The East Lyme Integrated Preschool Program is located at Lillie B. Haynes School. It serves children with disabilities and typically developing peers from East Lyme.

Play is a child’s work. The program philosophy is that children learn best through active participation in a variety of developmentally appropriate experiences. It is essential that these experiences be provided in a safe environment, staffed by adults who are sensitive and responsive to children's needs. The program uses a reverse mainstream model, which allows for an integrated education, and benefits both children with and without special needs. This inclusive education provides an opportunity to build friendships, social interaction, and teaches all children to understand and accept human differences.

The preschool program is a language-enriched program that adheres to the standards of the Connecticut Early Learning and 3 Development Standards (CT-ELDS). The program focuses on all areas of development including language and literacy, cognitive development, physical development and social-emotional development. The program follows a structured routine, which provides consistency and predictability. The children participate in table activities, circle time, play, snack, outdoor or gross motor activities, creative movement, and songs.

The program goals are:

1. To promote social, emotional, and cognitive growth.
2. To use positive health and safety practices.
3. To empower children, allowing them to take control of their own learning and thereby enhance self-esteem.
4. To respect and acknowledge diversity and inclusion.
5. To foster open communication between home and school.

The preschool program serves children three to five years of age who are residents of East Lyme. Planning and Placement Teams (PPT) identify children with disabilities and may determine that the preschool program is the appropriate placement for the child. Our program also serves typically developing peers. To be selected as a peer, parents may complete and return a peer application for their child. Peer applications are accepted throughout the year and selections are typically made in the first week of May. This selection is determined through a lottery system and is a tuition-based program. Peers who are three and four years old and NOT kindergarten eligible are selected first.

All students must complete the enrollment process through our Central Office prior to attending the program. Your child will not be able to attend unless you have the required documents outlined in the enrollment process. The enrollment process information is provided to you once you have been accepted into our program by our team.

Tuition for the 2025-2026 School year

Tuition for the 3 hour morning session:
$180.00/month x 10 months = $1800.00
Tuition for the 5 hour session:
$200.00/month x 10 months = $2000.00

Parents will receive monthly invoices emailed to them from our online software system called Rec Desk. Upon receipt of the invoice, parents can choose to pay online via credit card. There are no service fees for those paying online. Account balances can be checked at any time. Parents can easily make an extra payment or request an individualized payment plan. Tuition is due by the 15th of each month. A $25 late fee will be assessed for all invoices that become thirty days past due. At sixty days past due, students will not be able to participate until the invoices have been paid.

Our program offers a three-hour school day and a five-hour school day. If your child is enrolled in the three-hour session, the hours are 8:30-11:30 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. If your child is enrolled for the five-hour session, the hours are 8:30-1:30 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Children with disabilities will attend the program as determined by their Individualized Education Plan. The preschool program follows the East Lyme School calendar. The first day for preschool is Tuesday, August 29th.

The preschool will be closed at the discretion of the East Lyme Public Schools whenever necessary due to severe inclement weather or emergency early dismissal. In the event of a school cancellation, delayed opening or early dismissal, parents will be sent a message through Infinite Campus which you will have access to once you complete enrollment. You can also listen to local radio and television broadcasts for information. East Lyme Public Schools also has a reverse 411 system. If you find you are not receiving reverse 411 messages, please notify your child’s teacher.

Two Hour Delay:

3 Hour Session: If your child is attending the three-hour morning session from 8:30- 11:30, and there is a two-hour school delay, then there will be no morning preschool.

5 Hour Session: If your child is attending the five-hour session from 8:30-1:30, and there is a two-hour school delay, preschool will begin at 10:30.

Wednesdays: If your child attends on a Wednesday and there is a two-hour delay, there will be no preschool.

Early Dismissal: If there is an early dismissal, all students will be dismissed at 10:30 am.

It is an important goal of the preschool program to maintain close communication between home and school. In forming a partnership with families, the staff is better able to provide the highest quality program for your child. A Back-to-School Night is scheduled in the fall to introduce parents and staff. We will maintain contact with parents through written notes, phone conversations, and parent workshops.

Weekly communication is also shared with parents through the interactive learning platform, Seesaw. Your child’s teacher will provide you with information on how to access Seesaw within the first few weeks of school. Parents are encouraged to respond or share news from home. Parent Conferences are typically held in November and April however, parents may also request to meet with their child’s teacher at any point during the school year.

Parents drop off will be in front of the school building. Parents should pull up to the curb and bring their child to the front of the school under the awning. Staff members will be waiting to receive students and will bring children into the building.

Your children will be dismissed from the front of the building the same way as they arrived. Staff will have a table set up under the front awning for you to sign your child out. All parents and guardians will be required to show a license to our staff when picking up their children from school each day.

The preschool staff uses positive methods to encourage self-control, decision-making, cooperation, and positive self-esteem. If a child exhibits inappropriate behavior, a staff member may first try to redirect the behavior. If this is not successful, the staff member may take the child aside to talk about the incident and the child may be asked to choose a different activity or area for play.

Your child will be involved in many active learning activities. These hands-on activities and projects sometimes require a change of clothing. An extra set of labeled clothing should accompany your child and may be left in their cubby.

Please dress your child in comfortable clothing that they may put on and take off by themselves as much as possible. Outdoor play is an important part of our day; be sure your child is dressed for the season (boots, mittens, hats, coats, etc.) We will venture out into the snow! Please be sure all clothing is labelled, including diapers and wipes as needed.

The preschool program has a wonderful variety of developmentally appropriate toys. We understand that children like to share items from home, but we need to restrict this practice to special times designated by the teacher. This will prevent loss and breakage. If your child needs to bring a security object from home, please discuss this with the teacher.

The children will be asked to bring in a healthy snack and drink each day. Please remember to cut grapes into quarters for three year-olds. We ask that you also send your child in with a water bottle labeled with their name, so they have a drink throughout the day. For students in our five-hour session, please provide a lunch and drink for your child each day. In keeping with the Lillie B. Haynes handbook, we will promote a healthy environment by following their food guidelines.

Because of peanut and tree nut allergies, all of the preschool classrooms will be peanut and tree nut free. Please be sure to check food labels and refrain from sending in anything that may contain peanuts. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Suggestions for healthy snacks

Fresh Fruit - Fruit Cup or Salad - Low Fat Yogurt - String Cheese – Low Fat Popcorn – Raisins – Dry Cereal (low sugar) – Salsa and Fat Free Chips - Fresh Vegetables and Low Fat Dip – Graham Crackers – Pretzels – Animal Crackers – English Muffin with Jelly – Mini Bagels with Low Fat Cream Cheese – Rice Cakes – Whole Grain Crackers – Cheese and Low Fat Crackers

To promote a healthier school environment and as an alternative to food, teachers will take time to recognize each child on their special day. Please do not send in any treats or favors for your child’s birthday. For health and safety reasons, we will not accept home prepared baked goods due to students’ wide varieties of food allergies.

The health of the children is a cooperative effort between the home and the school. All children must have a current physical form on file with the nurse by the first day of school. This is part of the enrollment process through Central Office. Children will also need a flu shot prior to December 31 of the current school year. The school nurse will begin contacting parents in December if they do not have a record on file of your child’s flu shot. Students who do not have a flu shot on file with the nurse will not be allowed to return to school after January 1st .

In order to provide learning opportunities for other children in our town, peers who have participated in our preschool program for two years and are kindergarten eligible, will not be allowed to enroll for a third year of preschool. Please see your child’s teacher to discuss this further if you have concerns. Children with disabilities who are kindergarten eligible for the fall, are also encouraged to attend kindergarten; however please see your child’s team to discuss this in further detail.

The program has experienced change in recent years as part of an on-going improvement process. The staff is committed to continually modifying the program to meet the needs of our children and their families. Parent input is an important part of this process and parents are encouraged to share ideas with the teachers at any time. Parents should first bring concerns to their child’s teacher. If the parents are unable to resolve the issue with the classroom teacher, they should contact Jennifer Van Dusen, Special Education Coordinator at 860-876-6951. She is directly responsible for the administration of the program.

If your child will be absent or you wish to speak with your child’s teacher, please call 860-739-2922 and enter your child’s teacher’s extension number listed below. You will need to leave a message during school hours as teachers are actively engaged with students throughout the school day. Our staff will be checking messages prior to 8:20 a.m. or after 2:00 p.m. In case of an emergency or an urgent matter, dial the main number listed above and then press 0 to speak to the main office. They will contact your child’s teacher directly. The following are the certified staff e-mail and telephone extension numbers: