North Adams Awarded Grant to Expand Pre-Kindergarten

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The grant will provide for a full-day of pre-kindergarten at Brayton School.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Families with 3- and 4-year-old children will soon have additional options for high-quality pre-kindergarten programs thanks to a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.
 
In collaboration with Child Care of the Berkshires, the North Adams Public Schools has been awarded $285,549 to create a new full-day pre-kindergarten program located at Brayton Elementary School, and to expand an existing program currently operated by Child Care of the Berkshires at Monument Square.
 
Several communities from across the commonwealth submitted applications for funding through what is known as the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative. Along with North Adams, school-community partnerships in Boston, Springfield, Lowell, New Bedford and Sommerville were each awarded funding to open expanded programs.
 
The funds will support preschool programs from Feb. 1 through June 30, 2019. EEC expects to renew these grants in fiscal 2020. A total of 12 communities applied for the CPPI grant, and at least three additional communities wanted to apply but didn't because of their limited time and capacity to meet the Jan. 4 deadline. NAPS worked with Child Care of the Berkshires to get the application in over the holidays.
 
This is an opportunity for the whole North Adams community, according to Superintendent Barbara Malkas. 
 
"Education is a major factor of individual as well as community economic development," she said. "Studies have shown that educational attainment impacts the personal economic outcomes more than any other investment an individual could make based on their earning potential over the course of a lifetime."
 
The expanded program is open to families residing in North Adams, and is designed primarily for children who are not currently enrolled in a program, particularly 4-year-olds who will be turning 5 and entering kindergarten in the fall of 2019.
 
"What better time in life to make this investment than at early childhood?" asked Malkas. "By closing the opportunity gap before starting the rigorous academic standards in kindergarten, we are able to ensure that more students are school ready."
 
In addition to high-quality pre-kindergarten programming, both programs plan to offer before- and after-school child care for the children enrolled in the expanded classrooms.
 
For more information about enrollment, families can contact Bobbi Tassone at the North Adams Public Schools at btassone@napsk12.org or 413-776-1458.

Tags: education grant,   NAPS,   preschool,   

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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.

Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.

We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.

In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.

Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear. 

The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.

"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."

Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.

In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.

The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.

"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.

In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.

"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said. 

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