The Weekly Update #1

Preschool Families,

As we wrap up the school year, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you for a wonderful year of learning, growth, play, and partnership. It has been such a joy to watch our students build friendships, try new things, develop new skills, and bring so much curiosity and joy into our classrooms each day.

We are grateful for the trust you place in us and for the many ways you support your children and our preschool community. One of the things I value most about our preschool is the opportunity to be a community that offers resources, connection, and support as families navigate the first steps of public school and the Natick Public Schools.

As I take some time this summer to reflect on the year, enjoy a bit of a break with my own family, and begin setting goals for the year ahead, your feedback is incredibly important. We want to continue offering supports, communication, and engagement opportunities that are helpful, meaningful, and tailored to the needs of our families. Thank you in advance for taking a few minutes to complete this brief feedback form: End of the Year Family Feedback Form

I wish all of our families a wonderful summer filled with rest, family fun, outdoor adventures, simple moments, and special memories together. I look forward to welcoming many of you back next year, and send our very best wishes to those moving on to new adventures!

Warmly,
Cori

This year, through our School Council, parents in the community have been an invaluable support in the work toward establishing a Preschool PTO in response to family feedback requesting additional opportunities for connection and community-building beyond school-based events. We are grateful to the families who have already expressed interest and support for this work. As we move into the 2026-2027 school year, we are still looking for parents/caregivers who would like to be involved.

We have a need for parents/caregivers that are interested in/willing to get involved at any level: to formalize a PTO, we need volunteers to take on roles that range in commitment from Vice President to Commitee member. These roles must be identified to formalize a Preschool Parent-Teacher Organization. If you are interested in becoming involved or have experience with nonprofit organizations, PTO leadership, fundraising, or community engagement, please reach out to founding president Mary Miller at marycrocetti83@gmail.com. Thank you!

Summer is almost here! While we often hear the phrase “summer slide” used for older students, preschool learning looks a little different. For young children, the best way to keep skills growing is not through worksheets or long practice sessions. It is through play, conversation, movement, books, routines, sensory exploration, and meaningful everyday experiences.

The good news is that families do not need to “recreate school” at home. Preschoolers learn best when they are actively engaged, connected to caring adults, and given opportunities to try, wonder, move, talk, create, and problem-solve. Some of the strongest learning moments happen during ordinary summer routines: cooking together, visiting the library, counting shells, sorting laundry, building with blocks, reading before bed, helping water plants, or negotiating who gets the next turn with the sprinkler.

Five Simple Ways to Keep Learning Going This Summer

1. Read together every day, even for a few minutes.
Shared reading builds vocabulary, listening, comprehension, attention, and connection. Let your child choose books, reread favorites, talk about pictures, and “read” by retelling the story in their own words. Looking at pictures, turning pages, pretending to read, and retelling familiar stories are all important early literacy skills.

Try asking:
“What do you think will happen next?”
“How do you think the character feels?”
“What was your favorite part?”

2. Find math in real life.
Early math is about thinking, noticing, comparing, and problem-solving—not worksheets. Count snacks, compare towers, sort rocks, make patterns with sidewalk chalk, measure ingredients, or ask, “Who has more?” Preschoolers build early numeracy through counting with meaning, comparing, estimating, noticing patterns, and using math language during everyday routines.

Try saying:
“Let’s count how many steps it takes to get to the mailbox.”
“Which cup has more water?”
“You made a red-blue-red-blue pattern!”

3. Make play the main event.
Play is still the most important “work” of preschoolers. Through play, children build language, self-regulation, creativity, social problem-solving, motor skills, and flexible thinking. Blocks, pretend play, outdoor exploration, dress-up clothes, boxes, water play, and art materials all invite children to plan, test ideas, negotiate, and try again.

Try creating:
A pretend restaurant, car wash, vet clinic, grocery store, construction site, ice cream stand, or campground.

4. Build independence into daily routines.
Summer often gives children extra time to practice doing things “all by myself.” Encourage your child to help pack a bag, open containers, put on shoes, clean up toys, wash hands, choose clothes, or help with simple household jobs. These small tasks build confidence, persistence, coordination, and readiness for school routines.

Try saying:
“I’ll wait while you try.”
“You worked hard on that.”
“What could you try next?”

5. Keep supporting big feelings.
Summer changes can be exciting, but they can also be tiring or dysregulating. Travel, new camps, different caregivers, later nights, and changes in routine can all bring big feelings. Children continue to need adults to name feelings, model calm strategies, and practice regulation tools when they are already calm.

Try practicing:
Belly breaths, counting to five, squeezing a stuffed animal, taking a cozy break, naming feelings during storytime, or using simple language such as, “You are disappointed that it is time to leave. Leaving can be hard.”

A “No-Pressure” Summer Learning Menu

Choose one or two whenever it works for your family:

Read a book outside.
Count popsicle sticks, rocks, shells, or steps.
Draw with sidewalk chalk.
Build something with blocks, boxes, or recycled materials.
Make a pattern with toys, snacks, or nature items.
Visit the library.
Play “I Spy” in the car.
Cook or bake together.
Practice opening lunch containers.
Have a dance party.
Water plants and talk about what living things need.
Tell a story about your day.
Practice taking turns during a board game.
Sort laundry by color or size.
Talk about feelings in a favorite book.

Resources for Families:

Preschool and Kindergarten Readiness and Summer Learning
Transition to Kindergarten Slideshow from May Family Workshop

Summer Math Calendar

Lose the To-Do List and 4 Other ways to get the Most out of Summer

Delightfully Distracted: 18 Great Learning Games for Car Trips!

SENSORY PLAY! at home

Reads & Videos for Grown-Ups
Teach Mama: Math-Mindful Summer / Everyday Math
Merryhill School: Supporting Social-Emotional Growth Through Summertime Moments
Touchstone Schools: Summer STEM Activities for Curious Preschool Minds
Reading Rockets: Reading Tips for Parents of Preschoolers

For Kids: Songs, Games & Clips to Enjoy Together

Skidamarink (a slower paced song; fits well on a long walk to keep pace)

Firefly, Firefly by Stephanie Leavell (Music for Kiddos); a soothing melodic song, perfect for quiet times or sparking curiosity about summer bugs and wildlife
StoryBots letter and sound songs

Storytime Together

(explore the libraries at Bacon St or Morse Institute Library to find any of these titles....and more!)
Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins
Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
The Color Monster by Anna Llenas

Most importantly, summer learning should feel joyful. When children have time to play, move, read, talk, explore, help, and connect with the people who love them, they are continuing to build the skills that matter most.

The Natick Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is an all-volunteer organization made up of parents and caregivers of children receiving supports and services in Natick Public Schools and private school settings. With more than 800 students in the district supported through Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 Plans, SEPAC offers resources, parent perspectives, and connections for families. Currently, Natick Preschool does not have a formal SEPAC representative. If you’re interested in serving or learning more, please contact SEPAC at the email below.

Learn more: sepacnatick.org
Follow on Facebook: Natick SEPAC
Questions? Email: naticksepac@gmail.com

• 2025-2026 Natick Preschool Handbook

• Natick Preschool One-Stop resource

• Health Newsletter from our preschool nurses

• How-to Video: 5 Steps for Brain-Building Serve & Return (Center on the Developing Child, Harvard). 2-minute strategy that strengthens connection. Harvard Center on Developing Child

• How Every Child can Thrive by Five: A TED Talk by 7-year old Molly Wright (2021)

📅 July 6-August 5 (Mon-Thurs) - ESY and Summer Learning Experience: Preschool

2026-2027 School Year: Preschool

📅 August 26 First day of school (K-12)

📅 August 26 Classroom Orientation (times/information to come in August email from teacher)

📅 August 27 First day of school (Preschool)

• Big Bubbles with Mr. Vinny the Bubble Guy Thursday 6/25 12:30-1:15p at the Bacon St Free Library, 58 Eliot St, Natick
• Big Truck Day 6/25 12:00-2:00pm Dover Town Library, 56 Dedham Street Dover, Massachusetts (trucks parked on Dedham St)
• Weekly story times (Mon-Weds), and music sign-a-longs (Fridays) at the Bacon St Free Library, 58 Eliot St, Natick CALENDAR
• All Together Storytimes (Tuesday ams), and Pajama Time Story (select Wednesday evenings), Morse Institute Library. 14 E Central St Natick CALENDAR
• Kids' Story Time Saturdays 11-11:30 Ten Tree Books. Ten Trees Books. 29 Main St, Natick, MA CALENDAR; RSVP requested.
• Last Wee Farmers of the school year ($25/person per session, drop-in) at Natick Community Organic Farm. Saturday 6/27 10-11a. Each session includes seasonal hands-on nature exploration, active movement and play, and a story with a knowledgeable, engaging farm director. Registration required.

Find more local fun, all summer long, at Community Kangaroo!