Caldwell Parish Ready Start
Early Childhood Programs
Welcome back to the 2026-2027 school year! Whether you are beginning your journey or returning for another year, we are so happy that you are here! This year will be filled with fun and exciting learning opportunities for our students. We look forward to working together to help your child learn and grow! Please be on the look out each month for "The Little Leaflet" for updates, important information and opportunities for our wonderful students and their families. Let's have a great school year!
James DeSimone, Ed.S.
Mr. DeSimone is our Director of Early Childhood Education. He provides programmatic oversight and ensures the coordination of all elements of a high-quality preschool program. Mr. DeSimone supports teachers, staff, students, and families, to ensure that our students receive quality education.
Tracy Fischetti
Tracy is our Administrative Assistant for the Early Childhood Education program. Tracy provides a variety of clerical and administrative support. She collaborates with staff, students, families, and oversees daily office operations.
Vincent Marcario
Vincent is the Preschool Fiscal Specialist. In Vincent's role, he works with the Early Childhood Department and all of our locations. Budgeting, auditing, and financial compliance is his specialty.
Amy Starecky, MSW, LSW
Amy is our Preschool Social Worker and Community Parent Involvement Specialist. Amy works directly with families to ensure access to community resources and parent supports. Her goal is to support families by providing opportunities to become involved in their child’s education both at home and in school.
Yunique Blakney, BSN, RN, CSN
Yunique is one of our Certified School Nurses who works with Adath Emanu-El, Bright Beginnings- Church St., Little Darlings and YMCA- Briggs. She focuses on preschool health services such as maintenance of immunization and physical exam records, providing high-quality health screenings, and comprehensive parent education.
Sarah Gonzalez, BSN, RN, CSN
Sabrina Banks, MAT
Sabrina is one of our Preschool Instructional Coaches/Preschool Intervention and Referral Specialists at our Bright Beginnings- Route 38 and YMCA- Briggs locations. Sabrina works directly with teachers towards improving classroom practices and striving to deliver high-quality early childhood education.
Paula Gargiullo, M.Ed.
Paula is one of our Preschool Instructional Coaches/Preschool Intervention and Referral Specialists at our YMCA- Briggs, YMCA- Commerce, and Just Children locations. Paula works directly with teachers towards improving classroom practices and striving to deliver high-quality early childhood education.
Stephanie Heath
Stephanie is one of our Preschool Instructional Coaches/Preschool Intervention and Referral Specialists at Adath Emanu-El, Bright Beginnings- Church St., and Parkway Elementary. Stephanie works directly with the teachers towards improving classroom practices and striving to deliver high-quality early childhood education.
Michelle Njagu, M.Ed.
Michelle is one of our Preschool Instructional Coaches/Preschool Intervention and Referral Specialists at Bright Beginnings- Route 38, Fleetwood Elementary, and Little Darlings. Michelle works directly with the teachers towards improving classroom practices and striving to deliver high-quality early childhood education.
Heather Pugliese
Heather is one of our Preschool Instructional Coaches/Preschool Intervention and Referral Specialists at Lightbridge Academy, Larchmont Elementary, and YMCA-Commerce. Heather works directly with the teachers towards improving classroom practices and striving to deliver high-quality early childhood education.
Kathy Gulbin
Kathy is one of our Preschool Case Managers at Bright Beginnings- Church, Bright Beginnings- Route 38, and Fleetwood Elementary. Kathy provides support to families of students with Individual Education Programs.
Taylor Klemm, MA Ed.S, NCSP
Taylor is one of our Preschool Case Managers at YMCA-Commerce and Parkway Elementary. Taylor provides support to families of students with Individual Education Programs.
Nicole Melvin, LDTC-MA
Nicole is one of our Preschool Case Managers at Larchmont Elementary and YMCA-Briggs. Nicole provides support to families of students with Individual Education Programs.
Kaitlin Radetich, M.Ed.
Kaitlin is one of our Special Education Teachers at Bright Beginnings- Church Street and YMCA Briggs. Kaitlin provides support to students with Individual Education Programs.
Laura Stevens
Laura is one of our Special Education Teachers at YMCA-Commerce and Parkway Elementary. Laura provides support to students with Individual Education Programs.
Jennifer Stover, M.Ed.
Jen is one of our Special Education Teachers at Bright Beginnings- Route 38, Fleetwood Elementary, and Larchmont Elementary. Jen provides support to students with Individual Education Programs.
Amber Strellis M.S., CCC-SLP
Amber is one of our Speech Therapists at Bright Beginnings- Church Street, Parkway Elementary, and YMCA- Commerce. Amber provides support to students with Individual Education Programs.
Gia Toriello M.S., CCC-SLP
Gia is one of our Speech Therapists at Bright Beginnings- Route 38 and Fleetwood Elementary. Gia provides support to students with Individual Education Programs.
Shannon Spiezio M.S., CCC-SLP
Pumpkin Painting with Police- October 15th
Thursday, October 15th
5:00pm-7:00pm
2026 Pumpkin Painting With Police is around the corner!
Stay tuned for sign-ups next week on Eventbrite.com
Free pumpkin painting!
Snacks, DJ, K9s!
Adventure Aquarium Pre-K Pass- While Supplies Last!
Free, unlimited visits for Preschoolers!
Sign up for Pre-K Kid's Adventure Pass for children ages 2-5 years old now!
Simply register online and visit Adventure Aquarium by Sunday, October 25th by 5pm with proof of age to receive and activate your pass!
Register Now by Clicking the Photo!
Mount Laurel Community Day- October 18th
Sunday, October 18th
100 Mount Laurel Road
12:00pm-5:00pm
Halloween themed Festival with live music, lots of food trucks, spellbound brewery, free kids activities (Face Painting, Bounce Houses, Balloon Animals, Petting Zoo), crafters and so much more!
Rancocas Woods Outdoor Events- Through November 28th
Saturday, September 26th
Craft and Antique Show
Rancocas Woods
10am-3pm
Friday, October 2nd
Witches' Market
Rancocas Woods
5pm-9pm
Saturday, October 24th
Craft & Antique Show
Rancocas Woods
10am-3pm
Sunday, October 25th
Fall Harvest
Rancocas Woods
10am-3pm
Mid-Autumn (Moon Festival) Celebration
Sunday, September 27th
Mount Laurel Library
100 Walt Whitman Ave.
12:30pm-3:30pm
Trunk or Treat for Children with Special Needs- October 24th
Saturday, October 24th
12:00pm-2:00pm
Burlington County Special Services School District
20 Pioneer Blvd. Westampton, NJ 08060
*Event is rain or shine!
Music- Treats- Games-Crafts for Purchase & Much more! Come dressed in costume and join us for some trunk-or-treat fun!
Mount Laurel Police Department Upcoming Events
- Pumpkin Painting with Police- Thursday, October 15th (See above)
- Mount Laurel Community Day- Sunday, October 18th (See above)
- Holiday Cookie Decorating- Wednesday, December 9th (Sign up to be announced! Stay tuned for more details!)
“Research has found that young children whose parents read to them daily have been exposed to at least 290,000 more words by the time they enter kindergarten than kids who aren't read to regularly. And depending on how much daily reading time kids get, that number can go up to over a million words.”
Join the Mount Laurel Library!
- Storytime
- Activities & Events
- 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
- Reading Lists
- Fun & Games
- Kids eBooks & Tumble books
- And much more!
Access to Family Photos
Stories about Going to School
Creating Routines
Click the picture to learn more about creating routines!
