The Freetown/Lakeville Early Childhood Center is now accepting applications for 3-year-old community role model peers for the 2024/2025 school year!
Role Model Criteria: Children must be residents of Freetown/Lakeville and turn age 3 between September 1, 2023 and August 31, 2024. In addition, families of community peer role model students must provide transportation to and from preschool and pay tuition quarterly. Tuition assistance forms are available to eligible families at the Special Education Office located at 98 Howland Road, Lakeville, MA 02347. For further questions, please contact the Special Education Office at (508) 923-2000 x1712.
The Integrated Preschool Program located at Freetown Elementary School is designed to meet the needs of preschool-aged children who are residents of Freetown or Lakeville and require Special Education services. Peer role models are an essential element of the integrated preschool experience, as role model students provide children who require Special Education services the opportunity to learn skills from typically developing peers through strategically designed lessons, games, and activities.
Qualities that make an excellent community peer role model include:
*able to separate from parents
*follows directions from adults/teachers
*speaks clearly and models language for others
*shares, cooperates, is helpful and able to takes turns
*independent with self-help skills (i.e. toileting)
*can play in and accommodate to new social situations
*has age-appropriate developmental skills
*can work well in groups as well as alone
*engages in classroom activities
*transitions with flexibility to new environments/activities
The Integrated Preschool Classes at Freetown Elementary run 4 days/week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:15am-11:45am (for the 3-year-old program) and 12:45pm-3:15pm (for the 4-year-old program).
The registration packet & role model questionnaire is available on the district’s website at www.freelake.org or click here to go directly to the packet. For a hard copy, please visit Assawompset Elementary School, Freetown Elementary School, or the Superintendent's Office. Interested parents should drop off completed registration packets and questionnaires between January 22, 2024 and February 17, 2024 during the following times: 8:30-9am or 9:30-12:30pm. Afternoon appointments for drop-off can be scheduled by e-mailing Meredith Foye, Special Education Administrator, at mfoye@freelake.org. All children who apply will be scheduled for an in-person role model screening held in March of 2024. Following the in-person screening, parents will be notified in writing whether or not their child has been accepted into the program.