While waiting for the construction of a new building to get underway, Barnstable High School is the temporary home for the Barnstable Public Schools’ Inclusive Preschool (BIPP). The two classrooms led by preschool teachers Jane Anglin and Joelle McCarthy left Centerville Elementary and the rest of the BIPP due to lack of space.  They will eventually be relocating to a proposed new building right next to Hyannis West. There are at least three more classes that are awaiting the new building as well. Two of the classes are in the same program as Anglin and McCarthy’s. The other is specifically for students with autism.

Half of the students in Anglin and McCarthy’s program have mild to major disorders and require Individualized Educational Plans. The other half are “peer models.” These children have gone through a screening process that determines if they will make good role models for the students on IEPs. The law requires public school districts to provide inclusive preschools for children with IEPs. There is an eight to seven ratio; in a classroom of 15 students up to seven of them can be on an IEP. As soon as the children who require IEPs turn three, they are eligible for the program. Anglin and McCarthy stated that they can get new students at any time, even with three weeks left of school.

The BIPP’s classrooms are located in the BHS hallway usually closed off by double doors near the busport. Many students and faculty members have confused them for being a part of the Head Start Program (the preschool with which the Child Development students work). However, Anglin and McCarthy are not affiliated with the BHS Child Development program and Head Start. They are a part of the Barnstable Public School District. These teachers have a curriculum to follow, standards to meet, and are licensed- just like high school teachers.

Anglin says that although she misses being in the elementary school environment, the high school staff and students have been very welcoming. The only disturbance they’ve seem to have had, aside from the bomb threat scares, so far, was the lockdown drill on Thursday, October 24, 2014. At the time, their students were just arriving. Anglin and McCarthy said that it was a frustrating and a scary experience for the parents, however they were thankful that the children were only just getting there. Principal Patrick Clark and housemaster Thomas Bushy were thoughtful enough to check up on them. Both teachers have been pleased with the communication from the high school administration.

BHS also offers more places for Anglin and McCarthy to take their students, as they had limited space at Centerville Elementary School. If an area was occupied at Centerville, they were out of luck. Here, they can take the kids on tours of the building, visit the Astro Park, and playground. On days when the playground is unavailable or the weather is bad, Maria Pierozzi has offered the weight room as an alternate location. Jill Snook, Personal Care Assistant in McCarthy’s class, says that the switch is good, “The children have adjusted very well to the high school and seem very happy and motivated.” Snook and Anglin agree that the high schoolers are very mature around their students. The little ones love seeing all the big kids.