ABOUT US
WHO WE ARE
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Spring Street Preschool is located in a wing of the First Congregational Church. Originally built as Sunday school classrooms in 1959, the program expanded to become First Congregational Preschool. As the preschool grew it became a non-denominational program and the name changed to Spring Street Preschool. Over the years it has evolved into an independent non-denominational full day preschool program, serving children ages 2.9 to 5 years.
Spring Street Preschool offers a rich and varied environment for child-centered exploration, creative arts, social skill development and literacy learning. Our teachers work to provide the opportunity for a flexible and supported transition from home or family day care to school. Our goal is to provide children with a positive first school experience.
FACULTY & STAFF
Dolly Pedevillano
School Director and Teacher
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Dolly is originally from New Jersey where she began her life as a student at Our Lady of the Visitation school. Being fortified with 12 years of Catholic schooling and 2 in community college Dolly moved to Massachusetts to seek her fortune. Dolly began her career in Education working with autistic children in a residential setting and taught in private preschools before running a lab school and teaching Child Study to high school students. Dolly and her family spent 11 years as Head Residents at Mt. Holyoke College.
Dolly went on to earn a MA degree in Early Childhood with an emphasis on Early Literacy Development and an Ed.D in Teacher Education/School improvement from UMass. Dolly is happiest when surrounded by preschool children. She and her husband Rich have two grown daughters and 2 grandchildren.
Sonia Periera Murphy
Teacher
With a background in art and creative writing, Sonia Pereira Murphy eventually found her calling in working with young children. She particularly enjoys engaging children in activities that spark imagination and inquiry, whether they be art or STEM related. Sonia will mark a decade serving as a teacher at Spring Street Preschool.
Outside of Spring Street, you can often find Sonia reading, writing, doing crosswords, and spending time with her family and beagle mix, Bubbles.
FOCUS AREAS
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Social Emotional Development
Children work on developing the skills needed for building friendships, resolving conflicts, and managing emotions while engaging in pretend play, group times and small group projects
Literacy Skills
Focusing on the areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening, children are immersed in the lived experience of various literacies through discussions, story writing and acting, songs, movement and dance, explicit instruction, and book experiences that include various languages and cultures.
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Cognitive Development
Curriculum is co-created with children and their expressed interests to challenge thinking, provoke ideas, and spark questions through in-depth projects and explorations, allowing children to learn by constructing knowledge about the world around them.
FACT & FIGURES
General
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Founded in 1980
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Spring Street Preschool is licensed by the MA Dept of Early Education and Care
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Director: Dolly Pedevillano
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Independent, nonsectarian, early childhood education program
Program
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Accepting children ages 2 years and 9 months to 5 years old
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Morning and full day options available five days per week
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Specials classes including music, storytelling, creative movement, and library
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Summer sessions offered
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Average of 14 students per class
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Average of 2 teachers per class
