PEABODY — Applications for Peabody’s integrated preschool program are now being accepted for the 2021-2022 school year, Superintendent Dr. Josh Vadala and McCarthy Elementary School principal Michelle Zottoli announced.
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.
Classroom teachers and paraprofessionals work closely with the program’s students to help them develop and strengthen their social skills, such as turn-taking and participating in large group activities, and learning to regulate their emotions.
Students also learn pre-academic skills, including identifying their name in print, growing their vocabulary, improving their pronunciation, and identifying letters, numbers, colors, and shapes.
The program encourages students to 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.
In addition, the program 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.
“Art projects further support social and emotional well-being,” a statement from Vadala and Zottoli said. “The program strives to cultivate a love of learning in students early on, and to help students learn to enjoy attending school.”
Class sizes are limited to a maximum of 15 students, and the program operates a morning session from 8:30 to 11 a.m., and an afternoon session from noon to 2:30 p.m.
Students must turn 3 years old before Aug. 31, 2021 in order to be accepted into the program. Any student who turns 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2021 will be directed to enroll in kindergarten.
Parents and guardians who were unable to attend last week’s virtual meet-and-greets are encouraged to watch a virtual open house video about the McCarthy integrated preschool program, which can be viewed at https://www.dropbox.com/s/qjbp3yq2wvh7i0p/McCarthy%20School_FINAL_FINAL.mp4?dl=0.
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.
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. The Passos preschool program is held at the South and West Elementary Schools.
More information about the application process is available online at peabody.k12.ma.us/registration. Those with additional questions can contact Principal Zottoli by emailing [email protected].
