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Early Steps Updates ~ February 10

2025

Early Steps Updates~ February 102025

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Principal Updates 13 - February 10, 2025

Dear Early Steps Community:


It continues to be a snow-full winter. Thank you for dressing your children in warm winter clothing including hats and gloves. As long as it is above 20 degrees, we try to ensure playground time for them. If your child is sick/symptomatic, kindly keep them home to recuperate and to limit the spread of winter illnesses. Presently, there are a lot of children with the flu and other winter-related illnesses. Much appreciated


As noted in prior newsletters, the Early Steps registration process for the 2025 - 2026 school year is on our webpage. The Application Period for the 2025 - 2026 school year is open January 27 through February 28, 2025. It is not on a first-come, first-served basis. The Application Period remains open for 4 weeks.

  • Returning students and siblings are given first priority, but the Application must be complete for ALL students.

The next date is on or before March 14th when a 'Confirmation of Placement & Next Steps is Sent to Parents/Families' via email. See more details in the newsletter below.

***

Next Dates of Import:

  • February 17 - 21, 2025 - NO SCHOOL February Break; Students return Monday, Feb. 24

  • February 26 - Early Release at 11:45 AM for Professional Development


Save the Date: the Kindergarten Information Night will take place at your respective neighborhood elementary school, and will be in-person on Wednesday, March 5th from 6:30 - 7:30 PM. For questions, please contact the elementary school office.


Keep each other well,

Dr. Theresa McGuinness

Principal

theresa.mcguinness@watertown.k12.ma.us


Every Child...Every Classroom...Every Day

Quick Resources: Early Steps Website (Under Construction)

WPS 2024 - 2025 School Year Calendar

1 Concord Road

Watertown, MA 02472

*** Important Arrival & Dismissal Notice ***

There is NO PARKING in the rear of the building at any time.

As the signage indicates, it is for staff parking and the receiving area, only. This morning during arrival, the congestion prevented Hosmer/Early Steps deliveries and caused unsafe congestion. As a reminder, this is the arrival and dismissal protocol:


Please be sure to drop off students in the Winthrop St.- Hancock St. circle between 7:50 - 8:00 AM only. Hosmer School buses start arriving at 8:00 AM. For all drop offs outside of that time, students must be accompanied by a caregiver to the front door following the articulated arrival/dismissal procedures shared in earlier Updates. If your child is tardy, you will need to sign your child in at the main office. Thanks

Upcoming Parent/Caregiver Conferences

The week that we return from February Break, teachers will send parents/caretakers information to sign up for one of these conference dates:


  • 3/6 Early Steps and Elementary Evening Parent Conferences
  • 3/7 Early Release Early Steps and Elementary Parent Conferences
  • 3/10 Early Steps and Elementary Evening Parent Conferences
  • 3/11 Early Release Early Steps and Elementary Parent Conferences

2025 - 2026 PreK & Preschool Application/Registration Information

Dear Early Steps Community:


The Application Period for the 2025 - 2026 school year is open January 27 through February 28, 2025. It is not on a first-come, first-served basis. The application period remains open for 4 weeks.

  • A lottery takes place following the application period, only if there are more requests than spaces.

  • Returning students and siblings are given first priority, but the Application must be complete for ALL students.

If you missed the Virtual Information Night on January 14th, or the In-Person Visiting Day for Caregivers of Prospective Students on January 22, you may want to review the information shared below.

  • Click the link for the slides presented at the January Early Steps Application/Registration Information Night.


The Early Steps Registration Information/Process for the 2025 - 2026 School Year including the Application Link is available on the Early Steps registration page. Here is the link to our webpage. The first day of school for all Preschool and PreK students is September 9, 2025.


  • Click here for the Application for your child to attend Pre Kindergarten (PreK) in the Fall, 2025.

  • Click here for the Application for your child to attend Preschool in the Fall, 2025.


For questions, please contact: Tricia D’Amelio, Administrative Assistant to the Principal

tricia.damelio@watertown.k12.ma.us

Summary of Previous Presentations

PreK

Universal PreK in the Watertown Public Schools is free. PreK is available for children who are 4 years old on or before August 31, 2025. The total enrollment of the PreK classes is up to 18 students with a teacher and at least one instructional assistant (IA).

  • The Application will allow you to prioritize your order of school/location preference, however, your student may be placed in any of the schools in Watertown depending on space availability.

PreK Available Schedules Include:

  1. At Cunniff, Hosmer, Lowell schools (Full-Day) - 5 days/week - 8:30 am - 2:30 pm

  2. At Early Steps (Full-Day) 5 days/week - 8:00 am - 2:00 pm

  3. At Early Steps (Partial-Day) 5 days/week - 8:00 am - 12:00 pm


***

Preschool

Preschool is available for children who are 3 years old on or before August 31, 2025

  • 7 Preschool Classrooms - All at Early Steps; *Tuition-Based (unless student has an IEP)

  • The total enrollment of the Preschool classes is up to 15 students with a teacher and at least one instructional assistant (IA).

Preschool Available Schedules Include: (Tuition below is based on the present 24-25 school year, but will likely change.)

  1. 3-days/week - 8:00 am - 12:00 pm ($413/month)

  2. 5-days/week - 8:00 am - 1:00 pm ($860/month)

  3. 5-days/week - 8:00 am - 12:00 pm ($688/month)


*The Superintendent will share the updated Tuition Rates for the 2025 - 2026 school year by the end of February, and I will post the information on our webpage and in my newsletter.

Kindergarten Information Night will take place on Wednesday, March 5th, from 6:30-7:30 pm. It will be an in-person event. Caregivers should attend the information session at their respective neighborhood school. Any questions should be directed to the main office of your neighborhood elementary school or email the contact below. All are welcome to attend. Children who are registered for Kindergarten must turn 5 years old by August 31, 2025. Elementary School Locations:


Note from Our Superintendent, Dr. Galdston, About 'ParentSquare'

Hello WPS community,


We are very excited to announce the launch of our brand new school-to-family communications platform: ParentSquare. ParentSquare is an app and online portal that provides families with a new way to stay connected with your student’s school. This platform will contain all school-related information and notifications in one convenient location.


ParentSquare offers a number of features, including:

  • Alerts: School-wide announcements and notifications sent directly to your phone.
  • Two-way communication: Parents can send and receive direct messages with teachers and administrators.
  • Participation and sign-up capabilities: RSVP for events, schedule conferences, permission slips, and more.
  • Secure document delivery: safely and securely receive student-related documents and information.


An email has been sent to you with sign-up information. ParentSquare will be one of the primary forms of communication between your child’s school and you, so it is important that you complete this sign-up.

The sign-up information is also included below.

To sign up for ParentSquare:

  1. Download the free ParentSquare app for iOS or Android (available in the App Store or Google Play)
  2. Login with your email or phone number registered with Watertown Public Schools
  3. Begin exploring the ParentSquare app!


When you are successfully signed up for ParentSquare, please select two key preferences to ensure a smooth user experience.


  • Under your account settings, please select your language preferences
  • ParentSquare offers more than 100 language options
  • Under your account settings, please select your notification preferences
  • Select whether you would like to receive non-urgent ParentSquare notifications via email, text, and the ParentSquare app.
  • The ParentSquare app also offers two notification settings: instant and digest.
  • The instant setting will send you a notification whenever a post is made on ParentSquare
  • The digest setting will send you a once-a-day notification gathering all the day’s posts on ParentSquare
  • Please note that any urgent notifications will be sent to your phone regardless of your notification preferences.


All of us at Watertown Public Schools are excited to launch this new platform. Please do not hesitate to reach out should you have any questions.


Thank you,

Dede Galdston, Superintendent of Schools

Community News

Some Important Dates

  • February 17 - 21, 2025 - NO SCHOOL February Break

  • February 26 - Early Release at 11:45 AM for Professional Development

  • March 5 - Kindergarten Information Night 6:30 - 7:30 PM @elementary schools

For Reference ~ Past Principal Newsletters

Early Steps Contacts

Early Steps Early Childhood Center

1 Concord St.

Watertown, Ma 02472

Phone: 1-617-926-7765


Principal - Dr. Theresa McGuinness

theresa.mcguinness@watertown.k12.ma.us


Administrative Assistant - Tricia D’Amelio

Tricia.DAmelio@watertown.k12.ma.us


Special Education Team Chair- Ilana Sommer

ilana.sommer@watertown.k12.ma.us


Nurse - Kaitlyn Reynolds

kaitlyn.reynolds@watertown.k12.ma.us
Theresa McGuinness
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