2024 Town Report

Bridgewater Area Community Foundation & Bridgewater Community Childcare

The Bridgewater Area Community Foundation, Inc. (BACF) and Bridgewater Community Childcare (BCC) founded in 2018 has now been in operation for 3 successful years. Run by Executive Director Kristiana Birmingham and Assistant Director Owen Putnam. Over the past year there have been numerous building improvements, program updates and new projects; below please find a brief timeline of 2024.

●      January 2024 parent-teacher conferences

●      February 2024 annual valentines day party

●      April 2024 partnered with the Bridgewater Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary for the annual easter egg hunt

●      Our preschool teachers started Noni by Teaching Strategies. Noni is a research-based, digital coach app and complementary collection of classroom teaching resources that provide guidance, strategies, and personalized support to help teachers create trauma-informed classrooms that mitigate the impact of trauma and ACEs (adverse child experiences) on the children in their care.

●      Introduced Al’s Pals in our Preschool and Toddler classroom. This comprehensive curriculum empowers young children to learn how to make healthy decisions, resolve conflicts, manage their feelings, and build positive relationships. Educators who implement Al’s Pals build a nurturing classroom environment with activities such as lessons that facilitate large-group interactive discussions and problem-solving experiences, original songs that reinforce lesson and core concepts, and puppets and puppet scripts to engage children.

●      All childcare classrooms now fully use TS Gold for observations and assessments. With Gold, assessment is an authentic part of instruction, not a disruption. Embedded in everyday interactions with children in the classroom, formative assessment is an effortless, organic part of the day.

●      Started BACF Sustainability project led by project manager Michael Caduto after receiving a grant from the Canaday Family Charitable Trust.

●      Started phase one of the two phase sustainability project including maximizing heat pumps, installing two high efficiency furnaces and electrical water heaters, installing a backup generator and battery storage for electricity.

●      Employed 12 full time employees.

●      Served families from Bridgewater, Woodstock, Plymouth, Ludlow, and Pittsfield.

●      New additions to the BACF Board of Directors: John Hiers and Wendy Jenne.

●      Started the third and final phase of construction with local contractors Birmingham Construction LLC, Schaal Electrical and Ottauquechee Plumbing and Heating.

Your continued support is invaluable to us,  as BACF provides a vibrant center where residents of Bridgewater and surrounding towns come together as part of a caring, diverse community fostering education, health & safety, personal growth, wellness, and meaningful connections through childcare and programming.

Thank you to our Board of Directors: Brian Bontrager, Charlie Shackleton, Wendy Jenne, Colleen Doyle, John Hiers for their time, knowledge and dedication to BACF and our programming. Thank you to Michael Caduto (former board member and current project manager) for his expertise on the Sustainability project. And thank you to Troy Woods, Ezra Astbury (EA Trees), and Jane Cleaveland whom without our building and programming would not flourish.

Please contact Kristiana Birmingham Executive Director, for further information or to offer support and contributions.

Celebrating the Winter Solstice with Our Little Explorers

As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, we approach a special time of year known as the winter solstice. This unique event, which occurs around December 21st, marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. For our young learners, the winter solstice is an excellent opportunity to explore and appreciate the wonders of nature and the changing seasons.

Understanding the Winter Solstice

The winter solstice happens when the North Pole is tilted the farthest away from the sun, resulting in the fewest daylight hours of the year. After the solstice, the days gradually become longer again, bringing with them the promise of more daylight and the anticipation of spring.

Activities to Celebrate the Winter Solstice

Here at Bridgewater Community Childcare, we believe in making learning fun and engaging. Here are some activities we can enjoy with the children to celebrate the winter solstice:

1. Nature Walks: Bundle up and take the children on a nature walk to observe how the environment changes during winter. Look for signs of wildlife, collect interesting leaves, or simply enjoy the crisp air.

2. Story Time: Share stories and myths from different cultures about the winter solstice. These tales often explain the significance of this time of year and how it has been celebrated throughout history.

3. Crafts and Art Projects: Create solstice-themed crafts, such as making paper snowflakes, decorating pinecones, or painting a winter scene. These activities allow children to express their creativity while learning about the season.

4. Science Experiments: Conduct simple experiments that demonstrate the tilt of the Earth and how it affects the length of days. This can help children understand the science behind the winter solstice in a hands-on way.

5. Winter Solstice Feast: Prepare a special snack or meal that incorporates seasonal fruits and vegetables. This is a great way to discuss how different foods are available in different seasons and to celebrate the bounty of winter.

The Importance of Seasonal Celebrations

Seasonal celebrations like the winter solstice help children connect with the natural world and understand the rhythms of the year. They provide an opportunity to learn about cultural traditions, foster a sense of wonder, and create memorable experiences.

At BCC, we’re committed to nurturing curiosity and a love of learning in every child. By celebrating the winter solstice, we hope to instill a deeper appreciation for nature and the beauty of the changing seasons.

Sustainable Energy Project

2024 Bridgewater Town Report

January 25, 2024 

The Bridgewater Area Community Foundation Inc, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors established in 2018 to preserve, rescue and enhance the former Bridgewater Village School, a cultural and historical landmark located in the Ottauquechee valley, into a community center and childcare center. 

In 2023 BACF: 

• Phase II construction by Jaynes & Berge Inc. (including two classrooms, bathroom remodel and creation of ADA compliant bathroom)

• Finish installation of new elevator 

• Finish restoring windows in 1914 and 1948 areas  by Talis Historical Restoration 

• Plumbing and heating updates by Ottauquechee Plumbing & Heating 

• Electrical updates by Schaal Electric

• Finish new sprinkler system by FireTech 

• Update fire alarm system by Royal Fire Alarm

• Second floor painting by Vern Doyle II, LLC. 

• Second floor sanding and refinishing using Vermont Coatings by Vern Doyle II, LLC.  

• BCC playground additions and planning for 2024 playground remodeling 

• April 2023 BCC/BVFD Auxiliary Easter egg hunt 

• September 2023 grand opening of new classrooms 

• October 2023 BCC Halloween parade 

• December 2023 BCC Parent-Teacher conferences 

• December 2023 BCC Holiday party 

The Bridgewater Area Community Foundation, Inc’s cornerstone programing, the Bridgewater Community Childcare overseen by Executive Director, Kristiana Birmingham and Administrative Assistant, Owen Putnam expanded this year tripling in size. Licensed by the State of Vermont, BCC now serves 45 children daily ages 6-weeks through Preschool (5 years old), along with an Afterschool Care program for school aged children. BCC now employs 10 full-time teachers and 4 part-time staff between their three classrooms. BCC’s vision is for every child to have access to early childhood education regardless of their families ability to pay and that would not be possible without the Vermont Child Care Financial Assistance Program (CCFAP) with 33% of families utilizing the program and additional families on center tuition relief. Under the direction of Mrs. Birmingham, BCC secured $150,000 in grants from Make Way for Kids and Woodstock EDC to expand, staff, and furnish the childcare’s two additional classrooms this year which opened up in late August. Along with two additional bathrooms that opened up in September and December. BCC also received the Vermont Act 76 Readiness award from the State of Vermont Department for Children and Families Child Development Division to aid in the license expansion. 

The Bridgewater community is a vital part of the Bridgewater Area Community Foundation Inc. mission to provide a vibrant center where the people of Bridgewater and the surrounding towns can gather as part of a caring, diverse community of people from all ages and walks of life. The BACF fosters education, artistry, commerce, health and wellness, personal growth and connection. We strive to meet the basic needs of all citizens in a resilient space that will continue to serve and function when it is needed most. We look forward to 2024 and all that it has in store for the Bridgewater Area Community Foundation, Inc. 

Kristiana Birmingham - Bridgewater Community Childcare Executive Director 

Owen Putnam - Bridgewater Community Childcare Admin Assistant 

Brian Bontrager - BACF Board President 

Charlie Shackleton - BACF Board Vice President 

Dalene Washburn - BACF Board Secretary 

Jeremy Bhatia - BACF Board Treasurer 

BACF Board Members - Brian Bontrager, Charlie Shackleton, Dalene Washburn, Jeremy Bhatia, Michael Caduto, & Collen Doyle

About BACF

In 2015 the historic (1914) 13,000 square foot, two and a half story Bridgewater Village School closed to consolidate. In 2017, a group of community members formed a Select Board-sanctioned committee to explore potential use for the building. The closed school was quickly recognized as an opportunity, due to the combination of village location, documented community service needs, and local interest and support for reusing the building. In 2018 The Bridgewater Area Community Foundation, Inc. (BACF), a newly formed local non-profit was formed to preserve, revitalize, and enhance the former Bridgewater Village School Building, an important cultural and historical landmark located in the Ottauquechee Valley into the Bridgewater Community Center and Bridgewater Community Childcare.

BACF offers life enriching activities for the whole family and community while strengthening social ties and reduce social isolation. Anchoring the foundation is the Bridgewater Community Childcare, a Vermont Licensed childcare. Childcare and early education became an obvious choice based on community need and location. The Town and BACF executed a lease agreement in January 2019 allowing BACF to utilize the building and immediate grounds for the community center and childcare center with a sustainable lease extended in 2024 to a twenty year lease. This is a wonderful opportunity for the town as it remains a town asset but the foundation will cover the cost of the building while working to improve and program it.