Natick Preschool
Your Weekly Update from Natick Preschool
Principal's Message
Preschool Progress Reports
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Throughout this school year, your child will be introduced to many new and exciting skills. Please remember that during these important preschool years, each child is unique and develops at his/her rate of growth. A child may accomplish certain skills quickly, while taking more time to master others. In addition, a skill mastered may be set aside and not regularly observed again until much later. This is normal and expected. Children gain new skills when they are developmentally ready. We hope this progress report gives you some insight into your child’s ever changing growth and development. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to speak with your child’s teacher.
Your child’s progress represents these following areas:
- Social/Emotional and Self-Help/Life Skills:
This area of development focuses on a child’s ability to be responsible, independent, and in their ability to follow rules and routines. It also includes pro-social behaviors, such as their ability to share, take turns, and seek help when needed. This area is essential to a children’s wellbeing and their success in school and in life.
- Physical Development (Fine and Gross Motor Skills):
This area addresses a child’s gross motor and fine motor skills. It involves the body’s large muscles, for jumping, hopping, etc., and the coordination and dexterity of small muscles in the hands to manipulate objects such as scissors and writing tools. As children learn what their bodies can do, they gain self-confidence.
- Cognitive Development:
Cognitive Development is the process of learning to think, reason, and the ability to make choices. The goals of this area includes children’s ability to resolve conflicts, make predictions, sort, classify, count, measure, etc. and their ability to use their imaginations. This area fosters children’s critical thinking skills, as well as their academic skills.
- Language Development:
A child’s ability to use language, participate in conversations, and express oneself are important components of oral language development. This area of development also includes a child’s ability to understand the purpose of print, the knowledge of letters as symbols, and the importance of literacy. A solid foundation in language development gives children the skills they need to become successful learners.
As you read your child’s progress report, please keep in mind that there is a broad range of development in young children, as all children develop differently and at different rates. If you are interested in learning more about the preschool learning standards in the state of Massachusetts, please visit Natick Preschool’s website. In closing, thank you for sharing your child’s early childhood experience with us. We truly appreciate being part of your journey.
How to Access Your Preschooler's Progress Report.
Warm Regards,
MaryBethMaryBeth Kinkead, M. Ed.
Principal, Natick Preschool
===================================================================================
You are invited to the Preschool to Kindergarten Special Education Transition Night
Presented By:
Elementary Special Education Coordinators:
Hannah Cross (Bennett Hemenway), Nevart Mikaelian (Lilja), Sophie Prevost (Memorial), Maria Reardon (Johnson), Paul Tagliapietra (Brown) and
MaryBeth Kinkead, Natick Preschool Principal
The following topics will be presented:
Service Delivery, Continuum of Services and Supports, Elementary school day overview,
Role of the Case Manager and more!
Where: Virtual Presentation
PreK - K Special Ed Transition Night
Monday, January 30, 2023 · 6:00 – 7:00pm
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/xah-jkbf-znk
Or dial: (US) +1 413-752-1142 PIN: 493 953 415#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/xah-jkbf-znk?pin=2119816378625
Who should attend: All parents/guardians of incoming Kindergarten students who receive special education services.
Important Things to Know!
Many families have reached out trying to better understand how to support their child when they are demonstrating behaviors that aren't easily calmed or redirected. This is just one of many resources. In addition, many pediatrician's offices have begun to build into their practices Behavioral Health or Family Support services. Please share with any family you know struggling to understand or support a child demonstrating behavior that is hard to manage.
January 3rd marked the official launch of 25 Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHC) across the state, with Advocates operating these clinics in Framingham and Waltham. Attached please find a brochure describing these new crisis, urgent, and routine mental health and substance use services for people of all ages.
Danielle Dunn, LMHC | Vice President of Integrated Clinical Services
Pronouns: her, hers, she
M (508-309-0665)
ddunn@Advocates.org | www.Advocates.org
Emerging Literacy: Prior to learning to read, children listen to stories being told and read to them. Listening helps them to build a framework for stories which will ultimately help them to read on their own. When students listen to stories for 5 - 10 minutes per day, they are exposed to 300,000 to 900,000 words per school year which includes plenty of vocabulary that helps them understand the world around them. Many families will use story time as part of the bedtime routine since it is a calming activity. Whenever you choose to read aloud to your child, choose books that interest them and feel welcome to read them repetitively (tiresome for a grown-up, but very stimulating for a child!) When you are reading you can stop occasionally and ask questions:
Who is in the book (if child can’t answer verbally, point to the character and ask Who is this? Or ask them to point to “who” is in the book.)
Where are they? (if child can’t answer verbally, point to surroundings and ask Are they in a house? Are they outside? etc.Or ask them to point to “where” the book takes place.)
What are they doing?
What did you like about this book?
Natick Preschool 2023-2024
Through district-wide planning for next school year, it has been determined that there will not be any preschool classroom offerings at Lilja School and Memorial School for the 2023 - 2024 school year due to an increase in K-4 enrollment designated for those schools. For the 2023 - 2024 school year, we will maintain classrooms at Natick High School (15 West Street), East School (90 Oak Street) and we are excited to be adding a new classroom location at Bennett-Hemenway School (22 East Evergreen Rd). Natick Preschool families who attend preschool at Lilja and Memorial and have expressed interest in returning next year will be notified of their classroom locations soon. Teacher assignments are finalized later in the spring.
Our adult brains plan many months in advance, however, young learner brains still operate on a day to day basis. Even though we as teachers and parents are planning and preparing for next year, our interactions with the children can remain very focused on the here and now. We look forward to the many more months of learning we have together this year!
As always, please feel welcome to reach out with any questions. ~MaryBeth
- Reminder for Parents Who Want to Volunteer--CORI Checks
Reminder If you want to volunteer in schools, you must have a CORI check conducted and you must go into the building with identification (drivers license or passport) to do this. Click here for description of what a CORI check is and does. Without a CORI check, you cannot volunteer in the school. Here is the form to fill out for a CORI. Preschool volunteer opportunities include being a Mystery Reader for the class, presenting a family tradition and supporting special projects.
- With the spread of the Flu, SARS, and COVID, we ask that you take the necessary health and safety precautions to be mindful of your fellow families and your child’s teachers. Remember, we are a flexible mask culture, if you have been exposed we encourage you to please wear a mask. If you have sick kids, we encourage you to stay home as well. Take the time you need to heal yourself or your family.
Social Emotional Learning and Independence
Support Social Emotional Learning and Independence at home using the same language and systems we use at school
Handwashing at Home video
Schedules, Visuals, Daily Living and Social Emotional Learning These can help!
Make Clean-Up Fun Gracie's corner clean up song
What is the Preschool Flip?
Fleece! Jackets! Chilly weather calls for additional layers. Use the linked video to practice the Preschool Flip to build your child's independence putting on a jacket. They will be so proud of themselves and you will have your hands free for extra hugs!
How To Use PBIS at Home complete with printable red birds (don’t have a printer? Have your child make some red birds or choose what household item you can use to represent completion of a task.)
Quick Links
Speak Up, Natick!
Send us your questions or ideas via Speak Up, Natick!
Bullying Incident Report
Use this form to report a bullying incident.
Student Support
PowerSchool Support
Technology Support
COVID-19 Updates
View the latest COVID-19 updates from NPS.
- Title I: Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990Title II
- Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990Title VI
- Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964Title IX
- Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
- MGL, Ch.76, Section 5: Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 76, Section 5