Winchendon Weekly News -- September 8, 2023

Mount Wachusett Community College Fall Semester Kicks Off

GARDNER, MA - September 12, 2023 - Mount Wachusett Community College began its 61st school year with a twelve percent increase in enrollment, and it showed as students packed the campus for New Student Welcome events last week.

"I am feeling so fortunate and excited about the start of the fall semester," noted MWCC President James Vander Hooven through the college's new student engagement mobile app. "It was awesome welcoming faculty back and greeting new students."

Students were entertained by Rocky Peter, singer-songwriter and former American Idol contestant, who shared his story of overcoming adversity including abandonment and slavery, to pursue his passion for music.

Keynote speaker Mickey Rowe, a disability and accessibility expert who is legally blind and on the autism spectrum, delivered a powerful message of resilience, motivation and understanding.

Student Parents who participated in the New Student Welcome events were able to leave their children in the MWCC Child Watch, managed by the Student Parent Support Group and Ann Reynolds.

"We have been so fortunate to receive grants to support this vital campus service," Ann Reynolds noted. "Childcare is an overlooked basic need for many student parents."

The child watch expansion has received funds from The Bemis Foundation, as well as a Career Readiness and Educational Access Grant from the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts.

Another MWCC fall tradition is the Brewer Center for Civic Learning & Community Engagement backpack drive which donated 38 backpacks, lunchboxes and additional supplies collected from employees and the community. Brewer Center work study students Cassandra Peltola, Kelly Culkeen, and Mina Girouard coordinated the donations and prepared the backpacks for pick up from the Department of Children and Family Services.

Applications are still being accepted for the fall quick semester, which begins on October 30 and runs through December 22, 2023. The MWCC Fall Open House will be held on Saturday, October 28 from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, interested students and families can sign up at mwcc.edu/openhouse.

MWCC Professors Present at Trauma-Informed Care Colloquium for Early Childhood Education Faculty and Administrators

GARDNER, MA – September 13, 2023 – Mount Wachusett Community College Education Department professors Thom Linehan and Maureen Provost joined Quinsigamond Community College faculty members Karen O'Neill and Julie Tripori to organize and present the Trauma-Informed Care Colloquium for Early Childhood Education Faculty and Administrators at Quinsigamond Community College on Friday, September 8, 2023. In attendance were early childhood education faculty, administrators, and project participants from across the state.

Trauma is a long-standing public health challenge that has started to receive more attention recently, it has significant impacts on young children. The Trauma-Informed Care Colloquium is supported and facilitated by MASSCAP (the Massachusetts Association for Community Action) as well as the Institute for Community Health. The project aims to support faculty and institutions of higher education in preparing future educators of young children.

The Trauma-Informed Care Colloquium was the culminating event of a multi-year project to develop college courses focused on trauma-informed care for early childhood education students and individuals currently working in the field. The faculty involved in this project carefully designed and piloted courses that help educators recognize the impacts of trauma on young children and provide them with constructive, positive strategies for providing care.

"Having the opportunity to work with my colleagues and share solid research and practical information with a broader audience was an essential piece of the Trauma-Informed Care Colloquium," notes Professor Maureen Provost. "Equally important, hearing from attendees how they will use what they learned to educate others is exciting! Ultimately, this knowledge will positively impact the lives of children, families, communities, and the educators who serve them."

The Trauma-Informed Care Colloquium furthered this work by sharing the results of the study, including best practices, curricular frameworks, and teaching strategies with other Massachusetts community college professors to integrate the approach into their curricula.

Mount Wachusett Community College Celebrates Pinning of Dental Assistant Certificate Graduates

GARDNER, MA - September 12, 2023 - On Friday, September 8, 2023, graduates of the Class of 2023 Dental Assisting Certificate program celebrated their achievements in a traditional pinning ceremony at the Mount Wachusett Community College Gardner campus.

Cynthia Cadoret, CDA, RDH, MPH, Director of the Dental Education Program at MWCC, welcomed students, family members and supporters to the ceremony and extended thanks to Clinical Supervising Dentists Dr. Shirley Austin and Dr. Katherine Takach for their support of the program and students.

The dental assisting faculty members presenting pins to their students were Heather Almeida, CDA, RDH, BA and Kelly Jancaitis, CDA, RDH, MEd.

Students Cintia Sequeira-Correia and Joselin Escobar of Fitchburg; Teanna Rodriguez of Marlborough, Johanna Rosales Robles and Caitlin Ruby of Leominster, Jean Ulysse of Ashburnham, Hannah Shults and Anneliese King of Gardner were pinned and recited the traditional dental assistant oath, pledging to faithfully respect the principles of the professional ethics and committing to improve the oral health of the public.

Registration Open for Girls Statewide STEM Summit 2024

Girls STEM Summit-Statewide will be hosted in April 2024 in a new location at UMass Lowell. The Summit is the premier Massachusetts event for high school girls in grades 8 - 12 interested in exploring and expanding their knowledge and skills in STEM topics. Over 250 girls from across Massachusetts attend the Summit each year.

Individual seats are available to purchase. Schools or groups may purchase a block of seats. Registration is open now at the Jr.Tech website, juniortech.org/girls-stem-summit-statewide-2024/

What is Girls STEM Summit-Statewide?

• A STEM program for 8th - 12th grade girls
• For girls interested in exploring STEM fields and career choices
• Features female STEM professionals and industries
• Highlights emerging and existing STEM careers

Girls attending Girls STEM Summit will:

• Meet with successful women working as STEM experts, and work directly with them in hands-on career sessions.
• Be exposed to STEM industries and career options by attending career tracks.
• Hear an inspirational keynote speech by a female leader in a STEM field.
• Learn best practices for applying to colleges with STEM programs.
• Meet other students with similar interests.

Girls STEM Summit Goals:

• Impact and bridge the gap between girls' passion for the topics and helping them find their way to successful STEM careers.
• Inspire girls to pursue STEM Fields.
• Fill a gender gap in STEM jobs today and into the future.
• Present topics and learning sessions in a way that makes STEM topics interesting, relevant to career paths, and approachable.

Details:

When: Sunday, April 7, 2024
Hosted by: Jr.Tech, Inc.
Location: University of Massachusetts, Lowell
Time: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Pricing: $75 per participant (includes activities, continental breakfast, lunch, and giveaways.)

*Open to all persons who identify as female, non-binary, or other gender identity or expression.

For additional information and to register students for the Summit, please visit the Jr.Tech website. juniortech.org/girls-stem-summit-statewide-2024/

Contacts:

Phyllis Russell: phyllis@juniortech.org
Rachel Arno: phyllis@juniortech.org

Jr.Tech, Inc., is a Massachusetts-based 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization whose mission is to engage 4th - 12th grade students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. We broaden students' awareness of career paths in STEM, increase skills, and encourage a lifelong interest and curiosity. We're preparing today's youth for tomorrow's STEM careers.

Join Jr.Tech's Social Channels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.