MPS Preschool Services and Programs
Preschool Screening
MPS offers monthly screenings for preschool children ages 3 to 5. If you have concerns about your child’s development and want to make an appointment to have your child screened, please contact Suzanne MacEachern @ 781-393-2381.
Available Preschool Programs
McGlynn Preschool
Roberts Preschool
Make Way for Kids Preschool
489 Winthrop Street
Medford, MA 02155
781-393-2210
Make Way for Kids Preschool is a truly unique experience. Along with two DEO licensed and EEC certified teachers, the preschool is also a learning lab for vocational and high school students. The students are involved with assisting the preschoolers as well as developing and executing age appropriate, theme-based curriculum that is always supervised and approved by the teachers. The preschoolers enjoy playing with a team leader (vocational and high school students) as well as making friends with other preschoolers. Our preschool time is filled with various activities such as free choice center time, organized circle time, arts & craft activity, snack time and gross motor skill activities.
Mission Statement
The mission of Make Way for Kids Preschool is to provide a high quality preschool environment involving high school students and parents. We strongly believe in a warm, loving and comfortable safe environment where children can learn through play. Our goal is to develop their skills, friendships and work towards building on their self-confidence and independence.
Philosophy
Childcare is a growing profession today. A preschool teacher is a special person in a child’s life as they master skills, develop friendships, grow in independence and move to new levels of thinking and understanding their world.
Instruction is geared toward nurturing a child’s physical, social, emotional and intellectual growth in a child development framework. Course work is practiced in our preschool Make Way for Kids. Competent caregivers must demonstrate personal qualities of flexibility, positive style or communicating with your children, a sincere love of children and a very positive attitude.
Make Way for Kids Preschool offers two sessions. Our morning session is for four year olds. It is offered three days a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 a.m.to 11:30 a.m. Our afternoon session is for three year olds. It is offered two days a week on Tuesday and Thursday from 12:25 p.m.to 2:20 p.m.
Please contact 781-393-2210 to make an appointment to experience the Make Way for Kids Preschool.
Medford Early Education Program
Located at Medford High School and in 2 elementary school buildings, the Medford Public Schools Early Education Program (MEEP) recognizes that the primary goal of early childhood education is to promote independence, self-confidence, self-esteem, and an enthusiasm for learning. These qualities are essential to future educational success.
MEEP is designed to provide children with a safe, secure and nurturing environment in which children can learn about themselves, each other, and the world around them. The curriculum utilizes a developmental approach based on well-established principles of development. It addresses the whole child in areas including the development of cognition, communication, language, social interaction, play skills, motor abilities, and self-help skills. Children are encouraged and taught to make choices among a range of activities, especially those that are based on their own interests and experiences.
The daily schedule is intended to balance indoor and outdoor periods, active and quiet times, and small group, individual, and whole group activities. The curriculum offers children opportunities for experience with paint, clay, water, sand, blocks, puzzles, a wide variety of manipulative, music, movement, books, dramatic play, and cooking to name a few.
A major component of the preschool program is to help children develop positive self-esteem and an enjoyment of learning. Much emphasis is placed on the child’s capacity to develop and enjoy friendships, to begin to learn to resolve conflicts, and to learn respect for the feeling, ideas, and differences of others. The program values each child’s unique abilities and facilitates development at a pace and level consistent with each child’s ability.
MEEP is an integrated preschool setting that serves children who are ages 3 through 5 and not yet eligible for kindergarten. There are up to 15 children in each class. Eight children are developing typically and 7 have been identified with special needs. Each class has a teacher, at least 2 other staff members, and therapists. Some classrooms also have high school interns.
Program Options
- 3 days 11:50 a.m. to 2:05 p.m. @ Medford High School (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday)
- 4 days 11:50 a.m. to 2:05 a.m. @ Medford High School (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday)
- 5 days 9:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. @ Medford High School and an elementary school to be determined
- 5 days 9:00 a.m. to 2:05 p.m. @ an elementary school to be determined
MEEP has spots still available for School Year 2012-2013. The program is designed for children who are ages 3 through 5 and not yet eligible for Kindergarten. Before you fill out an application, you must register your child at the Parent Information Center at Medford High School. You may obtain an application form when you register or you can click here to download the application form, fill out, and send to Suzanne MacEachern at MEEP, Medford High School, 489 Winthrop Street, Medford, MA 02155. If you choose to download the form, you must still register your child at the Parent Information Center before we can accept your child. For more information about MEEP, email Suzanne MacEachern: smaceachern@medford.k12.ma.us.