Hot Springs Community Learning Center

FYI: The Kindergarten cut off date in NC (regulated by the NC Department of Education) is August 31st.  A child must turn 5 years old before August 31st in order to attend a public school kindergarten in North Carolina.  HSCLC has prepared a wonderful, final pre-school option for 'almost' five's who fall into this category.

Program Highlights........
The Transitional Kindergarten (TK ) area of the Hot Springs Community Learning Center is a lively, creative environment for our  four and five year olds.  Lead by Lead Teacher Ms. Lou, the program promotes positive socialization and hands-on learning experiences with a focus on emergent literacy through aethestedic, physical, and cognitive domains of learning.    Integrating the 3 - 5 year olds, then breaking off for small group activities with our rising 4's, we provide plenty of open times for learning through play and meaningful, developmentally appropriate learning experiences.  We keep a small class size of 8 students for plenty of 1:1 attention, yet big enough for group games and practicing partners activities.  After a year of TK at HSCLC, children are recommended for either kindergarten or first grade, depending on their readiness at that time.

*Currently available:  1 Full Time Spot for the coming 2011-2012 school year.
* If your four year will be five by January 1st, they can be considered for this TK Program by parent request.

Schedule
8 am - 3 pm Monday - Friday
*We highly suggest that your TK Student participates five days per week to get the full benefit of elementary school readiness.


Full and Part Time Enrollment Programs

Full Time:
Five Days per week  > $535 per child / per month

Part Time : Per Child / Per Month
Three Full Days per week: *$396
Two Full Days per week: *$265

• The curriculum at Hot Springs Community Learning Center follows developmentally appropriate practices creating our plans custom designed to the actual children in our groups.  The whole Center staff meets monthly to explode the theme and decide which angles to take.  *See calendar theme schedule below.  Then each program team meets weekly to design our activity plans for the next coming week.  This allows for the most creative experiences addressing individual and group goals.  Community Visitors are infused on the average of about 1 per week.  They bring their expertise to the learning environment and make themselves available to the children in the spirit of community building.
• We feature a unique 'Pretend Area' program that changes with each theme.  The children are active participants in the design and creation of this area of the Center. 
• The Playground and Garden area are safe, fun, AND beautiful with the children engaged in outdoor games, the sandbox, our homemade balance beams, stage, web-dome climber, trikes and bikes, all kinds of balls, sidewalk chalk, hoola hoops, jump ropes and more! 
• All our staff already have or are pursuing, the NC Early Child Care Credential.  They are equipped with knowledge of the development for each age group, as well as an understanding and plenty of practice guiding children in a daily routine with creativity and joy. We are currently a four star NC State Licensed child care facility, angling toward 5 stars. 
• We fully support and accept subsidy vouchers from DSS and Smart Start.
• Each program at the center follows a monthly character building theme as well as a fun science type theme to explore. *See below... 

We believe that it truly does take the entire village to raise a child.  Graciously, our community is there for us in so many ways with special visits for book reading, projects, and songs.  They have also organized various scholarship funds to help with the cost of tuition.  We are truly blessed at HSCLC by our loving friends and neighbors.

• September : Community Connections
• October : Appalachian Heritage
• November : Gratitude & Responsibility
• December : Celebrations
• January : Imagination
• February : Love & Outer Space
• March: Forgiveness & Transportation
• April: Spring & Green Practices
• May: Our Amazing Bodies

Holidays and Celebrations

• We explore and celebrate a wide variety of holidays throughout the year together. Since our goal is to get to know who our community is, we will look to learn how we can celebrate in all our ways!

Theater Productions

• Throughout the year the children will explore a variety of visual performing arts such as singing, playing instruments, and movement with dance and yoga. In our Summer Camp Program we create and perform several theatrical productions for all the community to enjoy.

Financial Aid

• This a a licensed child care facility, so families may take part in the subsidy options provided by the Madison County Department of Social Services and Smart Start Partnership for Families and Children.  Click this link for more info.
• Families in need of tuition credits may inquire about our Community Scholarship & Volunteer Program.