| Stratford School Readiness and Child Care Advisory Council |
2008-2009
COUNCIL MEETINGS
September 16, 2008
November 18, 2008
January 20, 2009
March 17, 2009
May 19, 2009 |
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Meetings are held at:
Birdseye Municipal Complex
468 Birdseye Street,
Stratford, CT 06615
203 381-6992
Meeting times are
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Location and dates
are subject to change.
Please call to confirm if you are interested in attending. | |
The Stratford School Readiness and Child Care Advisory Council, affectionately known as SRACCAC, is the voice for early care and education in the Town of Stratford. The SRACCAC fosters joint planning and action between the Town government and the Stratford Public Schools on behalf of all Stratford children birth through age eight. Advisory to the Mayor and Superintendent of Schools, the SRACCAC is comprised of early childhood professionals, community organizations including the Stratford Library Association, public school personnel, Town department representatives and parents. The SRACCAC formed in July of 1998 as one of the requirements of Stratford's School Readiness grant from the State Department of Education. Although the School Readiness grant continues to provide child care scholarships for 15 eligible three and four year olds, the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund (GMF) has provided funding for the planning and action work of the SRACCAC since 2002. At that time, Stratford was selected along with 48 other communities throughout the state to improve the lives of its youngest children by expanding the supply of high quality early care and education; increasing the quality of early childhood education; building strong connections between early care and elementary education; and improving students' social, emotional and academic performance. To date, GMF has dedicated over $32 million to improve the lives of Connecticut's youngest children. The SRACCAC has made great strides toward meeting these goals during the last six years, and in 2007, deepened its commitment to early care and education by beginning a formal planning process with the goal of creating a comprehensive early childhood plan - Stratford's Promise to Young Children. This plan will align with two larger early childhood initiatives at the state level called First Words, First Steps and Ready by Five and Fine by Nine, which are the vision of Governor Rell's Early Childhood Cabinet. The SRACCAC broadened its membership at the start of this new planning process in 2007 and became the Promise Leadership Work Group. The Leadership Work Group (LWG) anticipates a June 2009 completion date for Stratford's Promise to Young Children. When completed Stratford's Promise will provide the Town of Stratford with a blueprint for early care and education that will focus on a commitment that All Stratford children birth to age eight are safe, healthy and have access to the quality supports and learning experiences they need to achieve school success. Residents interested in early care and education are invited to participate in the SRACCAC LWG. Please call Stratford Parents' Place at 381-6992 for more information or to get involved.
2008-09 Members Nell Barrett LaSandria Boyd Trina Carr, ABCD Priscilla Choquette, Sterling House Community Center Tom Coakley Melissa Daskam, Stratford YMCA Diana DiIorio, Stratford Public Schools Melanie Georgalas, M.D., Pedi-Care Kathryn Giordano, Stratford Public Schools Susan Gottlieb, Co-Chair Mary Jo Hopkins, Grace Childcare Center Robert Landis, M.D., Pediatric Health Care Associates Priscilla Long, Stratford Parents' Place Ellen Michaels, Stratford Public Schools Patricia Naylor, Stratford Public Schools Abel Padro, United Way of Eastern Fairfield County Pat Patusky, Stratford Recreation Department Susan Pawluk, Stratford Town Clerk Lisa Pippa, Stratford Health Department Greta Roberts, Stratford Health Department Carolyn Ross Alix Semanchik, Co-Chair, Helen King Reynolds Private School Holly Shultz, Discovery Project Coordinator Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association Norma Tomes, Knowledge Learning Corporation Tammy Trojanowski, Stratford Community Services Myra Watnick, Rehabilitation Associates, Inc. Alice Williams Join The Campaign! The SRACCAC invites you to Join the Campaign with the public goal that all children born in Connecticut beginning in 2004 will enter Kindergarten healthy, eager to learn, and ready for school success. Stratford Parents' Place is pleased to announce Champions Preschool has openings at their programs located at the South End Community Center and Stratford Academy/Johnson House. Please click here for more information. |