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Hershey Early Childhood Center A Community Cultivating an Extraordinary Learning Environment

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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.
 
Kindergarten Pre-Registration Now Open
 
Coming Soon! Pre-registration for Derry Township children who will be 5 years of age before September 1, 2014 and plan to attend kindergarten this coming fall will be open March 1 through March 15.  CLICK HERE 

Bulletin Board

  • info   Hershey Youth Football and/or Hershey Junior High School Football 
     All Derry Township School District parents of elementary and middle school ages children interested in participating in Hershey youth football and/or Hershey junior high (school) football programs are encouraged to attend a meeting to be held at 7pm Thursday, March 13th in the Hershey Middle School LGI room. This joint school and youth football program presentation and discussion is intended to inform our parents and children of Hershey’s program progression, player development, and recent changes to the youth league affiliation. We hope you are able to attend and that you’ll find this session informative.
    Comments (-1)
  • info   Revised 2013-14 Schedule
     You are probably aware that Pennsylvania mandates public schools offer a minimum of 180 days of instruction.   What you might not know, however, is that schools must also meet requirements for hours of instruction as well (900 hours elementary, 990 hours secondary). So as a result of all the wintry weather that’s been served up already, the original school calendar is in need of major updates in order to keep us in compliance.  To help you plan, here is  an overview of some key dates moving forward.
        
         • Monday, February 17:  School in session for all students K-12.
         • Tuesday, February 18: Two-hour late start.
         • Thursday, March 13: ½ Day/Early Dismissal for Students in Grades 1-5. 
                Kindergarten and Grades 6-12 will follow a normal schedule.
         • Friday, March 14: ½ Day/Early Dismissal for students in Grades 1-5. 
                PM Kindergarten and Grades 6-12 will not have classes.
         • Wednesday, April 16:  School is in session for all students K-12.
         • Thursday, April 17 -Monday, April 21: No School for students.
         • Tuesday, April 22: Two-hour late start.
         • Monday, May 26: No School for students.
         • Friday, June 6: Classes in session K-12. Graduation for seniors.
         • Monday, June 9: Classes in session for Grades K-11
         • Tuesday, June 10:  Classes in session for Grades K-11
         • Wednesday, June 11:  Classes in session for Grades K-11
     
    The daily schedule for June will be finalized and announced closer to the time, factoring in the need for a revised finals testing schedule and state mandated requirements.
      
    Comments (-1)
  • info   Third Marking Period has been Extended for Secondary Students
     Due to inclement weather the third marking period has been extended to March 31, 2014 for all secondary students grades 6-12.
    Comments (-1)
  • info   HHS Mini-THON
      Hershey High School's 21st annual Mini-THON will be held on March 21-22 from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Mini-THON is a 12-hour dance marathon held at the high school and is modeled after Penn State University's 46-hour THON. Students stay on their feet all night to raise money for the Four Diamonds Fund which benefits pediatric cancer patients at the Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital.
    Donate: online or students can bring cash/checks (made out to HHS Four Diamonds Fund) the night of the event. All Hershey High School students are invited to participate. Click on the provided link to create a personalized donation page and start fundraising today!
     
    Please support the HHS mini-THON throughout the month of February and March by participating in any of the following restaurant fundraisers.

    Friendly’s Thursday 02/13/14, Thursday 02/27/14 or Friday 02/28/14. Please print this voucher and submit it with your bill.
    Wendy's on 03/18/14 from 5-8pm. No voucher is needed.
    Subway Saturday, 3/15/14 - 7am to 10pm-Chocolate Avenue Subway 1319 East Chocolate Avenue Hershey, PA 17033. No voucher necessary

    On Friday 03/14/14 come out to the Hershey Rec All Stars vs. Basketball team game starting at 7pm at the Hershey Middle School. The cost to attend is $3.00 and all profits will be donated to the HHS mini-THON.  There will also be a bake sale at the event. 

    Don't forget about Hershey's second annual male Mr. Hershey Pageant where the High School males will be walking the cat walk for mini-Thon, from 6-8:30 pm in the high school cafeteria on February 11th! Please come out and support Mini Thon!  Each vote is a dollar donated to the HHS mini-THON.
     
    Anyone who is a DTSD approved chaperone is invited to volunteer to chaperone the HHS Mini-THON on March 21-22, 2014.  Please e-mail Elizabeth Blosky or Amy Licata  your full name, time slot preference (6-9pm, 9pm-12am, 12-3am or 3-6am), e-mail address, contact phone number and preferred t-shirt size. 
    Comments (-1)
  • Info Request for Proposals: Legal Services
    Derry Township School District is soliciting proposals from qualified licensed full-service law firms to represent the District in basic legal matters and litigation. The District intends to continue the practice of having a primary law firm as solicitor and to delegate individual matters or specific expertise issues to legal specialists from other firms at our discretion. All proposals must be received by 1:00 pm, Monday, February 24, 2014
     
    Comments (-1)
  • info Free Adult Technology Education Community Help
     Derry Township School District is introducing a series of free technology primer sessions for adults. The Technology Education Community Help For You (TECH4U) training sessions will be held at the District Office and run by the DTSD Technology Department. The sessions will be hands-on and designed for beginners. Participants may bring their own computing device or use one provided by the district during the sessions.

    Each training session is one hour in length.  A total of eight different technology topics have been chosen; community members may attend any or all that they find of interest.  For more information on registration and session descriptions, click here.
    Comments (-1)
  • info   Comprehensive Facilities Planning – Community Input
     Derry Township School District has engaged consultant Fanning Howey, to create a comprehensive facilities master plan that looks at the various “brick and mortar” aspects of the district’s campus and provides a road map both maintenance and enhancement of the learning environment.  As part of the information-gathering process, Fanning Howey invited community input through an on-line survey. CLICK HERE to see the survey responses.
    Comments (-1)