Pupil Services » Inclusive Preschool Program

Inclusive Preschool Program

 

Learning Tree Inclusive Preschool Program

 

The Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School District offers Inclusive Preschool Classroom Programs for children, ages 3-4 who require special education services, and those who do not. Inclusion in preschool refers to including children with disabilities in early childhood programs together with their community peers without disabilities, holding high expectations and intentionally promoting participation in all learning and social activities facilitated by individualized accommodations and using evidence-based services and supports to foster child development in the areas of cognition, language, communication, physical, behavioral, and social-emotional, as well as fostering friendships with peers, and an overall sense of belonging. 
 
Instruction for all children is developmentally appropriate and aligned with the Massachusetts Guidelines for Preschool Early Learning Standards.
 
AWRSD has Inclusive Preschool Programming located at both the John R. Briggs Elementary School in Ashburnham and the Meetinghouse School in Westminster. Students attend preschool in their town of residence. 
 
Preschool begins on Tuesday, September 3rd for the 2 day morning program, the 4 day afternoon program and the 4.5 day program and on Wednesday, September 4th for the 3 day morning program. 

Please join us on Thursday, August 29th for an open house. Open house will be an opportunity for you and your child to meet their teacher, explore the classroom and learn about the exciting experiences they will have in preschool this year! Please plan on attending according to the schedule below based on the program your child will be attending. This will allow your child to also meet some of their peers.
    • 9am-9:30am for students entering the 2 day morning program at Meetinghouse or J.R. Briggs
    • 9:30am-10am for students entering the 3 day morning program at Meetinghouse or J.R. Briggs
    • 10am-10:30am for students entering the 4 day afternoon program at Meetinghouse or J.R.Briggs
    • 10am-10:30am for students entering the 4.5 day program at Meetinghouse School 
 

Application and Lottery Process for Community Peers
 
Applications are now available for Learning Tree Preschool community peers for the 2025-2026 school year.  You may only apply to the school where you reside.  Applications are available on our enrollment page.

 
The deadline to be considered as a community peer is Friday, April 18, 2025.


If there are more applicants than slots available for community peers in the preschool program, a lottery will be held. Should a lottery be necessary, it will be held on Monday, April 28th. Families will be notified by Wednesday, April 30th if their child is accepted into the program.  Siblings of 2025-2026 school year Learning Tree students shall receive priority for admission if there are slots available.

 

**Due to circumstances beyond our control, the lottery will not be held until the week of May 5th.  We apologize for any inconveniences.**


A wait list will be maintained once program capacity has been reached.


For questions regarding the preschool program contact Chelsey Cardinal, [email protected]. If you have difficulty with the application, please contact [email protected].
 
Please direct questions about the preschool program to Chelsey Cardinal at [email protected]
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