The Coalition for Children

Falmouth Public Schools

340 Teaticket Highway

East Falmouth, MA 02536

Non-Profit

Organization

U.S. Postage

PAID

Permit No.

35

Falmouth,

MA

02540

March/April

Newsletter – 2015

Parents & Educators from any community are welcome to attend workshops in each of the

four Upper Cape towns unless otherwise noted. Space is limited in some, especially in our

parenting classes, so please make sure you call to register!

Funding for this newsletter has been provided through a grant from the Massachusetts

Department of Early Education and Care.

Of course you can view our newsletter at http:www.thecoaltionforchildren.org .If you are

unable to access the internet, please call our office (508 548 0151 x 172) with your name

and mailing address, and a hard copy will be mailed to you. Please use the same number to

be removed. Thank you!

Please check out our new website at http://www.thecoalitionforchildren.org. It, like so

much of what we do, is a work in progress; please let us know what you think!

THE COALIITON FOR

CHILDREN, FALMOUTH’S CFCE

GRANT

If you are new to the area, we

welcome you to Cape Cod; if you

are a returning reader, thank you

for reading the Coalition for

Children’s bi monthly newsletter.

Right now, we’re in the middle of

our winter session and gearing up

our Spring Fling Programming. If

you have any questions after (or

while) you are reading this

newsletter, just pick up the phone

and give us a call! (508) 548 0151

x 172. We love answering

questions and talking about what

we do!

One of the things we - Coalition

for Children – do is offer Play &

Learn groups for families with

children birth to school age. We

have two kinds of groups:

registered groups for families who

enjoy predictability and drop-in

groups for families who like a

more relaxed come-and-go-when-

you-can approach to social

connections.

The spring Play & Learn groups

will begin on March 30th, so

keep that in mind as your

making your spring plans!

Drop-in and registration

information for our free Play &

Learn groups can also be found

on our website

thecoalitionforchidlren.org.

STEM AND LITERACY

EVENT FOR PRESCHOOLERS

On Saturday, March 14 we’re

brainbuilding with Miss Kim at

the Falmouth Public Library.

Our topic? The Rain Forrest!

From habitats to inhabitants,

Miss Kim’s Rain Forest

demonstration is educational,

interactive, and fun.

Mark April 11th on your

calendar, too. Miss Kim will be

back (she comes once a month

– we just wish it could be every

day!) discussing PONDS. Come

in, get some solid, age

appropriate STEM information,

and then go explore all of

Falmouth’s ponds with your

family!

Both of these events being at

10:00 am in the Children’s

Room at the Falmouth Public

Library. These programs are

part of a yearlong series

offered by the Coalition for

Children. Best for children

ages 3 – 6, but younger and

older sibs, parents and

teachers are also welcome.

PRESCHOOL FAIR

After the RAIN FOREST

program on March 14, you are

then invited to check out our

PRESCHOOL FAIR! Our theme

this year is Healthy Eating and

everyone who participates will

be offering an activity or

healthy snack to make the

afternoon enjoyable.

This is a great way to check

out many of our early childhood

providers and programs.

Instead of driving around in

your car praying you can find

the right match for your child,

come visit in the comfort of

the Herman Room at the

Falmouth Public Library.

The Coalition for Children www.thecoalitionforchildren. org March/April ‘15

2014

There’ll be free resource guides,

literacy and financial activities,

snacks, and crafts to entertain

you and your child as you walk

around gathering information and

making new friends.

FALMOUTH READS TOGETHER

Our 2015 townwide read is

SHAKESPEARE SAVED MY LIFE

by Laura Bates. Pick up the book

and read with us, and if you’d like

to experience a little more of

what Ms. Bates has to offer,

check out her powerful TED talk,

“Shakespeare in Shackles.

Information about Falmouth Reads

Together and its programs is

available at

falmouthpubliclibrary.org and on

Facebook.

DADS, BABIES, AND PIZZA

First the bad news: The Coalition

for Children is a state funded

grant, and when Governor Baker

made his cuts, we were on the list.

He cut $7,300.00 from our

budget, so we’re in the process of

cutting our budget.

Out of necessity, the Coalition

for Children was going to cut

some of the Dads' & Babies

Pizza Parties, and we felt

awful about this. Before we

could even make the cancelling

calls, I had a conversation with

our State Rep. David Vieira.

With his assistance, we were

able to tap into a local source,

and now we are NOT going to

cancel this very important

program. Thank you,

Representative Vieira for

helping us keep this very

important program for dads

and babies!

The upcoming pizza parties

with Family Support Specialist

Paul Melville and Child Birth

Educator Cheryl Donahue are

February 24, March 24, and

April 21 at the Falmouth

Hospital (100 Terr Heun Dr.,

Falmouth) from 6:00 - 7:30

p.m. in the Faxon Conference

Rooms (Basement).

Come show off your baby

(expectant dads; older siblings

and veteran dads always

welcome) and learn about

resources available to you and

your family. We often have

guest speakers (pediatricians,

nutritionists etc.) who are able

to answer your questions in a

casual atmosphere. No fee,

free pizza and never any

pressure. Please RSVP to

Suzan Scharr, RNC at 508-

457-3632. Sponsored by

Falmouth Hospital (Cape Cod

Health Care) and the Coalition

for Children (Falmouth CFCE).

PILLOW CASE WORKSHOP

WITH JEANINE

FITZGERALD

We are thrilled to say that

Jeanine Fitzgerald – nationally

acclaimed speaker and author -

will be with us on Wednesday

March 25th for her famous

Pillow Case workshop:

Temperament & Your Child.

All attendees will leave with a

better understanding of

temperament. The pillow case

that you create is a nightly

reminder to your child that you

adore everything about them,

especially on those challenging

days!

Call (508) 548 0151 x 172 to

register.

KINDERGARTEN

PREPARATION IS

IMPORTANT!

As soon as the weather gets a

little warmer, we’ll be holding

our UNREMARKABLE

ENVIRONMENTS – our

kindergarten transition activity

- at all four of Falmouth’s

elementary schools. We’ll explore

the outside like scientists and

maybe, if we’re lucky, have a

Storywalk inside! Stay tuned for

those dates and times.

FALL FINANCIAL LITERACY

WORKSHOPS!

This has been a very hard winter

for many of us. Are you having a

hard time working with your or

within your budget?

If so, our friends at the Falmouth

Service Center have two budget

workshops every month, and you

are invited!

The classes generally run on the

second and fourth Mondays of

each month from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30

p.m. but sometimes the dates

change, so call 508-548-2794 to

find out when the next class will

be held.

WHO ARE WE?

The Coalition for Children is a

grant program funded by the MA

Department of Early Education

and Care. Our CFCE - Coordinated

Family and Community

Engagement – grant offers early

childhood resources and

information, Play & Learn

groups, developmental

screenings, family literacy,

Kindergarten preparation

programs, parenting classes,

and community events for all

families with children birth to

school age in Falmouth.

Our office is located in the

Falmouth Administration

Building at 340 Teaticket

Highway, and the phone

number is (508) 548 0151 x

172. Drop in or call. If we’re

not in, you can always leave a

message.

We reprinted and updated the

Coalition for Children’s Upper

Cape Resource Guide. This

guide is a wonderful tool for

our young families. In the

front section of the booklet

you will find all the licensed

preschool center-based and

family home childcare

providers in Falmouth,

Mashpee, Sandwich, and

Bourne: All your Upper Cape

childcare options in one handy

little book! Please come in and

pick one up or leave a message

at (508) 548 0151 x 172 and

we’ll send one to you.

FREE DEVELOPMENTAL

SCREENINGS

If you are wondering if your

child is on target

developmentally, we have a

screening tool to share with

you. The Ages and Stages

Questionnaire (ASQ) is an easy

tool to manipulate and to

understand. It can be done

anywhere, and it’s all about

parent observation. If you’d

like more information about

the ASQ, please call (508) 548

0151 x 172.

COUNCIL MEETING AND

YOUR INVITED

Our next council meeting is on

Monday, March 16th and we’d

love you to join us. There are

many ways to be involved, so

come be part of the

conversation. We meet at 27B

Spring Bars Road in Falmouth

(across from Kappy’s Liquor

Store). 5:30 pm for networking

and our meeting starts at 6:00

pm.

March/April 2015

www.thecoaltionforchildren.org

Free Fun Family

Literacy & STEM Events

Offered by the Coalition for

Children

Presented by the incredible

Kim Torres

March 14: Rain Forrest

10:00 am

April 11: Ponds*

10:00 am

Falmouth Public Library

Katherine Lee Bates Road

Falmouth, MA

*Targeting children ages 3 – 5,

but children and adults of all

ages attend and learn!

Preschool Fair Saturday, March 14, 2015

Falmouth Public Library Main

Branch

11:30 am – 1:30 pm

Our Theme: Healthy Eating

Meet local childcare providers

Info re: oral health

Nutrition info

Family support

Literacy, STEM, Crafts, Snacks

and More!

FREE Upper Cape Resource

Guide

Call (508) 548-0151x172

Do you have questions

about how your child is

developing? The Coalition for Children now offers

Free Developmental

Screenings! (3 months to 5 years)

Call (508) 548 0151 x 172 for

more information and to sign up!

*********************

(F) Falmouth Eats

Together – sponsored by the

Falmouth Service Center

Meal schedule is a work in

progress: to find out more go to

http://www.falmouthservicecenter.o

rg/

Come eat with us!!!

Dads and Baby Pizza Party!

March 24th, April 21st

6:00 – 7:30 pm

Faxon Conference Room

Falmouth Hospital

RSVP or questions to

508-457-3632

CCNSC

Parent Education &

Support Calendar can be viewed at

www.capecoalition.com or

contact Paul Melville

(508) 771-4336 x 2 or

paul@capecoalition.com for

automatic e-mails each month.

FREE Fall Play & Learn

Groups Registration

is going on NOW!

Session 1 Registration August 19 – Sept. 5

First Session – Sept. 15 – Nov. 22

Registration form at the

Falmouth Public Library

or call

(508) 548 0151 x 172 to have

one sent to you.

Falmouth is a fabulous

place for families!

If you need help with food contact the

Falmouth Service Center @ 611 Gifford

Street: (508) 548 2794.

If you have experienced a family crisis or

emergency, please call (508) 548 0151 x

17 for the Emergency Family Fund.

If you are looking for Parent & Child

Together activities call the Coalition for

Children: (508) 548 0151 x 172.

If you need some parenting tips call

(508) 548 0151 x 172 and ask about our

classes and our lending library.

If you’d like to “check in” regarding your

child’s development, call (508) 548 0151

x 172 and ask for the ASQ.

The Coalition for Children: We’re here for you!

*show off your

baby

*talk to other

dads

*learn about

community

resources

*eat pizza

*listen to guest

speakers

B)

Workshop Listings and Community Offerings

Free Make and Take Workshop!

Pillow Case Workshop:

Temperament &

Your Child* With Jeanine Fitzgerald

Is your child shy? Overactive?

Sensitive? Fearless? Shy?

Gregarious? Inattentive?

Discover the reasons your child

behaves as she/he does.

Wednesday, March 25th

6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

East Falmouth School –

Davisville Road

Register by calling 508 548

1052 x 7 311

*If school is cancelled, the

workshop is also cancelled. (NO MORE SNOW PLEASE!)

(U) How Can I Help? Coalition Suggestions

Volunteer Opportunities Need a kid fix?

Provide childcare for a day time

or night time parenting classes

Can’t stay out of the kitchen?

Provide a dinner for our night

time parenting class

Want to become involved?

Attend our council meetings

(bimonthly)

Want to meet new and

important people?

Visit your state reps – talk to

them – tell them about the

importance of local, quality

programming.

Call the Coalition office to sign up and for more information

508 548 0151 x 172

(F) The Coalition for Children

& Friends

FREE Play & Learn Groups Mondays –

9:45 Nursery Rhyme Time Drop-in

Falmouth Public Library

10:30 Pre-School Story Time Drop-in

Falmouth Public Library

3:45 Hola Spanish for Kids

(ages 7 – 10) (Registration required)

Falmouth Public Library

Tuesdays - 9:45 Intergenerational Music &

Movement (registration required)

JML Care Center –

184 Terrace Heun Dr. Falmouth

11:30 Messy Lunch Bunch

(registration required)

Falmouth Administration Building

Wednesdays - 9:00 Play & Learn Drop-in

Falmouth Admiration Building

10:45 – 11:45 Read & Rhyme

Storytime Drop-in

East Falmouth Library

Thursdays 9:45 Lap Babies Drop-in

Falmouth Public Library

10:30 Preschool Storytime Drop-in

Falmouth Public Library

Fridays 10:00 Tots n Tales Drop-in

11:00 Music & Movement (registration

required)

Saturdays STEM Saturdays Drop-in With Miss

Kim from

Elements, etc.

Falmouth Public Library

All programs are FREE for families with

children (birth to school age).

(508) 548 0151 x 172 For more information

(U) Upper Cape Dads’ Talk A safe, non-therapeutic conversation

for dads of babies, kids, and teens:

Regular dads talking about

regular stuff. FREE DINNER!

4th Tuesday of the Month,

6:00 – 7:30 pm

Cape Cod Child Development's Falmouth School Age Center (439 E. Falmouth Highway (Route 28),

East Falmouth)

NO cost or intake, but please let

us know you are coming: 508-548-0533 ext. 14

mabbott@falmouthhumanservices.org

Become a Mentor!

MASS MENTOR is a foster care

agency serving children and teens with

emotional/behavioral challenges. LOOKING FOR caring, responsible

people to open their homes and hearts to

children in need of a safe and secure

home.

WE OFFER training, access to 24

hour professional support, and a $50.

tax-free daily rate. Short and long term

placements needed. 1-888-920-8700

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape

Cod & the Islands is looking for

caring adult volunteers and

accepting applications for local

children ages 7 to 12.

Become a volunteer you help a

local child. Change their lives for

the better, forever.

Please call 508-771-5150, visit

www.bbbscci.org, or stop in at our

office at 1934 Falmouth Road in

Centerville to learn more.

Falmouth’s

Preschool Fair Saturday, March 14, 2015

Falmouth Public Library Main Branch

11:30-1:30

Our theme ~ Healthy Eating Join us and meet local preschool and

childcare providers! Oral Health & Nutrition Info Family Support Free Upper Cape Resource Guides! Literacy, STEM, Financial Lit, crafts,

snacks, and fun!

Sponsored by the Coalition for Children www.thecoalitionforchildren.org 508.548.0151 x 172

Falmouth’s Parent Connection Series!

The Falmouth Public Schools & the Coalition for Children invite you to

Wednesday, March 25th 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

East Falmouth School = Davisville Road

Free limited Childcare with prior registration by March 23rd. Please contact Laney Cooke-

Johnson at 508-548-1052 ext. 7 311 or lcooke_johnson@falmouth.k12.ma.us

*In the event that school is cancelled for any reason, the workshop will also be cancelled.