Preschool Screening

The Old Rochester Regional School District will be holding its annual screening clinic for three and four year olds on the following dates and locations:

• October 17, 2023 - Center School
• January 24, 2024 - Sippican School
• March 14, 2024 - Rochester Memorial School

The screening clinics are a service to young children and their families in Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester. The screening will look at social emotional skills, cognitive development, speech and language development, physical development, vision, and hearing.

If you question your child’s development in any of these areas, please contact Doreen Lopes 508-758-2772 ext. 1948 or Cris Salvador at ext. 1942 or email doreenlopes@oldrochester.org  for further  information or to schedule a screening appointment.

• Outreach –The school district attempts to reach all families of three and four year olds in Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester by offering three screening clinics throughout the year.  Extensive advertising of this service appears in local newspapers and the school district website.
• Registration – Parents who feel their child may not be developing according to normal patterns call the Early Childhood Office to arrange a screening appointment. To schedule an appointment, please contact the early childhood office at 508-758-2772 ext.1948.  Written materials explaining the process are sent to the home.
• Initial Screening – The screening process lasts approximately half an hour.  Each child is asked to perform a series of tasks with the Screening Team.  Results of the initial screening are sent to parents two to four weeks after screening is completed.
• Follow-Up Screening – Some children seen during the Initial Screening may require additional attention from the Screening Team because:
  • The initial screening was incomplete;
  • The Screening team would like to take a closer look at a child’s development in one or more areas.
• Parent Conference –If there is a need, parents are then invited to meet with appropriate Screening Team members to review the screening results.  Suggestions for home activities for the child and recommendations for beneficial community services are provided to the parents.
• Diagnostic Evaluation – If there is any question of a child having a special educational need, an in-depth evaluation of the child will be arranged through the Director of Special Needs.
• Special Needs Team Evaluation Meeting - parents are encouraged to attend this meeting where a comprehensive assessment of their child’s educational needs is presented.  Specific recommendations are provided to held the child progress in the development of important skills.
• Development of an Individual Education Plan (IEP) – Upon completion of the Special Needs Team Evaluation, an Individualized Educational Plan is written for the child found to have a special educational need.  The IEP describes the types of services recommended for the child and lists general goals and specific objectives appropriate for the child.