2014-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Kenneth C. Coombs School preschool and Program,screenings,outreach to families,and several kindergarten programs have received their renewal workshops were provided for all incoming from National Association for the Education of Young preschoolers and their families. Julie Hall,our CFCE Children(NAEYC). NAEYC accreditation represents Coordinator,continues to dedicate herself to providing the mark of quality in early childhood education. To programs that strengthen Mashpee families. Julie made achieve NAEYC accreditation, early childhood available a workshop series with various parenting education programs volunteer to be measured against specialist who shared their wisdom on many typical the most robust and rigorous national standards on parenting challenges faced by parents daily. Many education, health and safety. NAEYC accredited families benefited from the literacy programs for babies programs invest in early childhood education because and toddlers she co-sponsored with the Mashpee Public they believe in the benefits to children and families. Library. Through the CFCE Grant,Julie coordinated Early childhood experiences,from birth to age 8,have regular science,music,and cultural events for children an enormous impact on children's lifelong learning, preschool through age 8. and positively contribute to their health and development. Early childhood education programs The Coombs School sponsored many Countdown with the mark of quality benefit children with greater to Kindergarten activities through the Quality Full-Day readiness for and success in school. NAEYC Kindergarten Grant such as Build Your Own Lunch accreditation has been,and continues to be,the mark of literacy event for incoming families,as well as several quality in early childhood education. The Kindergarten parent/child workshops throughout the school year. grants we receive from the State require us to maintain This grant also provided funding for Kindergarten NAEYC accreditation standards. classroom paraprofessionals. Parents had the opportunity to participate in activities as part of the Additionally, The Massachusetts Department of Countdown to Kindergarten Program. Most notable Early Education and Care required that we participate was our annual Step Up to Kindergarten Program, in Quality Rating & Improvement System (QRIS). which educated families on everything they needed to QRIS is a four-step program(similar to NAEYC but at know about the upcoming Kindergarten year. This was the State level, rather than National level) to assess, conveyed through a panel presentation from staff and a improve,and communicate the level of quality in early media presentation created by Kindergarten Teachers, care and education. The QRIS standards are grounded Tim Souza and Carolyn Swift. This program was in child development principles and practices that are highly effective in assisting parents/guardians and strongly linked to effective,high quality education and children make the fust transition to school. Countdown care. Our preschool provided evidence of quality in to Kindergarten Program also presented the Big Yellow the areas of Curriculum and Leaming; Safe, Healthy Bus, where incoming Kindergarten students had an Indoor and Outdoor Environments; Workforce opportunity to take a short ride on the school bus, Qualifications and Professional Development; Family participate in arts and crafts activities,and have an ice and Community Engagement; Leadership, cream sundae at the end of the evening. Many First Management and Administration; and Family and Day Friends activities throughout the summer allowed Community Engagement. We have now passed level these students and their families to become acquainted two of QRIS and will be working toward level three with the school community. Many of these activities next year. State funded preschool grants require us to are held in conjunction with Mashpee Coordinated participate in QRIS and maintain QRIS standards. Family and Community Engagement(MCFE),as well as with the Mashpee Public Library,and we thank them This year,our preschool program accommodated for their support. one three-day program,one two-day program,and two Monday through Thursday morning and afternoon Both Math Night and Science Night were integrated preschool sessions, for children age 3 attended by many families, and served to highlight through 5 years old. activities and projects created by our students. Recognition Day took place in individual classrooms Next year, we will be expanding our program to acknowledging each student's accomplishment, while provide a pilot preschool program to all Mashpee four- an assembly was held for students who achieved year-old children to better prepare them for perfect attendance awards, and first and second place Kindergarten. Through the Coombs School and the Good Manners certificates. Coordinated Family and Community Engagement 121