News
Honey Bear rallies with programs across the State to push for more investments in Early Childhood
At rallies across the state Wednesday—including in Stamford, Bridgeport and Stratford—the message to lawmakers was the same: fund child care. “We really need the state to invest in early childhood. Right now, things are failing,” said Catherine Vanicky, director of Honey Bear Learning Center in Stratford. “The child care system is completely broken,” added Katherine…
Read MoreHoney Bear Director, Cathie Vanicky, earns Charter Oak Employer of the Year Award!
Catherine Vanicky stands proudly with her Assistant Director, her family, Charter Oak President Ed Klonoski, and Charter Oak State College Foundation President Joyce Petrella.Left to Right: Richard Vanicky (husband), Aleksey Vanicky (son), Ed Klonoski, Catherine Vanicky (award recipient), Jacqueline Valle (award nominator), Joyce Petrella, Bridget McLoughlin (daughter), Joseph McLoughlin (son)
Read MoreStratford Health Department uses grant money to sponsor garden at Honey Bear
STRATFORD — The Stratford Health Department launched a daycare gardening program this summer using funds from a Stratford Rotary Club grant. The health department was awarded $5,800 in March from the Community Impact Grant program, which is given to organizations with goals to enhance the community. Eight Stratford daycare centers that had completed a program…
Read MoreMarch Rally results: Families now pay less, and programs paid more
After being stuck in neutral for years, the reimbursement rate for children served under the Care 4 Kids [Connecticut’s child care subsidy] program is going up. In Southwestern Connecticut, the reimbursement rate for infant-toddler care will increase from $221 to $300 a week and the preschool rate will increase from $175 to $210 a week.…
Read MoreHoney Bear helps advocate for better [teacher] pay, and family affordability
Jacqueline Valle’s love for early childhood education began in the basement of Good Shepherd Christian Church on Hancock Avenue in Bridgeport. Something about working with small children in a Bible study class gave the city teen a warm feeling. By the time she was 17, Valle was working part time in the infant and toddler…
Read MoreHoney Bear earns NAEYC accreditation AND opens Infant and Toddler Center
Honey Bear Learning Center has earned a five-year renewal on their accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), a distinction the program has held since 1995. NAEYC is a professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy,…
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