Letter from the Director... | |
Dear RCHS/EHS Families, Community Partners, and Colleagues,
I am pleased to share that I have stepped into the role of Director of Rutland County Head Start and Early Head Start.
I’m honored to support our program during this time of transition. I would like to reassure you that our services will continue without interruption, and our team remains fully committed to the well-being and success of every child and family we serve.
Having worked closely with our classrooms, family services, specialized support teams, and community partners, I’ve gained a deep appreciation for the strength of our program and the dedication of our staff. Over the coming months, my focus will be on ensuring stability, maintaining the high-quality standards that define Head Start, and strengthening communication across our school and community.
As we move forward, I am committed to transparency. I will provide updates that help us stay connected and focused on what our community needs. I want to thank you for your continued trust and partnership. I look forward to working alongside you to support the children and families of Rutland County.
Warm regards,
Dr. Lauren Weiss
Director, Rutland County Head Start/Early Head Start
| | |
RCHS 2025-2026
Policy Council
| |
RCHS Policy Council meets every second Tuesday of the month from 5:30 to 6:30pm.
Childcare and dinner are provided for those who attend in person! We also have a virtual option if you are unable to attend in house.
Our next meeting is
December 9th, 2025!
| Audiology Clinic a Success! | Audiology clinic was a success! This was the programs second year partnering with Stacy Jordan from the Vermont Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program (VTEHDI). Stacy visited us on October 21st and provided additional screenings for 7 children from both the Head Start and Early Head Start programs. We very much enjoy having her and look forward to our continued partnership! | A Few Spots Remaining in Our Head Start Preschool! | |
Registration is now open for Fall Head Start and Early Head Start classes. Call us today at (802) 775-8225 or
contact us online here!
| | Tiny Pumpkins, Big Creativity | Children and families came together this week for a fun fall activity—painting tiny pumpkins! With bright colors, glitter, and lots of imagination, each pumpkin became its own little masterpiece. Kids loved creating their designs, and families enjoyed time together making something special to take home. It was a simple, joyful way to celebrate fall and creativity! | Nutrition Activity: Pumpkin Exploration | |
Last month, our preschoolers learned about pumpkins through a hands-on nutrition activity. Using their senses, children touched, smelled, listened, and looked closely to discover what pumpkins are like.
They asked questions such as: How does it feel? Is it soft, hard, slimy, or mushy? What does it smell like? What color is the pumpkin and its seeds? Do you think we can eat it?
When the top was cut to make a lid, children were excited to see what was inside. Exploring pumpkins helped them learn new words, make observations, and discover that food can be fun to explore and healthy to eat!
| | Head Start Family Dinner Nights | Our school recently held two Family Dinner Nights, bringing children, parents, and staff together for food, fun, and community. Families enjoyed a warm meal while kids played and explored activities. Board games and card games added extra laughs, teamwork, and friendly competition. It was a great way to spend time together, connect, and make happy memories as a school community. | 🍂 School-Wide “Giving Thanks” Meal December 12th | |
We are excited to announce our school-wide Giving Thanks Meal on Thursday, December 12th! Families are invited to join us at school to share a special meal with their children and classmates. It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate community, enjoy good food, and spend time together.
Meal service times will be shared as soon as they are finalized. We look forward to seeing our families, giving thanks, and making warm memories together!
| | -Developmental Classroom- | | |
|
How Families Can Support
at Home
- Label feelings when they appear
(“You look frustrated… let’s take a breath together.”)
- Practice turn-taking with toys or games
- Encourage using pictures, signs, or words during routines
- Let children help with simple dressing: zipping, buttoning, putting on boots
| | |
-Meadow Street Playground- | | |
Rutland County Head Start and Early Head Start
Unveil New State-of-the-Art Playground
Rutland, VT — Rutland County Head Start and Early Head Start are pleased to announce the opening of a new state-of-the-art playground at its Meadow Street location. This exciting project marks the first time the program has received dedicated funding to enhance its outdoor play environment, made possible through one-time support from the Office of Head Start.
“We’re thrilled to see this beautiful new playground come to life,” said Dick Courcelle, Chief Executive Officer of Community Care Network, which oversees Rutland County Head Start and Early Head Start. “It’s more than a play space—it’s a place where children will grow, imagine, and build foundational skills for lifelong learning and wellness.”
The playground represents a collaborative effort between Community Care Network’s finance and facilities departments, program leadership, and early childhood experts. “This project reflects how fortunate we are to be a part of Community Care Network, the region’s designated mental health agency and parent organization to Rutland Community Programs and Rutland Mental Health Services,” said Donna Barrow, Director of Rutland County Head Start and Early Head Start.
She added that the project showcases the expertise of Rutland County Head Start’s content area managers in education, health, safety, disabilities, and family services, all of whom contributed to the design and planning.
Education Manager Missy Burke drew on her deep knowledge of child development to help envision a play environment that supports children from infancy through pre-kindergarten. She worked closely with Miracle Playground Designer, Justin Mansfield and Community Care Network Facilities Director, Randy Crossman, who oversaw the construction and found innovative ways to make the most of the site’s limited footprint.
“Working with Justin to bring this playground to life was a rewarding challenge,” said Crossman. “The space was small and uneven, but through creative design and collaboration we turned it into something truly special, safe, functional, and full of opportunities for exploration.”
“Once it was just cracked pavement and chain-link fences,” added Burke. “Now it’s a place where children can climb, jump, explore and take safe risks every day.”
The redesigned space features modern, safe structures that capture children’s curiosity and imagination. The main climbing structure includes climbing boulders, ladders and platforms that play recorded nature sounds when children reach the top. A large sunshade provides protection year-round, while the “Ten Spin,” a modern take on the classic merry-go-round, invites both seated and standing play for up to 10 children at once. The playground also includes an infant “nest” swing designed for sensory and regulatory development, as well as interactive STEM elements such as Chimes, an outdoor xylophone, sensory textured panels and My cup of Tea, featuring levers, pulleys, slides, and switches for kids to manipulate.
In keeping with the program’s tradition of innovative early learning, children will soon document their first experiences in the new playground using child-sized cameras. Guided by the simple prompt “Tell us about the new playground,” they’ll capture black-and-white photographs that reflect the wonder and meaning of their new outdoor environment.
Rutland County Head Start and Early Head Start extends its heartfelt thanks to the Office of Head Start, Miracle Playground Construction, and—most importantly—the children who inspired the vision for this joyful new space. The playground was fully licensed on Friday, November 7.
| | -Self Assessment Community Meeting- | | |
It's that time of year again!
Rutland County Head Start is excited to host our Community Conversations as part of our yearly self-assessment. This is our chance to hear directly from the people who make our program special and to learn how we can keep growing and improving for our children and families.
More details will be shared by email soon. This year, we’ve designed the sessions so families, staff, and our community partners can all join in. Your experiences and ideas truly matter, and we’d love to have your voice in the conversation.
To make it easy for everyone to participate, the conference will be held online through Zoom. We hope you’ll join us and be part of these meaningful discussions!
| | | -New Outreach Initiative- | | Community Breakfasts and Winter Indoor Gym! | | |
Kristen Nugent and the family services team are partnering with Homeless Prevention Center and Rutland City Public Schools to reach out to our community and support families experiencing housing insecurity.
We will be hosting monthly family breakfasts and indoor gyms in our family resource center on the third Saturday of every month starting on December 20th. We will have the ability for families to complete digital applications for Head Start, Early Head Start, Universal Pre-K, and Kindergarten.
We will also have resource connections for families. So, stay tuned to learn more about this great new project!
| |
-Rutland Halloween Parade!-
| | Rutland County Head Start Shines in the Halloween Parade! | | |
Rutland County Head Start had a colorful showing at this year’s Rutland Halloween Parade! Our float—designed to look like a giant box of crayons—was brought to life with help from our students, families, and staff. The kids helped paint, decorate, and add their own creative touches to our float.
To make it even more special, we displayed a banner featuring the ending of the poem “The Crayon Box That Talked,” a poem chosen by one of our teachers that celebrates teamwork, uniqueness, and what we can create when we all come together. As we rolled down the street, our children waved proudly, showing off their artwork and big smiles.
It was a wonderful day of community spirit, imagination, and Halloween fun. Thank you to everyone who helped make our float—and our kids—shine!
| | -Partners and Supporters- | | |
Grants
- The Bowse Trust
- Building Bright Futures
- Let's Grow Kids
- Delta Dental
- Vermont Arts Council / Vermont Arts Exchange
- Vermont Head Start Collaboration Office
- Rutland Health Department
- Vermont Child Development Division
Donations & In-Kind Support
- Teresa and Ethan Berkowitz
- Michael Drew
- Child Plus
- Jeff Fleming
- Goodwill Rutland
- Hickory Street Housing
- Hannah Lanning
- Operation Dolls
- Rutland City Schools
- Rutland Housing Authority
- Salvation Army
- Stewarts Shops Ice Cream
- Ashley Stone
- Christina Sweet, Tooth Tutor
- Alan Wilson
- Wonderfeet Kids' Museum
- Tatum's Totes
- Everett Young
- Antonia Briggs
- Lauren Weiss
- Walmart
Training & Organizational Support
- Dr. Leigh-Ann Brown, VTSU-Castleton
- Dr. Angela Sillars, VTSU-Castleton
- Reggio Inspired Vermont RIVET
- VTSU-Castleton ECE/Special Education Students
- Vermont Head Start Association Board of Directors
| |  | |
Parent/Policy Council Volunteers
- Thomas Lanning, Parent Policy Council
- Stephanie Atwood, Parent Policy Council
- Samantha Daly, Parent Policy Council
- Hazel LaFleche, Parent Policy Council
- Justin Pomykala, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program, Health Advisory Committee
- Leslie Burg, PhD, Northeastern Emeritus Faculty
Rutland Community
Programs Board
- Jay Slenker, Principal, West Rutland School
- Renee Bousquet, Public Health Services Rutland District Director Vermont Department of Health
- Dick Courcelle, CEO, Community Care Network
- Erynn Hazlett, Parent Representative
- Tim O’Connor, Certified Financial Planner
- Shane Protivansky, Attorney
- Justine Ruhlin, Principal, Northeast Primary School
Read More...
| | |
Sharing Warmth This Coming Winter:
Seeking Donations: Gently Used Clothing, Blankets, and Toys
Rutland County Head Start and Early Head Start are stocking up for the colder months, and we’d love your help! We’re looking for gently used or new clothing, blankets, and toys to keep our children cozy and ready for play.
As a hands-on, play-based program, little ones often need extra clothes after adventures in art, mud, or snowy forts. Your donations make those moments possible!
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
| | | | |
