In 2023, when the Fitchburg Public Schools Community Outreach Coordinator heard about Play Group Plus in Worcester, she asked WAMS to replicate it in Fitchburg. WAMS works with the Fitchburg Public Schools and MOC (Making Opportunities Count, a large social service agency in norther Worcester County), to enable children who cannot participate in the school department's preschool program to experience being in a classroom setting. The children enjoy the same activities as in Worcester - open play, circle time for reading, and lots of opportunities to learn the social skills that are so important for success in kindergarten. The program runs every Friday from 10 to 11:30 AM at 601 River Street in Fitchburg. As in Worcester, WAMS provides a grocery gift card for every family, snacks to go, and a new book for each child to take home every week.
Partial funding for this project is provided through a grant from the MA Dept. of Early Education and Care and Coordinated Family and Community Engagement program.
