Literacy

Framingham Head Start

The Framingham Head Start program provides comprehensive early education and support services for underprivileged children and their families.

In addition to providing center-based and home-based preschool education, the program provides supportive services in the areas of health and dental care, nutrition, special education, parent skill workshops and social services. Children are provided with a daily lunch and breakfast or snack, which meet all federal and state nutrition guidelines.

For more information about the Framingham Head Start program, please go to their website.

This group is open to a very limited number of students entering 6th and 7th grade.

2017-2018 Schedules

This Group meets from 3:45-5:15pm
NOTE: Pick up and drop off are at Framingham Head Start (SMOC Childcare), 12 Roxanna Street, Framingham, MA 01702 (NOT AT TBE)
An alternate, easy-to-use address is the Suburban Athletic Club,10 Roxanna St #1, Framingham, MA 01702.

Framingham Head Start Monday Group:
November 6
December 4
January 22
February 5
March 19
April 9

Framingham Head Start Tuesday Group:
October 17
October 24
November 14
November 21
December 12
December 19

Important Dates for all Ma'asim Tovim Students

Tuesday, September 12, 2017: Welcome to B'Yachad, Pay it Forward 6:00-8:00pm
Wednesday, September 13, 2017: Welcome to B'Yachad, Pay it Forward 6:00-8:00pm
October 15, 2017: Ma'asim Tovim B'yachad - Volunteer Training 4:30-6:00pm
October 20-21, 2017: BM3T Shabbaton
February 11, 2018: Ma'asim Tovim B'yachad - Purim Carnival Planning 4:30-6:00pm
March 4, 2018: Purim Carnival 1:15-3:15pm

What will I Learn?

You will learn about the Jewish community’s responsibility to care for those in need.
You will gain an understanding of the needs of underprivileged children in the Boston area.
You will develop a relationship with The Framingham Head Start and its children.
You will develop valuable interpersonal and mentoring skills.
You will learn the importance of literacy and education in a child’s life.

What will I do?

You will learn about the organization while reading and playing with young children.
You will help prepare games, crafts and activities that help engage the children.
In addition to site visits, the group may choose to participate in other activities such as collecting books and/or birthday/holiday presents to be donated to the organizations. These options will be discussed as a group.

Quotes, Updates, Photos and More

"I enjoyed that I got to teach younger children and make an impact on their lives for the future." - Molly R., FHS Volunteer

"What I enjoyed most was seeing the kids faces light up when I walked into the room and I really enjoyed knowing that I was giving back to kids who are not as fortunate as me. I had the opportunity to teach kids different colors, the colors of the rainbow and the alphabet while I read to them and knowing that I did teach them something felt very meaningful to me." -Mia B., FHS Volunteer

"I enjoyed working with the kids in different age groups and watching them progress in reading and writing. I really learned a lot about the kids and other kids their age and really felt like I made an impact in their lives…I remember that around my third visit I switched to the older kids. The next week I came back and one of the kids ran up to me and pulled me over to come play him. I felt like I had really made a difference to him and it was very meaningful to me." -Anonymous FHS Volunteer

"It really helped me to open up myself and interact with people i didn't really talk to before. They kids were really kind and it didn't even occur to me they were less fortunate because they were so happy which made me happy. Before this experience i didn't have an understanding of what less fortunate meant . Now I know what I can do to make those people smile." -Anonymous FHS Volunteer

"I learned how much something so little can really make someone's day." - Danielle M., Framingham Head Start Volunteer

"I loved seeing the kids when they felt accomplished. They got really excited and it made me feel like I made a big difference. It was amazing when a girl was learning to read and at the beginning of the time she didn't know very much, but at the end she could read almost an entire book" - Emma H., FHS Volunteer

"When I got there and the kids recognized me and wanted to play with me. I felt like I was an important person in their lives and they liked me" - Hannah K., FHS Volunteer

"I enjoyed reading to the little kids and helping them better understand the world around them. I got to know a few kids, and it not only helped me learn, but helped the little kids learn.I think we don't take into account as much as we should, that these kids may not live in good homes, their parents may be divorced, they may be poor or less fortunate and that they should learn about this earlier.I think that we help them, whether we know it or not and it is a powerful feeling to help those kids learn about the world.It truly is "Gimelut Chasadim".We get no reward but the joy of knowing we made a difference". Julia B., FHS Volunteer

"I learned that I was able to be a role model and to be something that the kids looked up to." - Rayna C., FHS Volunteer

"It was meaningful when I helped kids read. They were so excited when they could write their name!" - Emma H., FHS Volunteer

“Getting to walk into that classroom and seeing two kids run over to me and hold my hand to guide me to their area showed me that what i did last time must have impacted them.” - Hanna H., FHS Volunteer

"I loved that I was able to have fun while sharing something I love with kids. It was great to see how they grew over the year!" - Leah S., FHS Volunteer

"Whenever we visited the kids they would be so happy and excited to see us. It felt good to know that we could make the kids feel happy!" - Julie J., FHS Volunteer

"During one visit, a parent came up and told me how much it meant to them that we were doing this. She told me how much her child enjoyed having us there. I loved seeing the kids and knowing I was making a difference in their lives." - Olivia F., FHS Volunteer

"One girl I worked with liked to make up her own story while looking at a book. It was really cool to see the creativity. I learned that little kids love to "read" and pretend!" - Matti H., Literacy Volunteer