Preschool: Early Childhood

Discovery

Early Childhood Programs at Hash School provides young children a wide range of experiences in a very nurturing environment. Because Preschoolers and Kindergarten kids are emerging from the comfort and security of their homes, Hash School programs ease them gently and playfully into the world of peers. At Hash School, children come to trust their teachers who are caring, supportive and knowledgeable about this journey.

Learning

Serious respect for the work and play of children is combined with developmentally appropriate expectations of classroom routine and social learning. Children begin to learn how to get along with others – to share, to be aware of other people’s feelings, to express themselves in words, to solve disputes.

In Hash School’s diverse, thoughtful community, we strive for collaboration among teachers, parents, and children that models the values of cooperation and lifelong learning. Our intent is not just the schooling of children but intellectual nourishment of the whole family.

Three facets make up the early childhood program at Hash Preschool. They include a developmental Nursery for 2.5 to 4.5 year-olds and Kindergarten for 4.5 to 6 year-olds, as well as a Parent Education and Support programs.

Nursery Program

In Hash School’s Nursery Program, an environment is created where learning takes place naturally and intellectual growth flourishes, but is never forced. Through stories, art, nature, indoor and outdoor activities and movement, children are supported as they explore their world and become more independent.

As children become more at ease with separation, they begin to form peer relationships and increasingly become part of a group. Nursery provides challenge and intellectual stimulation within a warm emotional climate. Teachers and children create experiences together that arouse curiosity, inspire discovery and stretch muscles. Through observing children closely, teachers determine needs, temperament, and readiness for next steps.

There is a special emphasis on social-emotional development in Nursery, based on the values of community and empathy. Children are given the tools and skills needed to participate in cooperative interactions, to resolve conflicts peacefully, to stand up for themselves and others, and to be active, responsible members of a group.

At Hash School we are committed to fostering in children the sense of well-being and confidence that enables them to appreciate others and instills real understanding across cultures.

Kindergarten Program

Kindergarten at Hash School is a time when children and their families enter a larger, more diverse community; when children are discovering their autonomy, yet still need supportive adults to help them make sense of the world. This is a time when the transition between play and learning is still seamless. Kindergarten provides children with an opportunity to learn (and practice) the essential problem-solving and communication skills that they will use throughout their schooling. Through immersion in a participatory and inquiry-based curriculum, students develop a sense of autonomy and internalize a feeling of safety.

Parent Education and Support Program

Our intention is to nurture an affectionate partnership between teachers and parents. To encourage open communication between home and school, parent education and discussion time in parent meetings are offered every month.