Head Start Program Hosts 28th Annual Banquet
On May 15, an event organized by present and former CFC Head Start Policy Council members was held at Whites on the Wattuppa. Nichole Goodis, Policy Council Chairperson, welcomed attendees and thanked everyone for their attendance and support of the Head Start Program. The Policy Council functions in an advisory role, similar to a board of directors, for the staff of the Head Start Program. Ms. Goodis also presented awards to the Policy Council members for their participation in this year’s Head Start Policy activities. Vice Chairperson Manuel Cabral presented Nichole an award for her service as leader of the Policy Council.
The current Head Start Policy Council officers are:
Nichole Goodis – Policy Council Chairperson
Manuel Cabral – Policy Council Vice Chairperson and Good Guys Delegate
Jocelyn Carvalho – Policy Council Treasurer and MAHS Associate
Alicia Jansen – Policy Council Secretary
Citizens for Citizens, Inc.’s Executive Director, Mark A Sullivan, Jr., thanked the Policy Council members and Head Start parents for their continued involvement in the program and reminded them that, “They (the parents) are the best primary teachers for their children. Studies have demonstrated that children who enter and complete the Head Start Program perform better than other students when they enter kindergarten and succeeding grade levels. One of the reasons that the participating children do well is the parent participation component.” Mr. Sullivan also thanked the Head Start staff for their continued dedication to both the program and the children who benefit from their efforts.
Mark Sullivan addresses Head Start parents
Neil Lynch, Head Start Program Director, thanked the Banquet Committee members and all the volunteers who helped make the event so successful. The Banquet Committee members include Head Start parent and former Policy Council member Jennifer Briggs, Manuel Cabral of the Policy Council; Dawn Bolger, former parent member and community representative of the Policy Council who has continued as a very active and committed member of the Banquet Committee, Alicia Jansen of the Policy Council, also Maria Ouellette, Melanie Rosa, and Karen Galloway, all of whom are Family Advocates for the Head Start Program and worked diligently to produce this year’s Banquet.
Neil Lynch and Nichole Goodis
Neil Lynch was joined by Head Start Assistant Director, Pamela Wildnauer to present awards to the following employees:
For five years service – Margarita Toledo
For ten years service – Krista Chea, Grace Kipp, and Sandra Peckham
For fifteen years service – Kristen Benevides and Sheryl Raposa
For twenty years service – Patricia Donovan and Karen Galloway
For thirty years service – Mary Habib, Donna Johnson, and Maria Ouellette
For thirty-five years service – Carol Medeiros
Neil Lynch and Pam Wildnauer present Carol Medeiros with 35-year service award
Other Head Start Program staff members who were recognized for their years of service to Head Start, but were unable attend the Banquet include:
For five years service – Crystal Howard, Theresa Marcos-Lawrenson, and Kristen Munroe
For ten years service – Warren Alves, Donna Charron, and Marina O’Grady
For fifteen years service – Patricia Chabot, Helen Gillis, Arthur Latessa, Elizabeth Raposo, and David Sikora
For twenty years service – Joanne Soares
For thirty years service – Theresa Bernardino, Joyce Desmarais, Bernadette Oliveira, and Melanie Rosa
For thirty-five years service – Claudette Rusin
After the award presentations were concluded, the attendees enjoyed dancing well into the night to music played by a local DJ.
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