For the first time, residents of Chesterfield County who are parents, guardians and child care providers for children from birth to five years will have a resource center to help prepare their children for success in school.
The Chesterfield County First Steps Resource Center is located on the campus of Northeastern Technical College, a partner agency, in Cheraw. The center will open on November 9 with an open house to show off the new facility and its services. The public is invited to attend.
“We are equipped and ready to open our doors to the parents and childcare providers of the county,” said Karen Martini, executive director of Chesterfield County First Steps, an organization committed to preparing children to succeed when they enter first grade. “We have a wealth of educational materials and supplies that can be checked out, taken home and used to prepare children for success when they enter school.”
After becoming a member, visitors to the center can check out a certain number of educational items in science, math, art, music, literature and dramatic play. Membership fees vary; but parents and guardians pay $5 per year and individual child care professionals pay $10 per year. Child care centers pay $25 per year. There is no charge for currently enrolled NETC students.
Free memberships will be offered for one day only for those who attend the center’s open house on November 9, from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. A ribbon cutting will be held at 5:00 p.m. At 5:30 p.m. on the same day, First Steps will also sponsor their Annual Dinner Meeting in NETC’s auditorium. The public is invited however; anyone planning to attend the dinner should call 623-5904.
