our event was a smaller gathering, it created a meaningful opportunity for connection. Representatives from Rutland County Parent Child Center, Rutland Mental Health Services Early Childhood team, Rutland City Public Schools, Vermont Department of Health / WIC, First Step Pregnancy Clinic, and Wonderfeet Kids' Museum came together to share ideas, collaborate, and start planning for future Roots & Wings events.

These conversations are a critical step in making sure we continue to grow the event into something that benefits a multitude of children and families in our community. Together we are the "village".

We are truly appreciative of everyone's participation, and we are eager to add more resources to the mix as we continue to build on this momentum.

Please reach out to Kristen if you are interested in tabling at our next event.

Call or text 802-779-5845

Stay tuned- our future is bright!

-Early Head Start-

Discovery

The Discovery classroom has been enjoying some special moments together this Spring!

Children created a unique backdrop using their own artwork and used it during family photo time, making the experience even more meaningful and personal.

The class also had the opportunity to take their first walk to River Street Park. This new adventure gave children a chance to explore a different environment, enjoy the outdoors, and experience the excitement of going on a longer walk together.

It’s been wonderful to see their creativity shine and their confidence grow as they explore both in and outside of the classroom!

Explorers

The Explorers classroom has been actively exploring, creating, and connecting with one another. Through hands-on activities like sensory play, art, and early literacy, children are building curiosity and independence. Singing has also become a fun part of the day during lunch and transitions.

As the seasons change, we’ve been enjoying more time outside—discovering bugs, playing in the dirt and water, and exploring nature. Outdoor play helps strengthen gross motor skills and encourages active learning.

We continue to support social-emotional development as children practice sharing, expressing feelings, and building friendships. It’s been exciting to see their confidence grow each day.

Dreamers

The Dreamers classroom has been busy exploring, creating, and building connections with one another. Children have been engaging in hands-on activities like sensory play, art, and early literacy, while also enjoying singing during lunch and transitions.

With the warmer weather, we’ve been spending more time outdoors—exploring nature, finding bugs, and playing in the dirt and water. These experiences support both gross motor development and a love of the outdoors.

Social-emotional growth remains a focus, as children practice expressing feelings, taking turns, and building friendships. It’s been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they try new things and engage with their peers.

-Head Start-

Visionaries

The Visionaries classroom has been enjoying time together building new connections and welcoming new classmates and staff into their community. It’s been wonderful to see friendships forming and children growing more comfortable as they get to know one another.

A recent highlight was their music enrichment experience, where children had the opportunity to explore songs, movement, and instruments in a fun and engaging way. This special visit brought lots of smiles and excitement to the classroom.

As they move forward, the Visionaries continue to focus on creating a supportive, welcoming environment where children can learn, play, and grow together each day.

Adventurers

The Adventurers classroom has been focusing on building friendship skills this month, with a special emphasis on helping one another and working together.

Children have been practicing teamwork through shared activities and learning how to problem-solve as a group. It’s been wonderful to see them support each other, communicate their ideas, and grow together as a classroom community.

Innovators

The Innovators classroom has wrapped up our art unit, and the children were excited to showcase their creations for family and friends!

We’ve now shifted our focus to pond life, and the kids have been having a great time exploring a variety of pond-themed activities. From learning about creatures that live in and around the water to hands-on discovery, this new unit is already sparking lots of curiosity and excitement.

As the weather gets warmer, we’re also looking forward to spending much more time outdoors. With all that fresh air and active play, things are bound to get a little messy—in the best way! Please be sure your child has extra clothes at school so they can fully enjoy all the fun.

The Innovators Classroom is diving into an exciting, hands-on art project that brings creativity and sustainability together. Students will be working as a team to design and build a large-scale collage made entirely from recycled materials. Along the way, children will practice important skills like cooperation, inclusion, communication, and problem-solving—while turning everyday items into something extraordinary.

Right now, the class is in the collection phase and would love help gathering materials! We are looking for items such as milk caps, soda or water bottle caps, soda can tabs, cardboard tubes, small boxes, yogurt containers, egg cartons, plastic lids, small cartons, buttons, food pouch caps, empty fruit cups, and other clean recyclables you think could be reused.

A donation bin is available outside the Innovators Classroom for anyone who would like to contribute. Thank you for helping our young artists give new life to recycled materials!

March: Seeds

In March, children explored the world of seeds through hands-on discovery and a little bit of mystery! Classrooms examined a variety of seeds, looking closely at their size, shape, color, and texture. Children were encouraged to describe what they noticed and share their ideas.

Together, they made predictions about what each seed might grow into — turning the activity into a fun guessing game. After choosing their seeds, children planted them and began the exciting process of watching them grow.

Throughout the activity, teachers guided conversations with questions like: What does the seed feel like? Is it big or small? What do you think it will grow into? How long might it take to grow?

These thoughtful questions helped build curiosity, observation skills, and early understanding of how plants grow.

April: Herbs & Spices

In April, children explored herbs and spices using their senses! Through smelling, touching, and even tasting, they were introduced to a variety of new and familiar flavors.

As they explored, children learned the names of different herbs and spices and shared their thoughts about what foods they might be used in. Some recognized familiar smells or tastes, while others experienced something completely new.

Teachers supported this exploration by asking questions like: Have you tasted this before? Where have you tasted it? How does it smell? How does it feel? These conversations helped children build language skills, make connections to foods they know, and feel more confident trying new things.

This hands-on experience encouraged curiosity and helped children discover how herbs and spices can bring flavor, creativity, and culture into the foods we enjoy every day.

-FSC Giveaway-

Clothing & Book Giveaway

Join us for a special afternoon in our Family Center on Friday, May 8th from 1:00–4:00 PM! We’re hosting a Spring Clothing & Book Giveaway for our families, featuring a variety of gently used clothing, children’s books, and more—completely free to take home.

In addition to browsing items, families can enjoy a simple, hands-on activity together focused on springtime themes like planting or caring for our environment. It’s a great opportunity to spend time together, connect with others, and welcome the new season.

Light snacks and beverages will be provided.

We hope to see you there! 🌱

Get Involved: Join Our

Head Start Policy Council

Though we are already in the second half of the year, we are still actively recruiting members for our Head Start Policy Council—and we would love you to be part of it. Policy Council is one of the most meaningful ways parents and community members can help shape the future of our Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

Policy Council gives families a voice in important decisions that impact our classrooms, services, and overall program direction. Members work together with staff and leadership to review plans, share feedback, and ensure our program continues to meet the needs of children and families in our community. Whether you’re a current Head Start or Early Head Start parent, or a community member who believes in supporting early childhood education, your perspective matters.

👉 Want to see what Policy Council is all about? Click here to watch a short video explaining the role and why parent voices are so important.

Getting involved doesn’t have to feel intimidating—and it doesn’t have to start with jumping straight into meetings. We also offer Coffee Chat, a relaxed and welcoming space for parents to connect, ask questions, and build relationships.

☕ Coffee Chat takes place Wednesday mornings from 8:15–9:30 AM and gives parents the opportunity to talk with Family Advocates, meet other families, and learn more about ways to get involved—including Policy Council.

Our program thrives when families and community members come together. If you’re interested in learning more, joining a conversation, or stepping into a leadership role, we would love to hear from you. Your voice helps make Head Start stronger—for today’s children and for those still to come.

Policy Council Meetings

Policy Council meets every 3rd Monday of the month from 5:30–6:30 PM.

Childcare and dinner are provided, and Head Start/Early Head Start parents who attend in person receive a $10 travel stipend.

📅 Our next meeting will be held on April 27th, as our regular meeting day falls on Spring Break!

-Arts & Crafts-

-Work With Us-

-Partners and Supporters-

Growing Into Spring: Donations Welcome 🌷

Seeking Donations: Gently Used Clothing, Light Layers, and Playtime Essentials

Rutland County Head Start and Early Head Start are getting ready for the busy spring season, and we’d love your help! As the weather warms up, we’re looking for gently used or new clothing, light jackets, and extra play clothes to keep our children comfortable through all kinds of outdoor adventures.

With more time spent outside exploring, creating, and yes—getting a little muddy—having extra layers on hand helps keep children dry, cozy, and ready to jump back into play.

If you’d like to contribute, please reach out to Kristen Nugent, Family Services Manager. RCHS is a tax-exempt organization, and donations are tax-deductible. Email Kristen here