T.E.E.C.H. is an acronym for Transdisciplinary Early Education Classroom in Hampstead. We are a regular education preschool program which includes children with a variety of special needs along with their typical peer models. The Hampstead School District’s Transdisciplinary model includes consultation and team planning by the Early Childhood Classroom Teacher, Early Childhood Special Educator, Speech Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, Behavior Specialist, and School Psychologist.
Our preschool curriculum is based on the developmental needs of children ages three to five years. The Self-Help, Social Development, Motor Skills, Early Literacy, and Early Math curriculum is based on the needs/development of the typical students. Adaptations to our program/curriculum are made for the identified students, as appropriate. We provide a curriculum that is designed to be developmentally appropriate so that each child can achieve success at his/her own level and progress at their own pace. Our curriculum is aligned with the state guidelines, as well as the Hampstead Central School’s kindergarten curriculum, to help provide a smooth transition between programs.
The T.E.E.C.H. Program is housed at the Hampstead Central School. Please note, you do not have to be a town resident to enroll your child in our preschool program.
OUR PROGRAMS
We offer three classroom groups, with each meeting 5 days per week. Each group is open to children who will be three or four on September 30th. These classes are open to children entering preschool for the first time as well as children preparing to enter kindergarten the following year
AM Preschool is in session five mornings a week – 9:00 to 11:35 AM
PM Preschool is in session five afternoons a week 12:20 – 2:50 PM
- The total program cost is $2500 for the 2017-18 school year.
- The tuition will be $2300 or 10 monthly payments of $230.
- There is a non-refundable fee of $200 at the time of registration
*There are needs based reductions available for families.
For the 2022-2023 School Year programs include
3 Day AM T, Th, F
4 Day AM M, T, Th, F
4 Day PM T, W, Th, F
5 Day PM M, T, W, Th, F
The morning programs are designed for three and younger four year olds. The afternoon programs are designed for children who will be attending kindergarten the following fall.
Please contact the HCS Principal to confidentially review your options.
WHAT WE DO IN PRESCHOOL
Self-Help Activities are integrated throughout the day and foster independence as children learn to take responsibility for their personal belongings, classroom materials, and the environment.
Circle Time is a group time in which we share our ideas, plans, and observations. Circle Time activities are designed to stimulate children’s thinking, enrich their language and social skills, develop their listening skills, and expand their attention spans.
Story timeis designed to help children develop an appreciation and enjoyment of literature. Reading activities enhance children’s vocabulary and comprehension skills as well as expand their understanding of concepts and content.
Music Activitiespromote children’s listening skills, creative expression, and social skills. As children move to the beat of the music, they explore and practice important developmental skills. Singing helps children develop new vocabulary words, practice words they already know, create and imitate sounds, recognize and repeat patterns, and compare sounds to each other. Large muscles are developed as children express the mood of what they hear with their body movements.
Gross-Motor Activitiesgive children the opportunity to use their muscles – as well as their imaginations – as they engage in fun, healthy exercises, such as running, jumping, and climbing. Outside play promotes physical development such as balance and coordination skills and body awareness and control. As children play outdoors, they are developing control over their bodies and movements.
Fine-Motor Activitieshelp improve small muscle development and eye-hand coordination. Eye-hand coordination is a critical skill. Children need their hands and their eyes to learn to work together. If they are to write, color, button, zip, and cut they must be able to have the two working together accurately. Some common items found in the fine-motor/manipulative center include beads and laces, puzzles, and Legos. Crayons, markers, and scissors located in the Art Center also help to develop these skills.
Art Activities help children creatively express their thoughts and feelings. They help reinforce fine-motor skills and concept development in areas such as colors, shapes, and size relationships. Our art activities focus on the process of the task and not on the final product. Art is about encouraging creativity in children. Open-ended art activities and materials give children opportunities to develop their own ideas and use their own designs. In doing this, they develop creative thinking skills and they learn to problem solve.
Math Activitiesoffer children hands-on opportunities to develop problem solving skills and such concepts as counting (rote and one-to-one correspondence), sorting objects by one or two attributes, and matching/identifying simple shapes.
Science Activitiesoffer children many hands-on opportunities for observation, exploration, investigation, making predictions, and experimentation. Through simple activities children build a foundation for future scientific learning.
Literacy Activitiesprovide children with meaningful interactions with books and print. Books give children the opportunity to respond to various forms of literature, to follow simple story lines, to predict outcomes, and to retell a familiar story. Children develop their literacy skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) by reading books, writing stories, retelling stories using props (e.g. puppets and flannel board pieces), and listening to a variety recordings of books.
Dramatic Play Activitieshelp children express themselves, role play, practice life skills, improve social skills, build vocabulary, and solve problems through interactive and imaginative play.
Block Playgives children experience with many different concepts, such as shape and size discrimination, spatial relationships, number skills, balance, organization, cause and effect, and classification. Cooperative play skills, problem solving, and creativity are also promoted in block play. Through block play and block construction children experiment with their own ideas-growing, learning, and developing skills in the process.
Sand and Water Activitiesallow children to experiment with textures and the properties of different substances. These activities also promote the development of other skills, such as math, science, language, and fine-motor.
Snack Timeencourages healthy eating habits and provides children with the opportunity to try new foods. Social skills and polite manners are also promoted during snack time.
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Please refer to the Hampstead Central School Website. Please note, morning preschool will be in session on early release day and afternoon sessions are cancelled.
SCHOOL CANCELLATIONS
In the event of inclement weather, the SCHOOL MESSENGER system, an automated parent notification system, will be activated. You may also watch Channel 9 (WMUR) or listen to your radio, WBZ 1030 AM. In the event of a school cancellation by the Hampstead School District, T.E.E.C.H. classes will be cancelled as well. If school is delayed ninety minutes or more, morning classes will be cancelled. However, afternoon classes will be in session at the regularly scheduled time. Early dismissal and/or cancellation of the afternoon program due to inclement weather will be communicated through the use of the POWER ANNOUNCEMENT system.
HEALTH AND EMERGENCY FORMS
Health and emergency forms need to be completed by the beginning of each school year. Parents are expected to provide immunization records as deemed necessary by NH state standards and law.
ILLNESS and MEDICATIONS
It is always a difficult call when deciding whether to keep your young child at home or send them on to school. It is important to remember that young children are just learning about blowing noses, covering their mouth when they sneeze, and keeping fingers out of their mouth. Also, little ones share many toys and play in a common sensory table. Keeping germs at bay in such an environment is not an easy task. If your child has a persistent cough, constant runny nose, did not sleep well or generally does not look good or feel up to par, please strongly consider keeping him/her at home. A day or two at home will provide much needed rest and your child will gain the strength she/he needs to get back to school.
Please refer to the Hampstead Central School Web Site under School Life Section/ Health Office for more specific guidelines about illness; guidelines for return to school after illness; and medications.
ABSENCES
A parent/guardian should call the HCS main line (329-6326) to notify the school that their child will not be in school. If your child rides the bus, you must also let Durham School Services know of the absence.
TUITION POLICY
Tuition payments are due on the first of each month. If unexpected circumstances should arise which impact the ability to meet tuition obligations, please contact Dillard Collins, HCS principal (329-6326 x1103). An alternative payment schedule may be developed to address needs on an individualized basis. If tuition payments are more than 60 days in arrears and an alternative plan has not been agreed upon, your child may be withdrawn from the program.
FIRE DRILLS AND EVACUATIONS
Please refer to the HCS Website under the Parents Section / Emergency Evacuation Plan.
DISCIPLINE
The T.E.E.C.H. Program utilizes positive discipline practices. This means that a child is rewarded for appropriate behavior within the classroom, with inappropriate behaviors addressed in a developmentally appropriate manner.
SCHOOL VISITATION
Parent visitations are welcome but should be arranged by contacting the classroom teacher to set up a date and time. We are always open to visits however the number of people physically in the room at any one time must be kept to a reasonable level. If at all possible, visitations should be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance.
WHAT WE NEED IN PRESCHOOL
Clothing in School
Children should wear comfortable and washable clothing each day, as we encourage children to be active participants in our creative projects and learning experiences. Children should wear sneakers or shoes with rubber soles. For safety reasons, we ask that your child not wear sandals, crocs, or flip flops. An extra set of clothing should be sent in a zip lock bag labeled with your child’s name to remain in school in case a change is necessary. This should include the following: pants, shirt, underwear, and socks.
OUTDOOR PLAY
We will attempt to go outdoors daily, weather permitting. Please send your child with appropriate clothing and please label all items of clothing.
Backpacks
Please send your child to school with a backpack each day labeled with his/her name. A backpack large enough to hold a 9” x 12” folder is needed.
Snacks
You will need to provide your child with one small snack and drink each day.
Personal Items
Please encourage your child to leave his/her toys at home. Sharing personal items is often difficult for young children. Some children prefer to play with their own toys rather than get involved with activities and centers with their peers. Broken and/or lost items can be traumatic for your child.
Birthdays
Arrangements can be made with the teacher for a special snack that may be provided by parents around the time of your child's birthday. Summer birthdays can be celebrated - just set up a day with the teacher.
DROP-OFF/PICK-UP PROCEDURES
(See HCS handbook for a detailed map.)
Entrance from Emerson Avenue - Enter parent loop at the top of the hill in the upper drive. Follow the loop past the HCS west wing and proceed through lanes marked in rear staff parking lot. Enter pick-up/drop-off area and wait in your car for HCS staff assistance in the safe zone. Please make sure that cars engines are not running near a school building, as the exhaust fumes can easily go into the classrooms and create problems.
Exit to Emerson Avenue - Exit the back lot and turn right and follow the traffic lane in front of HCS to the foot of the hill. Never exit at the top of the hill. All traffic must exit at the foot of the hill. Always stop at the foot of the hill (at stop sign) and yield to pedestrians or busses. If the crossing guard is present, follow his/her directions. Be careful as you exit onto Emerson Avenue.
If there is a crossing guard present, please follow their direction as they need to manage buses, cars and pedestrians. Patience is always necessary to insure safety of all.
Please do not try to enter the main school parking lot between 8:30-9:15 and again 3:15-4:00 PM. The large school buses are the first priority for entry or exit. Again, patience is always necessary to insure safety of all.
TARDINESS/EARLY DISMISSAL
If you are dropping your child off after the designated drop-off time for his/her program, you must park either in the main parking lot at the other end of the school or across the street at St. Anne's and come into the main office, sign in, get a visitor’s badge, and walk your child to the classroom. If you need to pick-up your child before the regular dismissal time the same procedure is followed.
Please let us know, in writing, if your child will be picked up from school by someone other than yourself. The person picking up your child may be asked to show identification. If you do not know that an alternate person will be picking up your child prior to your child’s drop-off, please call the Main Office with this information (329-6326).
Click here to download the Handbook for the program
T.E.E.C.H.