Chelmsford's Center Elementary Delivers Books To Kindergarteners

CHELMSFORD, MA — Chelmsford's Center Elementary School is helping to ease the anxiety of incoming kindergarten students by delivering copies of The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing.

The effort can be credited to the school's principal Dianna Fulreader, who, along with Assistant Principal Donna Omobono, is currently in the process of personally delivering between between 80 and 100 copies of the book to local five and six-year-olds who will be attending Center Elementary this fall.

“It’s a meaningful way to connect with families, to get to know our kids and make them feel welcome before they come to school,” said Fulreader in a statement. “I love seeing the smile on their faces, the look of surprise and joy. Then the first day of school comes and they already know our names because we’ve been to their homes.”

The books are purchased by The Center School Parent-Teach Organization (PTO) and each include a welcome letter from Fulreader and Omobono, the dates for the school's Read-Aloud events, and information for parents to get involved with the PTO.

Fulreader, who is about to enter her fifth year at Center Elementary, got the idea from her previous job as an assistant principal in the Groton-Dunstable school system. She sometimes brings a guest, which may be a teacher, custodian, administration staffer, or a school committee member.

“Anyone who comes with us really enjoys it,” said Fulreader. “And the kids certainly love it and the parents as well."

School begins on Wednesday, Aug. 31 for Chelmsford students in grades K-9 and Thursday, September 1 for grades 10-12.