TOMORROW: Virtual Question and Answer Sessions Open to Parents, Guardians
PEABODY — Superintendent Josh Vadala and John E. McCarthy Elementary School Principal Michelle Zottoli wish to remind the community that applications are being accepted for the 2021-2022 school year for the integrated preschool program.
Virtual meet and greets will be held tomorrow, Tuesday March 16 for interested parents and guardians from 8-8:30 a.m. and from 6-6:30 p.m. To join one of the two sessions, being held over Google Meet, click here. Parents and guardians are also encouraged to watch a virtual Open House video about the McCarthy integrated preschool program, which can be viewed by clicking here.
The priority deadline for submitting an application is Friday, March 26. If the school receives more applications than the number of students it can accept into the program, a public lottery will be held.
If a lottery is needed, it will be held virtually on Monday, April 5. If a lottery is not held, program assignments will be made and shared with families that day. More information about such a lottery will be shared with families should a lottery be necessary.
For information on the application process and how to apply, click here.
Parents and guardians are advised they will need to specify which of the district’s preschool programs they wish their child to attend. There is also a Title I preschool program at the Welch Elementary School and the Passos preschool program is held at the South and West Elementary Schools.
The McCarthy Elementary preschool program is the only integrated preschool program in the district, meaning the program is open to students with and without disabilities and provides special education services to students who qualify.
Class sizes are limited to a maximum of 15 students, and the program operates a morning session from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and an afternoon session from noon to 2:30 p.m.
Classroom teachers and paraprofessionals work closely with students to help them develop and strengthen their social skills, such as turn taking and participating in a large group activity, as well as emotional skills. Students also learn pre-academic skills such as identifying their name in print, growing their vocabulary and pronunciation as well as identifying letters, numbers, colors and shapes.
In the program students also participate in art projects to help cultivate their fine motor skills, direction following abilities, and gives them an opportunity to practice literacy skills by sharing stories about what they made. Art projects further support social and emotional wellbeing. The program further offers opportunities for students to take part in sensory play– focusing on their hearing, sight, taste, touch, smell, movement and balance which allows students to use scientific processes while they create and explore.
The program strives to cultivate a love of learning in students early on, and to help students learn to enjoy attending school.
Students must turn three-years-old before Aug. 31, 2021 in order to be accepted into the program, and any student who turns five years old on or before Sept. 1, 2021 will be directed to enroll in kindergarten.
Those with additional questions can contact Principal Zottoli by emailing zottolim@peabody.k12.ma.us.
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