ASHFIELD, MA — A Sanderson Academy custom has been to hold a “boo-hoo” breakfast for new kindergartners and their parents on the starting day of school; so Wednesday, the first day of preschool, the PTO held a “boo-hoo reception” for preschoolers and their parents. The reception had all the fixin’s but one: no tears on this first day — “at least not for the children,” remarked early education coordinator Kate Dwyer.
This week, about 40 children between the ages of 3 and 5 will be coming to school at Sanderson, into two sunny new classrooms furnished with new preschool-sized chairs, tables, giant Legos and homemade play-dough. The preschoolers even have their own coat room, and restrooms furnished with small sinks and toilets.
This is the first year that preschool is offered at Sanderson and, as part of the Mohawk Trail Regional School District, the half-day preschool program is free for all students living within the district.
Two new preschool teachers were hired to run the program, which school officials hope will ultimately be a boost for all the district’s elementary schools.
