WESTFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS OFFERING EXPANDED PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAM

The Westfield Public School District is offering an expanded Pre-K Program for the coming school year that will accept a limited number of tuition-based three-year old Westfield children.  Westfield children who are three years old on or before October 1, 2010 will be eligible for the program.

According to Matt Bolton, Interim Principal at Lincoln School and Assistant Principal at Roosevelt Intermediate School, he and Lincoln Principal Audrey Zavetz have developed a program that will serve the needs of both special education and regular education pre-schoolers five morning sessions a week at Lincoln's Early Childhood Learning Center.  Classes will begin at 8:45 AM and will conclude at 11:15 AM. 

The school, which was specially designed and renovated for Westfield's youngest learners, currently holds regular education classes for kindergarten children as well as pre-school and transitional kindergarten classes for children with special needs.  The expanded program for three year olds was conceived after visiting similar ones in Summit and other districts and in researching studies citing benefits of children in developing these relationships.

Regular education enrollment will be limited to 8 students and will be determined by lottery, if necessary. Applications, which are available at Lincoln's Early Childhood Learning Center, 728 Westfield Avenue, are due by June 23.  Applicants will be notified of their status by June 30.  For further information, please call Lincoln School's Early Childhood Learning Center at 908-789-4455.

The extended pre-school program, called Lincoln Cubs, will offer a student/parent orientation on Thursday, September 2, with the first day of classes commencing on Friday, September 3, 2010.