Preschool Program                                                                     Lottery Application

The Sutton Public School District offers a high quality language based preschool program that educates young children with special needs together with children without special needs in a stimulating, natural environment.

Preschool Philosophy

The preschool philosophy is to present each student with opportunities to enhance self-esteem, to develop self-help, social, cognitive, language, fine and gross motor skills. Each child will be viewed as an individual with differing values, customs, behaviors, strengths, and challenges.

Curriculum

The developmentally appropriate curriculum encourages exploration, discovery and creation through a multi-sensory approach to learning. Children will learn at their own pace under the direction of qualified and dedicated teachers.

Special education students attend five days each week and typical students attend three days a week for half-day sessions. The morning session runs from 8:30-11:00 AM and the afternoon from 12:15-2:45 PM. The preschool teachers utilize a theme approach in their curriculum planning. 

 Daily Organization and Curriculum

The day is organized so children may participate in activities they select, as well as those the staff directs.  Each day includes a story, small and large group activities, choice time, snack, and music and movement.  The curriculum is organized around themes so the children can see relationships between stories, songs, art, and games.  The children’s level of development and interests are the primary factors considered as the staff plans daily activities.

Classroom Organization

Each classroom follows an established routine to organize each session. Children arrive at school at the scheduled time and location and wait with parents until the teacher arrives to transition students into the classroom. As part of the daily routine students participate in Choice Time, Table Top Activities, Gross Motor Play, Circle and Snack.

·        Choice Time includes both child and teacher directed activities such as imaginary play, sensory activities, blocks, or listening center/computers.

·        Table Top Activities are usually teacher directed time with an activity or art project that goes along with the current theme

·        Gross Motor Play may include the outdoor playground equipment when weather permits, otherwise a motor activity is planned such as music and movement, parachutes, obstacle courses etc.

·        Circle includes story time, calendar, weather and songs.

·        Snack is provided by the parent and is a social time to talk and share.

At the end of the session, the teacher will meet the parents in the designated area and release the children one at a time to approved adults.  Each classroom is staffed by a state certified special education teacher, at least one instructional assistant, and supported by specialist such as speech/language therapist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, etc.

Communication

The preschool teachers utilize a variety of methods of communication. Students will be provided with a daily folder that goes back and forth daily. Additionally, the preschool teachers publish a monthly newsletter that is sent home with the students. There is also an opportunity for daily contact at drop off and dismissal and scheduled mid-year conferences and/or progress reports to foster communication.   

Participation

Children enter the preschool through two separate avenues: the town lottery or due to an identified special need. To enter your child in the lottery please fill out the necessary paperwork. Your child must be three years by the start of the school year to be eligible. The current deadline for completed lottery forms is Friday, February 29, 2008. The lottery will be drawn on Friday, March 6, 2008 for participation as a typical student for the 2008-2009 school year.

Pre-school Screening

The Sutton Public School uses screening as a mean of identifying any possible areas of need; the screening process is not connected to the lottery. The screening is a testing procedure that provides information about a child’s development and identifies possible areas of weakness. Trained personnel administer testing in the areas of: speech and language, fine motor, gross motor, and concept development. Children are asked to separate from their parent/guardian and continue into the preschool classroom with a teacher. On average the process lasts for an hour ending after the parent/guardian takes the child to the school nurse for a vision/hearing screening. Dates and times are posted throughout the year.

Tuition

Tuition is free to young children with special needs identified through the Special Education Team Evaluation Process.  Pre-School screening is often the beginning of the Special Education Team Evaluation Process.  Tuition for typical children is currently $130 month or $1300 for the ten-month program

*A non-refundable $50 deposit is required to secure your child’s place through the summer months and is part of your annual tuition.