F.U.N. Families United Network Newsletter F.U.N. serves

F.U.N.
Families United Network Newsletter
A Message from Mary
After a lovely fall season here on Cape Cod and so many fun
happenings this last fall session, it is hard to believe we will be
trying to outdo ourselves, but we will give it a good try! We have
been working hard to find and adapt programming that will be
helpful, educational, interesting and meet the needs of families by
developing the winter programs you will see listed in this issue.
There are some familiar programs that you have come to count on
and some new offerings that will hopefully get you excited to try.
It is the season for soup, and we are offering a “Story & Soup
Group” that will meet the needs of working families who would love
to join a playgroup and meet other families and can only come at
night. Dinner will be part of the group, so cooking is not necessary
and you can bring PJ’s for the children so you can pop them into
bed when you get home after a group story time. Sound like fun?
Well, don’t miss the other great offerings we have this session too
and make sure you don’t miss the Healthy Family Fair!
The Mid Cape CFCE Council has been planning some activities in
the schools around “Brain Building: Family Engineering Nights” and
held the 1st one at the Ezra Baker Innovation School in November.
Families, whose children attend Ezra Baker from Preschool to 3rd
Grade, attended the evening at the school where they were
offered different materials to “engineer” buildings, bridges,
gadgets, robots, etc. with. It was a great night of creativity,
teamwork and community interaction that ended up with everyone
having had a wonderful time and leaving with a brand new book.
The Council is planning to replicate the event in both the ME Small
Elementary school and the Hyannis West Elementary School over
the next several months. Families whose students attend those
schools will get notification through the school and we hope that
you will join us if your child brings home a flyer. For some fun
family tips/activities on early literacy and brain building, check out
the CELL Early Literacy program:
http://www.earlyliteracylearning.org and www.brainbuildinginprogress.org
Have a wonderful winter!
Mary
[email protected]
508-775-6240 ext. 512
F.U.N. serves
families in the
Towns of
Barnstable, Dennis
and Yarmouth.
MA DEPT OF EEC
Volume 13, Issue 3
Winter 2014
Upcoming Events
January-March
2014
Parent/Child Play &
Learn Groups
Registration for the
Winter Session
December 16- 20
Call: (508) 775-6240
ext. 512 to register.
Mid-Cape CFCE
Council Meetings
Barnstable:
Jan 13th -6:30-7:30pm
May 12th -6:30-7:30pm
YMCA Cape Cod
D-Y:
March 10th-6:30-7:30pm
ME Small Elementary
Childcare will be
provided upon
request.
Parents and
community members
needed!
Please contact Mary
for more information.
Winter 2014 Parent/Child Play & Learn Groups
All Families United Network Programs are funded by a grant through the MA Dept of Early Education and Care
Monday
** Fee based
program
fundraiser
Tuesday
Playgroup
EI Building
9:30-11:00am
With Bambi
Rosario and
Patti
Gill
Music &
Movement**
Osterville Library
8:30-9:30
10:00-11:00
8-weeks
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Sol, Solecito
Playgroup
EI Building
10-11:30 am
With Gaby Ituarte
Preschoolers
Unplugged
ME Small
10-11:30am
With Gaby
Ituarte & Sue
Gubbins
Playgroup
Northside
Methodist Church
10:00-11:30am
With Patrick O’Leary
Gymport
Playgroup
Gymport
Playgroup
10:30-11:30am
10:00-11:00am
With Elena
Gino
**fee-based
group
With Gaby
Ituarte
**fee-based
group
Baby Music
11:15-12:00
(Free)
With Jill Silva
**fee-based
groups
Story &
Soup Group
EI Building
5:30-7pm
With Amy
Gregoire
Starts 9/12
Starts 9/13
See fees for each of the fee-based fundraisers with each description.
All fee-based groups require registration forms and fees sent into the office prior
to the start of the session.
See attached form
Sliding Scale and Scholarships available to qualified families.
All Programs are subject to change due to funding. Registration Required

Registration December 16-20, 2013 (voice mail will be returned in the order that it is received). All Parent/Child Play &
Learn groups are closed 12/16/13 through 1/1/14.

Winter programs begin January 2nd and run through March 14th (unless specified in the description).

Closures: 1/20 Martin Luther King Day, 2/17-21 School Vacation week.
*** Please note that families who were on the waitlist during the fall session will have priority for groups.
To register for Play & Learn Groups and programs, call Mary at: (508) 775-6240 ext. 512
All Families United Network Programs are funded by a grant through the MA Dept. of Early Education and Care. Some
programs also funded through the MA Children’s Trust, community collaboration and fundraising
Winter Family Programs & Events
All Programs are subject to change due to funding
(For all fee-based fundraiser groups, you must call to register and use the attached form to make payment)
Monday Playgroup: Mondays at the EI Building from 9:30am-11:00am. Join us for some exploration of toys, sensory materials, stories, songs, a snack,
outdoor play (weather permitting) and creative crafts designed for learning. Appropriate for Birth to 5 years. FREE. Registration required.
Tuesday Music & Movement– (8-week classes/8:30-9:30 and 10-11:00) at the Osterville Library. Join Jill Silva for a musical morning using fun songs
and instruments/props. Appropriate for all ages. This is a fundraiser for the FUN Program.
Fee: $75 per family. Registration required.
Tuesday Baby Music– ( 11:15-12:00) at the Osterville Library. Join Jill Silva for a musical morning using fun songs and instruments/props. Appropriate
for pre-walking babies. This program is FREE. Registration required.
Story & Soup Group-Tuesdays 5:30-7:00pm at the Early Intervention Building with Amy Gregoire. Working moms and dads can finally come to
playgroup! Take the night off from cooking and bring the whole family for a different soup dinner every week! Appropriate for Birth to 5 years.
FREE. Registration required.
Sol, Solecito (Sun, Little Sun) Play & Learn Group: For children ages Birth to 5 years, Wednesdays from 10:00-11:30 am at the Early Intervention
Building in Hyannis with Gaby Ituarte. Give your child an opportunity to play and learn Spanish in a fun and creative way. FREE. Registration required.
Wednesday Playgroup with Pat O’Leary: Wednesdays from 10-11:30- Northside Methodist Church, 701 Airline Road, Brewster. Join Pat for some fun
activities for young children, a story, snack and outdoor play (weather permitting). Appropriate for children ages Birth to 5 years. FREE. Registration
required.
Preschoolers Unplugged: Thursdays from 10-11:30am at ME Small Elementary School. Join Sue and Gaby for some creative activities designed to
stimulate the brains of young children and share your knowledge about how you handle the influx of media in your family, share ideas on the play value
of different toys, favorite toys when you were young and favorite toys of your children. Interpretive services for Spanish speaking families will be
available. Appropriate for Birth to 5 years. FREE. Registration required.
Thursday Gymport (Hyannis) from 10:30-11:30am. Open Gym time. Appropriate for walkers through 7 years along with a story at the end of each
session. This is a fundraiser for the FUN Program. Fee: $50 per family. Registration required.
Friday Gymport (Hyannis) from 10:00-11:00am. Open Gym time. Appropriate for walkers through 7 years along with a story at the end of each session.
This is a fundraiser for the FUN Program. Fee: $50 per family. Registration required.
Story & Science with Kim Torres -snack/free book provided, Appropriate for children ages Birth to 8 years. FREE. Registration required.

Tues Jan 7th 6-7pm-Hyannis Public Library-Weather: We'll learn what makes the weather and why it is so important to us.

Sat Jan 25th 10-11am-South Yarmouth Library-Weather

Sat Feb 8th 10-11am –Hyannis Public Library-Color/Camouflage: Color not only makes life interesting, but find out how it helps many
plants and animals to survive.

Thurs Feb 13th 6-7pm –Northside Methodist Church- Color/Camouflage

Sat March 8th 10-11am –Northside Methodist Church-Birds

Tues March 11th 6-7pm – Hyannis Public Library –Birds: Spring is here and so are the birds. Bird songs, nest, eggs, and more!

Thurs April 10th 6-7pm–Northside Methodist Church-Ponds: Frogs, ducks, and turtles are just some of the things that call the pond
"home".

Sat April 12th 10-11am –Hyannis Public Library-Ponds
Healthy Family Fair-Saturday, March 1st (snow date March 2nd) from 10am-1pm at the D-Y Regional High School. Music, game, activities, fun fitness
demos, obstacle course, food, community information, and many more things to support your families’ health. This event is FREE. No registration
required.
Father-Baby Pizza Party- Every other month from 6-8pm at Cape Cod Hospital. Dads and other important male caregivers with their babies can join
Paul Melville (CC Neighborhood Support Coalition) and Ann Macdonald (Childbirth Educator/Cape Cod Hospital) for some pizza and a great topical
speaker. FREE. Registration required. Call Ann Macdonald at 508-862-5520 to register.
New Year, New Ways To Save Money: An informational and conversational session for people who want to learn about creative and concrete ways to
save money. Come learn and share tips and ways to save money for the year ahead with Mary Wilson. Thursday, January 9th from 6:00-7:30pmCCCDP Early Intervention Building, Pearl St. Hyannis. FREE. Registration Required- Childcare available on a limited basis.
Single Parenting Groups-A non-therapeutic group for single parents to come together to share their strengths and challenges.
Dinner and limited childcare provided. Once a month (12/19, 1/23, 2/13, and 3/20/14) from 5:15-6:45 pm at the Early Intervention Building, Hyannis.
FREE. Registration required. This program is supported through the Cape Cod Neighborhood Support Coalition and Not Your Average
Joes.
Effective Positive Discipline-Starts Wednesday January 8th. (This group fills up fast!) An 8-week parenting series,
with Cindy Horgan, for parents with children Birth through 6 years old. It will be held at Faith Assemblies Church in Hyannis from 5:30 pm-7:30 pm.
Dinner, childcare and transportation provided. This program is supported by a grant from the MA Children’s Trust. FREE. Registration is
required.
To register for parent/child events and programs, call Mary (508) 775-6240 x512
Family Program Registration Form/Fee-Based Fundraising Groups- Winter 2014
Note: You must call prior to sending in this form to make sure there is space in the group
Yes, I’d like to register for the group below (please check):
□ Tuesday Music 8:30-9:30 Price: $75 each family (starts 1/7)
□ Tuesday Music 10:00-11:00 Price: $75 each family (starts 1/7)
□ Thursday Gymport 10:30-11:30 Price: $50 each family (starts 1/2)
□ Friday Gymport 10:00-11:00 Price: $50 each family (starts 1/3)
Program Price: ________
Number of Children: _______
Number of Adults _________
Total Program Cost:______
□ Check enclosed □ Cash □ Credit Card(check below)
Credit card: □ VISA □ Master Card
Name on card:
Billing address:
Credit card #: ______ Expiration date: _____
Contact Person:_________________________________
Phone number: _________________________________
Mailing Address:_______________________________________________
Please make checks payable to:
Cape Cod Child Development—FUN Program
83 Pearl Street, Hyannis, MA 02601
Any questions, please call:
Mary Wilson
508-775-6240x512
Code: 440-3404
The F.U.N. Page
__________________________________________________________________________________
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!
__________________________________________________________________________________
Book List
The Snowy Day
Ezra Jack Keats
The First Snowball
Anne & Harlow Rockwell
Snow Day
Betsy Maestro
Sledding
Elizabeth Winthrop
Thomas’ Snowsuit
Robert Munsch
The Snow
J. Birmingham
The Biggest, Best Snowman
Margery Cuyler
Mitten Poem
OUTSIDE FUN
Snowball Hunt
Sledding
Snow Sculptures
Freeze Things/Melt Things
Snowmen
Snowball Hunt
Thumb in the thumb place,
Fingers all together.
This is the poem we say
During Mitten Weather.
Snow Science
-What happens to water when you freeze it?
-What happens when you put salt on the ice?
-Can you make different sizes of snowballs?
-Which snowball is heavier? (Use a bathroom scale)
Winter Family Excursions
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Visit a local library- www.clamsnet.org (libraries also have passes for many local attractions)
Heritage Museum, Sandwich/Hidden Hollow Discovery Area for childrenhttp://heritagemuseumsandgardens.org/hidden-hollow/
Cape Cod Museum of Natural History/Brewster-508-896-3867
Green Briar Nature Center, Sandwich-508-888-6870
National Marine Life Center of Buzzard’s Bay-508-743-9888
Plymouth County Sheriff’s Farm and Petting Zoo-Obery Street, Plymouth, MA (off Exit 5 on Route 3)
Cape Cod Children’s Museum-Mashpee-508-539-8788
Check out other activities by logging onto www.capecodonline.com
Additional People and Organizations we would like to thank for all their support over
the Fall Session:
Thank you! It takes a village…
To all the Families that made financial donations for participating in the groups and who donated snacks and supplies for
the Parent/Child play & learn groups, Cape Cod Neighborhood Support Coalition- for their support funding the
facilitator of the Single Parent Support Group, Eileen Donaruma and Family-for their generous donation of $50 to the
FUN Program, Faith Assemblies Church and Sue Smith of Kiddie Kollege- for hosting the “Effective Positive
Discipline” 8-week parenting class series, The South Yarmouth Library- for hosting The Mitten StoryWalk and the Story
& Science programs, The Hyannis Library-for hosting the Story & Science Programs, The Osterville Library- for
hosting the Music & Movement and Baby Music Programs, The Northside Methodist Church- for hosting the Story &
Science groups and the Wednesday Playgroup, Barbara Bennett from West Parish Family School and Ann
Macdonald from Cape Cod Hospital- for helping with the “Brain Building: Engineering Family Night” at Ezra Baker
Elementary School, Cotuit Center for the Arts- for hosting “Getting Ready For Kindergarten” at a reduced space usage
fee, Scottie’s Famous Pizza- for their generous discount on pizza and food for the Effective Positive Discipline 8-week
parenting series, The YMCA Cape Cod-for hosting the Maternal Depression Task Force Meetings and the Mid Cape
CFCE Council Meetings, ME Small Elementary School-for hosting the Mid Cape CFCE Council Meetings, Taylor
Bray Farm, Miss Scarlett’s Blue Ribbon Farm, Cape Cod Organic Farm, Crow Farm, CapeAbilities Farm,
Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary, and Green Briar Nature Center-for hosting the FUN on the Farm group this fall,
and Not Your Average Joe’s in Hyannis- for providing dinner to the Single Parenting group.
FUN Program Wish List
The following support would be most appreciated:
 People who can help with the Healthy Family Fair (setting up decorations, helping with the
activities, doing promotion and getting sponsors for the event)
 People who are interested in being Babysitters for the parenting classes-Training and
compensation provided
 People who can help with posting flyers, spreading the word about programs
 Financial donations-Should you care to make a financial donation to the FUN Program, please make checks
payable to:Cape Cod Child Development, Attention Mary Wilson, 83 Pearl Street, Hyannis, MA 02601
(We will use your donation to help support the programs that we currently offer by providing childcare, food and
transportation to families who need it in order to participate in our parenting classes and for supplies we may need for the
play and learn groups.) *All donations to our program are tax deductible according to current tax guidelines.
More News!

Sign, Say, & Play™ Class –is being held at the South Yarmouth Library beginning January 6th from 11am-12pm.
It is a six-week series-offering parents/caregivers & babies a fun environment for learning all the basics of signing!
The combination of rich classroom experience and the proper tools for learning at home give you & your baby a
great start in a loving and supportive way. For children ages six months to two years and the parents/caregivers
who love them. This program is FREE and is being supported by a grant from the Education Foundation for Dennis
and Yarmouth and through the collaborative efforts of the South Yarmouth Library and the FUN Program.
Registration is through the South Yarmouth Library: please call Jayne Chouinard, Yarmouth Town Libraries
Children's Librarian, 508-760-4820 ext. 1316
 Cape Cod Neighborhood Support Coalition offers free and confidential information and
referral service for families on the Cape and Islands, including parent education and support. Go to
www.capecoalition.com for more information or for the most current listing of Parent Education
and Support activities, log onto: http://capecoalition.com/calendar/
 Are you a parent experiencing stress around raising your children? Parenting is one of the hardest
jobs there is! Please know that there is someone available to help 24 hours a day. Call the 24 Hour
Parental Stress Line at 1-800-882-1250 and someone can help.
 The Mid Cape Family Resource Guide is now online! Log onto:
http://www.cccdp.org/assets/1291234530-Mid-CapeResourceDir.pdf
It is a valuable resource for community programs/agencies that support families. We are working
on the revision for the 2014/2015 edition and will update the link soon for the newer version.
Financial workshops:
 Homebuyer Education
 Creating a Budget
 Rebuilding Your Credit
 Home Forever
Learn how you can participate in these programs by contacting Cheryl at 508-771-5400x287
The FUN Program now offers Free Developmental Screenings
For children between 1 month and 5 years old.
Babies and children grow & change so quickly! Young children are learning every day.
Do you have questions about how your child is doing?
Do you wonder if there are ways you can help your child’s development?
Our staff will work with you to:
 Determine if your child is learning and gaining skills well
 Share ideas to help you be your child’s first teacher.
 Connect with programs and resources if you and your child need extra help.
Call the FUN Program of Cape Cod Child Development and ask to speak with
Mary Wilson/Coordinator at 508-775-6240x512
__________________________________________________________________________________________
If you would like to no longer receive emails from the FUN Program, please contact Mary Wilson and ask to be
removed from the email list. Email: [email protected] or phone: 508-775-6240x512