A new Westborough preschool scholarship will help youngsters who could benefit from the program but can't access it otherwise, Hastings Elementary School preschool teacher Karen Rose says.
The school committee last week approved the proposal from Rose and Hastings preschool teacher Kimberly Hrebicek.
“Every year, we evaluate numbers – huge numbers – of preschool age children. And many of those children wind up not having a special need,” Rose said.
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“But, there’s always one or two children every year that, although they don’t qualify for special education, they would benefit from the preschool experience. Some of those children are English language learners. Some of those children, due to financial reasons, can’t access community preschool.”
Hrebicek “historically done fundraisers for autism,” and of this work would support the scholarship, Rose said.
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A fundraiser is planned for Oct. 20, she said. And the Worcester Sharks have agreed to do a Preschool Night on April 7, she said. April is Autism Awareness Month.
The scholarship will be named for Hastings student Alexei Lepoer, who died on May 13 at age 4, Rose said.
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