Early Childhood Center
450 Rear Homestead Road, PO Box 898, Hershey, PA 17033
Phone: (717) 531-2211 Fax: 531-2351
Office Hours: 7:45 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Regular School Hours: 8:40 a.m. - 3:35 p.m.
AM Kindergarten: 8:40 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
PM Kindergarten: 12:45 3:35 p.m.
Jacquelyn Castleman, Principal
Opened in 2002, the Early Childhood Center (ECC) commences the educational process in Derry Township School District. The 72,000 square foot facility serves students in kindergarten and first grade.
The ECC provides a safe environment that is conducive to the needs of young learners, many of whom are experiencing their first formal schooling. Utilizing developmentally appropriate teaching strategies and hands-on learning opportunities, the dynamic curriculum allows students the opportunity to gain knowledge through practical, meaningful experiences, thus stimulating an interest and excitement for learning.
The building has a card access system and offers telephone, television and intranet access in each classroom. Other amenities include a multi-media center, a cafeteria/multi-purpose room and a full court gymnasium.
Annual events at the ECC include: Back to School Night, Book Fair, International Fair, Kindergarten and New Student Orientations, Parent/Teacher Conferences, Read Across America activities, Young Learners Showcase and a reading incentive program.
The dismissal times for Tuesday, June 5, the last day of school, are as follows: High School and Middle School will dismiss at 9:18 a.m.; Elementary grades 1-5 will dismiss at 10:20 a.m. AM Kindergarten will be on their regular schedule. There will be NO PM kindergarten.
To help students considering the selection of a foreign language they may wish to study, a special exploratory web site has been created by district ;language instructors. Students can explore the language and the culture of French and Spanish by watching videos and playing games on topics like the alphabet, numbers, colors, and much more.
