Registration still open for Fall 2017 at Colonial Children's Academy at Minuteman High School

Registration still open for Fall 2017 at the Colonial Children's Academy at Minuteman High School in Lexington

By Judy Bass

LEXINGTON - Registration for Fall 2017 is still open at the Colonial Children’s Academy, a preschool that will offer unique learning opportunities to children enrolled there due to its location at Minuteman High School. The Academy opens on August 28, 2017.

They will have access to Minuteman’s library, which will have a section devoted specifically to them, and to the school’s gymnasium. The children will also benefit from educational visits by Minuteman students in various career and technical programs.

“We’re really excited to have the Academy here on campus,” said Michelle Roche, Minuteman’s Director of Career and Technical Education. “We have a lot more resources and a bigger facility than most preschools. We’re ready to open and get started.”

She added that the atmosphere will be inviting and stimulating for the children, with bright, colorful décor, plenty of natural light, plus the presence of highly-qualified professional staff including teachers Shaina Shaw, Anne-Marie Merrill and Kathleen Bouchard. Minuteman students in the Early Education and Teaching program will participate in caring for the children at the Academy.

There will be structured learning experiences based on a topic chosen each week that aligns with students’ interests and current events. Some examples, according to Ms. Roche, might be the weather, the seasons, upcoming holidays, the ocean and animals. Minuteman students in programs such as Robotics and Environmental Technology will also visit the Academy to make presentations.

“If people come and check us out,” said Ms. Roche, “I think they would be very surprised at what we have to offer.”

The Academy will follow Minuteman High School’s calendar. It will be open Monday through Friday from 7:00 am-4:00 pm. It will serve children between 2.9 years of age and 5 years of age. The program offers discounted prices for in-district families and staff members of the Lexington Public Schools and Minuteman High School. Minuteman’s district includes the towns of Acton, Arlington, Belmont, Bolton, Concord, Dover, Lancaster, Lexington, Needham and Stow.

Enrollment space is limited. For more information on enrollment and tuition, please contact Michelle Roche by phone at 781-861-6500 x 7326, or by email at mroche@minuteman.org.