The Amelio Della Chiesa Early Childhood Center (ECC) services approximately 135 three- to five-year-olds. We offer half-day integrated pre-kindergarten classes, CARES classes, and one Special Needs Learning Center. We celebrate that we are a culturally diverse community and this is incorporated into our curricula at every opportunity.
In addition to our classrooms, our bright, cheerful, and semi-open space school building also has a motor room, cafeteria, and gymnasium in addition to nursing, guidance, and administrative offices. We have a playground designed to facilitate the motor needs of young children.
A notable component of the Center is the Early Childhood Integrated Pre-Kindergarten Program which provides high-quality opportunities for children whose abilities range from typically developing to identified special needs, and who come from diverse cultural, linguistic, and economic backgrounds. Funding sources for the implementation of this program include federal funds, the Massachusetts Early Childhood Partnership Grant, the Massachusetts Early Childhood Special Education Allocation, and the Quincy Public Schools. In addition, we have a Special Needs Learning Center Program, which services pre-kindergarten students with a diagnosis of multiple disabilities, and several CARES programs for students who are diagnosed on the autism spectrum.
We participate in the federal breakfast and lunch program. Other services are provided by our special needs teachers, nurses, physical therapists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, school psychologist, music therapist, and guidance counselor.