John Silber Early Learning Center
99 Hawthorne St, Chelsea MA 02150 - Map and Directions
Tel: 617-466-5150. |  Fax: 617-889-8425
View School Arrival and Departure Time (PDF)

Principal: Margo DiBiasio
Assistant Principals: Kim Overbaugh and Mimi Spillane
Family Liaisons: Krishell Orellana and Delmy Perez Mejia

Grades: Pre-K, Kindergarten and 1st
School Day: 8:13 am to 11:05 am or 11:45 am to 2:20 pm; 8:13 am to 2:20 pm (K and 1st)
School Uniform: No
School Mascot: Bee

The John Silber Early Learning Center (ELC) serves children in pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st grade. The Center serves all students, including English Language Learners and children with special education needs. The school is bright and child-friendly. Every classroom has its own child-sized bathroom and sink. There are also indoor and outdoor gardens that the children help to create and tend. All children receive free breakfast and lunch at the ELC. Children who stay for extended-day or after-school activities also receive a snack. All regular education pre-K enrollment is decided through a lottery. Families may sign up for the lottery at the Parent Information Center, housed in the same building as the ELC.  For more information about the lottery process, please see Student Registration.

• The Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) half-day program is a language-based program that focuses on developing social-emotional, early math and early literacy skills. The half-day program offers both morning and afternoon options. (See the Extended Day Programming information on the next tab)
• The Kindergarten program also includes instruction to develop social-emotional learning, and daily core academic classes, such as math and reading. All Kindergarten students have physical education, art, and music classes on a weekly basis.
• The ELC also houses several first-grade classrooms. These classes offer the same academic program and social-emotional learning opportunities as the district’s four elementary schools.
• Our special education programs include Social Communications Program for students with autism and those who need added support to further develop age-appropriate communication and interaction skills as well as Learning Centers for students who need specific modifications and adaptations to ensure they successfully access curriculum and content.
• The Caminos Dual Language Immersion Program is offered at the Kindergarten level at the ELC. Students in this program study in both Spanish and English. Enrollment for the Caminos program is lottery-based and space is limited.
• The ELC also provides support services for English Language Learners and early reading intervention services for students who are struggling in their early literacy development.
• View 2023 School Report Card 

• The Kindergarten and Grade 1 after-school program offers enrichment activities in reading, math, science, and social studies, as well as time to move, socialize, and have fun. There is a fee of $5 per school day for this program and families are billed monthly prior to the start of the upcoming month.
• Enrollment in all of ELC’s afterschool programs is determined by lottery. Detailed information regarding lottery can be found below under “Starting School at Chelsea Public Schools”.
• A PK extended day option is available for working parents or parents attending school full time. A nominal fee is charged. Detailed information regarding the lottery can be found at the Parent Information Center.
• Please call Assistant Principal, Kim Overbaugh at 617-466-5150 for further information.

• Eligible Ages
  • Half day Pre-Kindergarten program:s 4 years old by August 31st. The child must be a resident of
    Chelsea and toilet-trained by the September they start in pre-K.
  • Extended Day lottery: 3 or 4 years old by August 31 st.
  • Kindergarten: 5 years old by August 31 st.
  • Grade 1 student at any of the four elementary schools and the ELC: 6 years old by August 31 st.
• Enrollment at the ELC for Pre-K half day programming and extended day programming is determined by
  lottery. Staff hold information sessions about the lottery application process in February each year.
  Find detailed information about the lottery process (PDF).
• In mid-August, each Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten family will receive a letter from the ELC
  informing them of a private appointment time during the Orientation Week during the last week of
  August. Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students start school 3 to 4 school days later than other
  students in Grades 1 and above. Orientation Week allows classroom teachers to schedule individual
  appointments with each student and his/her guardian(s) so the student can be introduced to the
  teaching staff and visit their new classroom in a low stress setting. Guardian(s) will fill out important
  emergency and pick-up information as well as other permission forms at this appointment.
• ELC First Graders will begin school on the same date as all of the other schools in district. First Grade
  parents should plan to fill out important emergency and pick-up information as well as other permission
  forms when they drop off their students in the morning of the first day of school.

• Our Home-School Compact for the 2023-24 School Year is now available. Click here for more information.
• Join ParentSquare today, our new school-to-home communications platform for families. This platform will be used at all schools (Grades K-12). Join to stay up to date on everything happening in your child's classroom. 
• The ELC has increased from one set of Caminos Kindergarten classrooms to two sets for a total of 4 dual language kindergarten classrooms to allow more children the opportunity to access this Spanish and English dual language immersion program.
• The ELC is excited to have added an additional bilingual Parent Liaison and bilingual Social Worker to further support the needs of our students and families.