Top Photo: MWCC President James Vander Hooven, Coordinator of Student Parent Supports Ann Reynolds, and Monty the Mountain Lion.
Bottom Photo: Ann Reynolds stands with the “Birthday Hut” at the newly reopened Monty’s Cubs Child Watch on the MWCC Gardner Campus, first floor.
Monty’s Cubs Child Watch is Open Again at MWCC – now on 1st Floor
On March 9, 2026, Mount Wachusett Community College celebrated the grand reopening of its newly renovated and relocated child watch center, Monty’s Cubs Child Watch, now conveniently located on the first floor of the Gardner, MA campus.
According to a Press Release: “The newly updated space provides a safe, welcoming play space designed to support creativity, exploration, and comfort for young visitors while their parents attend classes, meet with advisors, or access services on campus. The move to the first floor improves accessibility and visibility, helping more student parents take advantage of the resource as they pursue their educational goals.
MWCC’s student parent supports are made possible by numerous grants and donations, including the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) grant, the Career Readiness & Education Access Grant from the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, The Bemis Foundation, Santander Bank, Rollstone Bank, The Crocker Foundation, and The George Wallace Foundation.
“Monty’s Cubs Child Watch represents MWCC’s commitment to supporting student parents and ensuring they have the resources they need to succeed,” said MWCC President James Vander Hooven. “By creating a bright, accessible space for children, we are helping remove barriers so students can focus on their education and future.”
“In addition to providing supervised child watch services, the center also connects student families with additional resources to support their daily needs. Diapers, wet-wipes, gently used and some new children’s clothing, and a lending library for both children and adults are some of the resources all MWCC student parents can access in the child watch location. We recognize that time and money are precious commodities to all, but especially to our student parents.
The center also features a unique “Birthday Hut,” where students can access donated supplies to celebrate their children’s birthdays. The hut includes items such as cake-making kits, balloons, party decorations, and birthday gifts, ensuring families have the opportunity to mark special milestones.
The expanded child watch reflects MWCC’s broader mission to support the diverse needs of its students and create pathways to opportunity for families across the region. MWCC continues to be a regional and national leader in supporting parenting student success and achievement. For more information about Monty’s Cubs Child Watch and student support services at Mount Wachusett Community College, visit mwcc.edu.“