FRC March Newsletter
Monthly Newsletter
March 2026
Director’s Thoughts
We are entering March feeling overwhelmed by the incredible outpouring of support shown by the Bristol Community. Last month, Governor Lamont released his proposed budget adjustments, which include a detrimental cut to FRC funding. FRCs across the state asked their communities to advocate on our behalf to the legislature - in total, we received 467 letters of support, with 100 of those letters coming from the Bristol community!
Thank you to all of the families, students, teachers, district staff, and community partners who took action on our behalf! We want to take this opportunity to share a few quotes from the many amazing letters you shared with us.
“As a teacher, our Family Resource Center has educated my students, their parents, and myself. They support students' academic achievement, parents' understanding of their children's needs as they develop, and teachers' understanding of how to best support students with different needs. They have connected countless families with supports in our community for food, clothing, and childcare.”
“FRC has made sure my children do not go without food and many other resources such as coats and gloves for winter and Christmas toys and essentials.”
“The FRC is an imperative part of our community. I have spoken to children who describe it as a place they can get extra clothes and snacks that cannot be provided at home. I have seen children bring home food to help their families through tough times. For my family, it has been an irreplaceable resource for finding support for my young children and community for myself in trying to navigate special ed services and early childhood programming.”
“The FRC at the school I teach in holds our school together.”
“The FRC has helped out our daughter so much! Through the programs she had blossomed in the classroom and at home. She has come out of her comfort zone so much, and she is gaining confidence in herself.”
Program Spotlight!
We would like to thank our amazing local and state grant partners! Their support allows us to staff 3 full-time FRCs in Bristol, as well as funding the supplies and other necessary expenses for many of the FRCs’ programs for students and families.
This month, we’d like to highlight a mini grant with a big impact! Thanks to the Bristol Rotary Club, we are able to partner with one of Bristol’s community gems, The Environmental Learning Centers of CT, and fund field trips for our weekly Play & Learn group participants. So far this year we’ve visited Barnes Nature Center and Indian Rock Nature Preserve. Our small participants have loved seeing (and often touching!) the diverse wildlife that is native to our region, while learning about their homes, what they like to eat, and how they survive the cold winter months.
Donation Requests
We are accepting gift cards to local grocery/department stores and transportation services (e.g. Stop & Shop, Aldi, ShopRite, Walmart, Uber/Lyft, Cumberland Farms/ gas stations). Several BPS families have experienced major losses this year (house fires, serious illness/injuries, etc). In addition, the rising costs of food and other basic living expenses has hit many members of our community extra hard. Having cards on hand allows us to provide direct assistance quickly, when needed. Please contact your FRC for more information.
We are also ALWAYS in need of children's socks, underwear, and sweatpants/leggings, in sizes 5-18! (Gently used is absolutely fine for clothing; socks/underwear must be new only, please). Each FRC has several children come down to see us every single day, due to various types of mishaps occurring before or during the school day. It can be a hardship for parents to bring in a clothing change during the day, especially those who travel longer distances for work.
Parenting and Family Support
Although we are in the coldest part of winter, it’s never too early to start dreaming of warmer days and planning for summer fun. 211 Child Care is an online database of youth programs, child care providers, summer camps, and more. Parents can search for programs based on their child’s ages, interests, and more.
Here in Bristol, the largest three summer camp programs are through the Bristol Boys and Girls Club, Indian Rock Nature Preserve, and Bristol Parks, Recreation, Youth & Community Services. These programs fill up quickly, so early registration is key! Summer 2026 information can be accessed on each organization’s website: see below for more information.
Indian Rock: https://elcct.org/education/summercamp/
Financial assistance is available to qualifying families! Applications are due on March 1st, 2026. Applications received after March 1st will be accepted based on camp space availability. Scholarship application is linked here.
Bristol Boys & Girls Club: https://www.bbgc.org/programs/summerprogram
Bristol Parks & Rec: https://bristolct.myrec.com/info/activities/default.aspx?type=activities
Additional limited scholarships are available for qualifying families; please contact your FRC or the individual programs for more information. Most summer programs also accept Care 4 Kids.
Generation Power CT’s Emergency Energy Assistance Program opens its final assistance cycle of the season from Monday, March 2 through Tuesday March 10. Eligible Connecticut households may receive a one-time grant of up to $500 to help cover electric, gas, or heating fuel expenses.
Click the link below to learn more about eligibility requirements and access application materials:
All Around the Town
Read to your Favorite Horse!
Shepard Meadows Equestrian Center 733 Hill Street, Bristol, CT
Monday March 2, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Registration required - https://www.shepardmeadows.org/events-calendar
Celebrate National Read Across America Day with us by bringing your favorite book to read to your favorite horse!
Spring Story Time
Manross Library, ages 5 and under
Thursday March 5, 10:00-10:30 AM | Every Thursday
No registration required
Spring is on its way! Drop into the library for a celebration of the spring season filled with songs, stories and movement.
Pajama Storytime
Plainville Public Library, 56 East Main St Plainville, CT 06062 United States
Thursday March 5, 6:00 pm
No registration required
Wear your pajamas and bring your best stuffed animals for this cozy storytime
Playful Learners with Miss Emma!
Imagine Nation A Museum Early Learning Center, ages 3 and under
Friday March 6, 10:30-11:30 AM | $12.51 per session
Registration required – imaginenationct@gmail.com
This is an ongoing program for children under 3 years old! Each week, children and their parents will explore play-based learning in our museum studios. The hour-long program includes gross motor fun in the kinetic studio, an educator-led activity or experience, and time to explore the museum together.
Annual Pancake Breakfast and Maple Sugaring Demonstration
Indian Rock Nature Preserve, 501 Wolcott Road, Bristol, Connecticut, 06010
Saturday March 7, 8:00 AM- 12:00 PM
Pre-registration Preferred but Walk-ins are Welcome
Breakfast is $10 per adult, $7 per child. Children 12 months and under are free.
Dine in or take out pancakes (plain, apple, and chocolate chip) served with pure maple syrup, bacon/ sausage, and choice of coffee, milk, or orange juice. When you come for breakfast, be sure to visit our animals indoors and our outdoor maple sugaring demonstrations. Learn how to identify a Sugar Maple and try your hand at tapping a tree. See the different methods that Native Americans and colonists used to collect and boil sap to make maple syrup and sugar. Learn how you can make maple syrup in your own backyard on a small scale and visit our mobile sugarhouse to learn how we make our maple syrup.
If pure maple syrup is one of your favorite things, ELCCT’s own maple syrup and maple candy will be available for sale.
Downtown Live at the Rockwell Theater
BAIMS, 70 Memorial Boulevard, Bristol, CT 06010
March 7, 7 PM: HUSH Crew (K-Pop Dance)
March 14, 7 PM: Fleetwood Macked (Fleetwood Mac Tribute)
For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.
All Things Green
Harry C. Barnes Memorial Nature Center 175 Shrub Road, Bristol, CT, 06010
Sunday March 15, 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm
No registration required
Members: Free
Non-member children: $5
Join us for an indoor St. Patrick’s scavenger hunt! Follow the clues to the pot of gold! Children are welcome to join staff and volunteers for an ongoing St. Patrick’s Day craft activity to take home.
The Cycle of Persephone: Kid-Friendly Greek Story Time
The Carousel Museum, 95 Riverside Ave, Bristol, CT
March 20, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM
Celebrate the First Day of Spring with Us with myth, music, and movement.
Story time is included with regular museum admission—no additional ticket required. To register or for more information, click here.
Crafts and Fun!
Leprechaun Lookers 
Materials Needed
2 Paper towel or toilet paper rolls
Green paper or green paint
Scissors
Glue
Ribbon
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Decorative materials
glitter, pom poms, gems, stickers, pipe cleaner, etc
Instructions
Cut out green paper to fit your paper rolls OR paint the rolls green
Glue the 2 paper rolls together, making sure the ends are lined up
Decorate the 2 rolls
Cut and glue ribbon to the inside of the binoculars
Bristol Family Resource Centers
South Side School Greene-Hills School West Bristol School
21 Tuttle Road 781 Pine Street 500 Clark Avenue