Virtuous Circle: Franklin Students Help With Early Childhood Ed

Student volunteers from the Franklin High School Early Childhood Class read to preschoolers at the at the F.X. O'Regan Early Childhood Development Center. (Photo courtesy Franklin Public Schools)

Franklin Superintendent Lucas Giguere, Assistant Superintendent Tina Rogers, and Principal Kimberly Taylor have announced that older student volunteers in Franklin are making meaningful connections to help foster learning with preschoolers at the F.X. O'Regan Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC).

Several ongoing partnerships are providing opportunities for student volunteers, from Horace Mann Middle School, Franklin High School, and Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School, to engage with preschool students by assisting with classroom activities, reading stories and playing games.

During the first half of the school year, five students from the Horace Mann Middle School Best Buddies program made weekly visits to PK1 classrooms. These visits provided opportunities for the four-year-old preschoolers to engage in fun, hands-on activities, offering them the chance to learn, relate and communicate with older students.

The Best Buddies program will continue in the second half of the school year. The program has been ongoing for several years, but it was brought back this school year after being discontinued since the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a new initiative this year, students from Franklin High School have been visiting the ECDC classrooms as part of teacher Ashley Foster’s Early Childhood class. These high schoolers prepare for their visits by learning about preschool education and child development, with Principal Taylor even visiting their class to provide insights about the ECDC. Foster's class is making these visits twice per semester.

“It has been wonderful to collaborate with Ms. Foster in order to develop this meaningful connection between the ECDC and Franklin High School,” Principal Taylor said. “We look forward to continuing this partnership in the months and years to come.”

The ECDC has also welcomed students from Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School’s Early Childhood Career Program. These students participate in a semester-long experience, attending each school day every other week to gain hands-on exposure to an integrated preschool program. They assist in classrooms, support curriculum activities, and engage with preschoolers during playtime — both inside the classroom and on the playground.

With approximately 72 students across five PK1 classrooms, these collaborative efforts continue to help establish a strong sense of community and connection within Franklin Public Schools.

“These partnerships create incredible learning experiences for both our older and younger students,” said Superintendent Lucas Giguere. “Our preschoolers benefit from engaging with positive role models, while our student volunteers gain valuable skills in leadership, education, and mentorship.”

The ECDC is an inclusive, integrated preschool, with a 15-student maximum per classroom. The staff there includes educational support professionals and specialists who provide direct service to qualifying children together with their teachers, such as an occupational therapist, a physical therapist, a speech and language pathologist and a board-certified behavioral analyst.

The ECDC uses Pre-K On My Way, a comprehensive, research-based curriculum that honors the developmental level of each student and fosters skill development in time for the student's arrival in kindergarten.

Children who reside in Franklin may be enrolled in the ECDC for next school year if they are at least 3 years old and are not yet 5 years old by Aug. 31. A lottery is held each February to randomly select admissions due to limited seats for the following school year. Spots that become open during the school year are filled through rolling admission.

For more information, click here or call 508-541-8166.

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Horace Mann Middle School students from the Best Buddies program spend time reading and playing with preschoolers at the F.X. O’Regan Early Childhood Development Center. (Photo courtesy Franklin Public Schools)

Franklin High School students in the Early Childhood class lead a storytime and interactive activity with preschoolers at the ECDC. (Photo courtesy Franklin Public Schools)

A Horace Mann Middle School student from the Best Buddies program plays with preschoolers during a weekly visit to the ECDC. (Photo courtesy Franklin Public Schools)

Franklin High School students gain hands-on experience working with young children while supporting learning activities at the ECDC. (Photo courtesy Franklin Public Schools)

Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School students assist in ECDC classrooms as part of their Early Childhood Career Program experience. (Photo courtesy Franklin Public Schools)