PETERBOROUGH — Superintendent Kimberly Rizzo Saunders is pleased to share that the waitlist for the Conval School District’s 2022-23 Preschool for All program is now open.
The goal of ConVal’s Preschool For All initiative is to ensure equitable access to high-quality early educational opportunities across the district. The program is offered at free or reduced cost to eligible families based on income.
The following programs are offered for the 2022-23 school year:
- Three-Year-Old Program: This program is held three half-days per week. It is open to students from ConVal’s nine sending communities who turn age 3 before Sept. 30, 2022. Classes are held in the Antrim, Peterborough, Hancock, and Greenfield Elementary Schools.
- Four-Year-Old Program: This program is held for the full school day Monday through Friday, with the expectation of Wednesday as a half-day. It is open to students from ConVal’s nine sending communities who turn age 4 before Sept. 30, 2022. Classes are held in the Antrim, Peterborough, Hancock and Greenfield Elementary Schools.
According to data from the RAND Corporation, a research organization that helps to inform public policy decisions, preschool programs allow for more equity in learning for students across all income levels, and creates more school readiness as they enter kindergarten and beyond.
While at ConVal’s preschool program, students focus on activities that provide the foundational knowledge necessary for higher grade levels, including the development of fine motor skills through activities like using scissors and ripping paper. There also is a focus on social-emotional development and teaching students how to work together as a team.
Each class consists of a teacher and two paraprofessionals, supported by additional staff who are shared among the entire preschool program. Students receive small-group or one-on-one instruction, with additional resources to help students who are learning below their grade level.
Superintendent Rizzo Saunders said, “At ConVal, we recognize the importance of preschool and are committed to providing accessible programming to families in the district, especially to those who normally would not have the opportunity to send their child to preschool. We urge all families interested in our program to sign up.”
Parents interested in signing their child up for the program waitlist are asked to contact Kate Wasserloos at 603-924-7503 ext. 2032 or kwasserloos@conval.edu as soon as they can. Student placements will be announced by the end of May.
To view a video on the benefits of ConVal’s Preschool for All Program, please click here.
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