Welcome Letter

Dear Project Support Community,

Welcome to Project Support Integrated Preschool! Whether you're new to our school or a returning student, we're excited to have you join us. I'm thrilled to start my second year as the director of the program. I know it will be another fantastic adventure, and I'm honored that you and your child are part of our preschool community.

On behalf of all the wonderful educators at Project Support, I want to thank you for sharing and trusting us to educate your most precious treasures. I am honored to lead such a wonderful group of dedicated and caring early childhood educators. It's hard to believe that August is already here, and the new school year is just around the corner. We're eager to create positive learning experiences for our youngest learners that are safe, engaging, welcoming, and nurturing.

Looking forward to working with you and your child this school year!

Katie Castriano

Teacher assignment emails were sent out last week. If you did not receive an email please reach out to the preschool office at (978) 528-8597.

Orientation day will be on Friday, September 6th. Each class will have a 45-minute time slot for students to visit their classroom and meet their teachers and classmates. Parents and guardians will have the opportunity to ask questions, meet the staff, and ensure that all necessary registration paperwork is complete.

Due to limited parking, we kindly ask that only one vehicle per family come to orientation.

Please click the link below to view the orientation schedule:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SQIbtWLKuWpoznNxdYGrMii1fatUfxCaJI3akkOfyQo/edit?usp=sharing

Project Support Preschool @ Parker Elementary School

Teachers: Noelle O'Loughlin, Rachel Venuti, and Kristyn May

Paraprofessionals: Monique Horsman, Cara Glennon, Elena Bellino, Kimberly Gould, and Riley Hillis

Project Support Preschool @ Billerica Memorial High School

Teachers: Jocelyn Dionne, Hannah Donovan, Tricia Enos, Sarah Fairweather, Melissa Jones, Julie Harrington, Kelly Lachance, Sherry Livsey, and Nancy Sands

Paraprofessionals: Emma Bongiovanni, Lorrie Chiappetta, Kimberly Dulong, Lauren Durkin, Theresa Ferri, Oliva Fucci, Susan Pelletier, Deanna McGinness, Janet Martini, Elizabeth Norman, Jessi Rigazio, Cynthia Rich, Richelle Tiberi, Christina Wright, Brenda Zullo, Rupwatee Khemraj, Mary Nickerson, Deirdre Hardy, Leanne Mathews, Tricia Lane Mariah Ortega and Laura Mehigan.

Team Chairperson: Amy Deyoung- (978) 528-2680

Program Secretary: Judi Conway- (978) 528- 8597

School Nurse: Kathleen Perry- (978) 528- 8595

School Nurse @ Parker School: Erin Burcham (978) 528-8620

Speech Therapists: Jaclene Forlano, Jennifer McCaffrey, Sophie Carbone, Kaylin Barnes

Social Worker: Megan McGreenery

Occupational Therapist: Kerri Joseph and Kelly Kerber

Physical Therapist: Kimberly Joseph

BCBA: Jessica Marino

RBTs: Jordyn Knox, Cheryl Morrissey, Ann-Jennifer Laquidara

❑ A backpack labeled with your child’s name

❑ A healthy snack, including a drink

❑ A change of clothes to be left at school, including socks, underwear, shirt, and

pants. Clothes should be in a resealable bag labeled with your child’s name.

Children should dress suitable for the weather and activities. You can expect

your child to engage in “messy” activities that, despite smocks, can get clothes

dirty. We do not want to inhibit any child unnecessarily, so we ask that you send

your child in comfortable clothes that he/she can play in without concern.

❑ Diapers, wet wipes, and plastic bags.

Please provide the following for your child:

❑ A backpack labeled with your child’s name.

❑ A healthy snack, including a drink and napkin in a bag labeled with your child’s name.

❑ A lunch including a drink, napkin, and utensils in a separate bag labeled with your child’s

name.

❑ A change of clothes to be left at school, including socks, underwear, shirt, and pants. Clothes

should be in a resealable bag labeled with your child’s name. Children should dress suitable

for the weather and activities. You can expect your child to engage in “messy” activities that,

despite smocks, can get clothes dirty. We do not want to inhibit any child unnecessarily, so we

ask that you send your child in comfortable clothes that he/she can play in without concern.

❑ Diapers, wet wipes, and plastic bags, if needed.

*All belongings should be labeled with your child’s name. This is important in determining

ownership of these items. It is also important in helping your child to take care of his/her

belongings, an essential preschool skill!

*Toys and personal belongings should not be brought to school unless the teacher has

requested certain items.

Friday, September 6th- Preschool Orientation (see schedule via the link above)

Monday, September 9th- First Day of School for Preschool Students

Tuesday September 17th- Early Release Day: 11:00 Dismissal

Integrated Half-Day Program:

Morning Session 9:00-11:30

Afternoon Session 12:30-3:00

Full-Day Programs: 9:00-2:00- Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays

9:00-12:00 on Wednesdays

Early Release Days: 11:00 dismissal

Arrival & Dismissal: Parents/guardians should park in the designated Project Support numbered spaces 213-263. Children will enter/exit the building at the preschool door under the overhang. Arrival will begin 10 minutes before the session begins at 8:50 and 12:20 each day. Dismissal will begin at 11:20, 11:50 (Wednesdays only), 1:50 or 2:50.

Parking: We ask parents to use the drop-off loop off Parker Street to alleviate confusion and congestion at arrival and dismissal. *Please see BPS Policy on vehicle idling on pg 12. Safety, as always, is our highest concern.

Arrival: All parents/guardians are to arrive at 8:50 a.m. for the Morning Session and 12:20 p.m. for the Afternoon Session. Please enter via Parker Street and follow the road keeping the field on your right (shown below in green). You may park along the side of the road next to the field however you should not enter the traffic circle in the front of the building. The traffic circle in the front of the building is for vans and buses only. Please park and walk your child to door 11. You may also park in the parking lot and walk to door 11. Children will be greeted by staff at door 11 which is near the gymnasium side of the building.

Dismissal: All parents/guardians are to arrive at 11:20 a.m. for dismissal of the Morning Session, and at 3:00 p.m. for the Afternoon Session. Since the elementary students are dismissed at 2:45, preschool dismissal for the afternoon session will begin at 3:00 pm. Please be prompt as your child will be looking for you.

Please follow the same procedure noted above as it relates to parking. All parents/guardians who are picking up students are asked to park and then walk to door 11 and wait along the exterior brick wall. During this time, the elementary school should be wrapping up dismissal, and the area can become crowded. Classroom teachers will walk the students outside, and once the teacher sees the designated adult, they will dismiss the student.

Please do not enter the traffic circle in the front of the building at any time (shown in red below). This area is for buses and vans only. You can not park in the circle and you can not pass through that area.

Students coming to Project Support to receive only related services should be on-time for their scheduled weekly appointment. Please check in once you arrive at the main office. Parents/guardians can wait in the main office until the session is completed.

To help reduce our environmental impact, we encourage electronic communication whenever possible.

Monthly Newsletter: You'll receive a monthly electronic newsletter containing school events and curriculum updates. Please read this newsletter to stay informed.

Class Dojo: All our classrooms will use Class Dojo as a communication platform. Teachers will provide more details at orientation. I'll also use Dojo for reminders, announcements, and whole-school activities. Please join your child's classroom page using the access code provided by your teacher.

Hard Copies: If you don't have access to a computer, please inform the office, and we'll send a hard copy of the newsletter home with your child.

Important Messages: In case of emergencies or last-minute messages regarding changes in dismissal, please contact the main office. Teachers may not always check Class Dojo or email during school hours.

We look forward to a happy healthy year with your preschoolers. As a reminder, students entering Pre-K must have a physical (school health form) and immunizations within 13 months of the start of school. Please email this to your school nurse or send it via your student's backpack in an envelope addressed "To Nurse". Please refer to the Project Support Handbook, which can be found on our website, https://www.billericak12.com/schools/project-support-preschool for important information regarding keeping your child home due to illness, dismissal for illness, medication administration, and food allergies in school. Please call your school nurse for any questions or concerns Kathleen Perry, RN 978-528-8595 (HS location) and Erin Burcham, RN 978-528-8620 (Parker location).

We understand this welcome letter has a lot of information. Hopefully, it's answered some of your questions and eased any worries. Our teachers do a phenomenal job communicating with you all year long. We are here to support you and your child. Please feel free to contact me via email at kcastriano@billericak12.com with any questions or concerns you may have throughout the school year. I can also be reached by contacting the main office at (978) 528-8597. We look forward to a wonderful school year!