February 11, 2015
Rep. Jeff Currey joined other officials recently at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Family Resource Center at Robert J. O’Brien STEM Academy in East Hartford.
Rep. Currey, who represents portions of East Hartford, Manchester and South Windsor, thanked Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and former state Commissioner of Education Stefan Pryor for making O’Brien a part of the Commissioner’s Network last year. The network is a state-led initiative to help turn around low-performing schools in Connecticut.
Because of state funding for the network, the school was able to hire a coordinator and open the center. The project was done in collaboration with CommPACT Community Schools Collaborative.
The guiding philosophy of the center is that healthy development and good education of children begin at birth. With that in mind, the center strives to provide support and positive programming to help parents in their role as their children’s most important teacher. Stimulating experiences in the first three years of a child’s life are critical to future success in school and family life, and the center strives to provide services to parents to help them help their children.
The center’s play groups provide an opportunity for parents and their young children to participate with other families in a structured program which includes free play, snack, arts and crafts, songs and story time.
Certified Parent Educators are also available to meet with parents in their homes or a child-friendly classroom. Questions related to child development will be answered and parents will be taught and encouraged to use different ways to support their child's healthy growth and development.
In addition, parenting workshops are offered throughout the year on various topics. Recent workshops have focused on literacy, discipline, healthy eating and the value of early literacy.
The resource center also may provide a variety of books, toys, games, DVDs, CDs and parent resources for families to borrow.
The center also works with other staff to provide fun, educational after school activities to children in grades three through six. The clubs are designed to expose children to activities to strengthen their self-confidence.