The new school year is upon us! As summer fades and classes resume, we've got exciting events, helpful resources, and fun activities to help you start the year off strong. |
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Empowering Early Development with FCESS
Family Centered Early Supports and Services (FCESS) offers hope to parents of children from birth to three experiencing developmental delays – when a child’s progression through predictable developmental phases slows, stops, or reverses – or if the child has an established condition (for example, genetic disorders, neurological disorders, autism spectrum disorder, severe attachment disorders, toxic exposures, and others). The FCESS early intervention program provides personalized coaching tailored to bringing support to you, focusing on engaging environments like your living room or local park that your child needs to stay on track. A referral is needed for services, but anyone can make a referral! It does not need to be a referral from your doctor. Trust your instincts, if you are concerned about your child’s development, contact FCESS.
In 2020-2021, FCESS supported over 1,600 children under the age of three! FCESS can support your child until the day before their third birthday. Your provider will work closely with you to craft a plan that seamlessly fits your child's needs and your family dynamics, ensuring a smooth and supportive transition.
Not ready to contact the FCESS? No problem! Check out the CDC’s Milestone Tracker on the App Store and Google Play Store to help track your infant or toddler’s development.
CDC Milestone Tracker:
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Northern NH Farmers’ Market Journey Continues!
September 8 | 10 AM – 1 PM | Small Ball Field, State Street, Groveton, NH 03582
Explore an eclectic mix of fresh produce, artisanal products, and delectable local treats—all crafted with care and creativity straight from the heart of the Groveton community! The Granite Guild has been hosting weekly farmers market and art walk throughout the summer, showcasing incredible talent of our local farmers, artists, and performers. Families visiting all participating organizations will receive a $20 voucher for fresh or prepared food at the market—all thanks to the Region 7 Early Childhood Partnership!
Don’t forget to swing by the NH Statewide Family Engagement Center’s table, where we’ll have exciting goodies waiting just for you! We can’t wait to see your smiling faces!
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New Hampshire Rural Library eSummit
September 24 | 12 PM – 5:30 PM | Virtual Event
Save the Date! The New Hampshire Rural Library eSummit is happening virtually on Tuesday, September 24! This FREE, half-day event looks to bring together rural, school, public, and academic library practitioners, educators, and community members from across NH to discuss strategies to enhance family engagement and early literacy in your community. Register by September 13 to secure your spot in the eSummit and receive access to post-event recordings at https://shorturl.at/qGpjL.
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Do not miss the magic happening right in your neighborhood!
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NH Kids Fest 2024
September 7 | 10 AM – 4 PM | Bass Pro Shops (2 Commerce Dr, Hooksett, NH 03106)
Get ready for a day packed with adventure and excitement at NH KidsFest 2024 at the Bass Pro Shops in Hooksett! This fantastic family-friendly experience will have FREE activities including Touch-A-Trucks, dazzling live magic shows, captivating puppet performances, encounters with wild animals, and engaging hands-on activities. Plus, don’t miss the chance to win exciting giveaways
This is the perfect way to kick off the school year with your loved ones. Bring your family and friends for an unforgettable day of fun and learning!
Check out http://nhkidsfest.com/ to learn more.
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North Country Outdoor Industry Career Expo
September 17 | 9 AM – 1 PM | Lancaster Fairgrounds
UNH Extension, in partnership with White Mountains Regional School District, is hosting the first North Country Outdoor Industry Career Expo on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at the Lancaster Fairgrounds.
Expect over 50 outdoor industry vendors and more than 800 middle and high school students registered to attend. Don't let your students miss this chance!
For vendor inquiries, contact Ray Berthiaume at ray.berthiaume@unh.edu or 603-788-4961. To register students, reach out to Michele Gross at WMRHS, mgross@sau36.org.
A working draft of the program is available, with more career descriptions to be added as exhibitors are confirmed.
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North Country Caregiver Support Night
September 18 | 6 PM – 7 PM | Gorham Public Library (35 Railroad St, Gorham, NH 03581)
In collaboration with the Gorham Public Library, PACE (Persistence And Continuing Education) and NH-SFEC (New Hampshire Statewide Family Engagement Center) staff will be available to community parents/caregivers/and educators to showcase how we can support the students of the North Country.
PACE and NH-SFEC are programs of Campus Compact NH and help support communities in helping their students have educational success.
PACE focuses on helping students find pathways to high wage and in demand careers and is directly involved with working with students and schools.
NH-SFEC is focused on working with caregivers to provide support in the academic and social-emotional well-being of their students.
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CelebratED: A Vibrant Festival Celebrating Our Schools and Community
September 21 | 10 AM – 4 PM | Veteran’s Memorial Park (723 Elm St, Manchester, NH 03101)
Get ready for CelebratED 2024, co-produced by Manchester Proud and the Manchester School District, happening on September 21, 2024!
This event promises inspiration, talent, and community spirit. CelebratED 2023 was magical as the entire Manchester School District community came together. All 21 public schools showcased their talents in performances celebrating diversity. Nearly 50 organizations joined in, making it a fun, can’t-miss event, rain or shine!
There is much to participate in at CelebratED 2024 from the Game Changer awards honoring outstanding students, teachers, and staff as well as culinary delights. Join what's bound to be an unforgettable event at CelebratED 2024!
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Engaging Families: Learning Through Community Connection
It has been a busy summer! The NH-SFEC has been out and about in Manchester and Northern New Hampshire! From Farmer’s Markets up north to Bookmobiles in the south, the NH-SFEC Program Coordinators and Associates have been connecting with families and sparking conversations!
We introduced Families Build Brains at the Northern Farmers Markets, a resource created in collaboration with Partners for Rural Impact. Families received one of two kits featuring "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" or "Ten, Nine, Eight," which include fun learning activities to do at home. During Manchester’s summer events, NH-SFEC provided tote bags, journals, and back to school items to families.
Conversations on the work of the NH-SFEC, Family Villages, Advisory Council were had with more than 400 families across all events. It's been thrilling to be part of these events in our communities! Our commitment to fostering connections and promoting learning among families remains stronger than ever. We can’t wait to continue making a difference in our communities! Here’s a closer look at two of our most impactful summer events:
- Northern New Hampshire Farmers’ Markets:
- 492 visitors to our booth!
- 184 educational kits distributed.
- 150 more kits will go to Farmer's Markets in Wolfeboro, Groveton, and Littleton.
- WOW Event in Manchester, NH:
- Over 50 families participated, many signing up for our newsletters!
- Over 70 pencil cases with school supplies and more than 20 NH-SFEC were distributed to notebooks families.
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Major Choice: A Path Guiding Online Course for Career Exploration
Join the inspiring adventure with Major Choice, where ambition meets opportunity! This transformative course is designed for parents and caregivers to enroll and empower their youth to help navigate the path to career success.
With personalized mentorship, you will gain invaluable insights, build essential skills, and connect with a vibrant community of like-minded individuals at your own pace. Whatever your career dreams are, Major Choice is the stepping stone to your future.
Apply now and discover the power of choice in shaping your destiny!
Major Choice is a partner with the New Hampshire Department of Education, Vocational Rehabilitation.
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One Third Stories: Unlock Language Learning Through Stories!
Dive into a world where language learning meets imagination! The Story Boxes designed are to inspire young minds, featuring a beautifully illustrated tale that begins in English and takes a captivating journey into another language. Each box comes loaded with an audiobook, activity book, flashcards, and a variety of hands-on projects, all guided by our innovative Clockwork Methodology.™
One Third Stories: Story Boxes are raved about to cultivate confidence in the four essential language skills—listening, reading, writing, and speaking—while keeping the experience fun and engaging!
Let the storytelling adventures begin!
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Amoskeag Health Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP)
The Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), offered by Amoskeag Health in Manchester, NH, is a dynamic adolescent education initiative designed to empower teens through comprehensive health education. This program champions inclusivity by fostering a learner-centered environment that welcomes students from diverse cultures, backgrounds, identities, and experiences. Participants praise the program for its safe and understanding atmosphere, where they feel comfortable discussing crucial health topics! Through PREP, teens gain valuable knowledge and tools to navigate their health responsibly, fostering a community of informed, confident individuals.
Scan the QR Code or click the button below to learn more about PREP.
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Access Community Resources: One Form, 14 Programs, Unlimited Opportunities with Tri-County Community Action!
Tri-County Community Action has made it easier to check your household's eligibility and connect with 14 amazing programs—offering over 50 unique services—by completing just one form! Programs offered include but are not limited to help to pay for utilities, housing services, Head Start, and more.
Whether you're diving into support options or just curious about what’s available, their new intake form is your ticket to accessing resources faster and discovering services you might not even know existed! Ready to take the next step? Visit the link to get started!
Reach out to your local county community resource coordinator additional assistance:
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Keene State College Author Talk with Dr. Bettina Love
September 27 | 1 PM – 3 PM | Mabel Brown Room, Young Student Center
Blake Street, Keene State College
Keene State College has invited Dr. Bettina Love, an important voice in education and social justice, for a stimulating prestation around Punished for Dreaming: The Case for Abolitionist Teaching & Educational Reparation. Dr. Love will share the stories of the Hip Hop generation—the kids of the '80s and '90s—who faced the challenges of mass incarceration and biased educational policies against Black youth. Her presentation explores how the last four decades of educational reforms connect to book bans, limits on critical race theory, reveals harmful labels unfairly placed on Black children, and more. She demonstrates the long-term effects of decades of educational changes that have kept many in poverty, stirring discussions about achievement gaps and societal issues.
For an evening full of insights and an insightful vision for fairer education, RSVP now!
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Join the NH-SFEC Advisory Council!
We’ve updated our application link! If you’re a dedicated parent or caregiver interested in helping shape our work, we invite you to share your insights and perspectives.
Please fill out the form, again if you have previous, to join the NH-SFEC Advisory Council. Your contributions are vital in creating effective strategies to benefit our children!
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The mission of the New Hampshire Statewide Family Engagement Center (NH-SFEC) is to improve the educational outcomes of NH students and their families by connecting families, schools, and communities as partners in the academic success and social-emotional wellbeing of our children statewide. The NH-SFEC convenes, supports, and provides the infrastructure for state and local education agencies and community organizations to work alongside caregivers in building programs, goals, and opportunities to ensure all families are involved as partners in their student’s education. | | | | |
