The Step By Step Preschool Program is a collaboration between the Northwood, Nottingham and Strafford school districts. It is designed to nurture individuality, creativity, positive self-image, and respect for self and others. Parents, family members and community agencies are valued as participants in this program.
The program is designed to be developmentally appropriate for children 3 – 5 years old. It is a child-focused program where accommodations are made for children in order to meet their specific needs. Children attend 2 to 3 sessions per week, lasting 2 ˝ hours each.
The program focuses on the five primary stages of child development:
- social/emotional;
- physical;
- cognitive;
- linguistic (language); and creative.
Children in the program learn through active exploration and interaction in an enriching environment where opportunities for socialization, dramatic play, art, language, music and movement are integrated into daily activities.
Area children are eligible to attend the Step By Step Preschool Program. Children who have special education needs, and typically developing students learn and play together. Our goal is to have an integrated program with 50% special needs students and 50% typically developing students.
The Step By Step Preschool Program provides a low student-to-teacher ratio. All staff are highly qualified and meet or exceed New Hampshire’s licensing requirements.
For more information about the Step By Step Preschool Program call 679-8611.
SAU 44 is in the process of renovating the Brookside School to house our preschool program. The Step By Step Preschool offers developmentally appropriate programs for children 3 – 5 years old. Designed specifically to meet the educational and developmental needs of children with disabilities, the program focuses on meeting the specific needs of each child through a comprehensive team approach. This inclusive program offers children with and without disabilities the opportunity to learn and play together.
The program has outgrown its current space in Lee. Through a collaboration between the towns of Northwood, Nottingham and Strafford, the Advent Christian Church, and SAU 44, we are in the process of renovating the Brookside School in Northwood to house the Step By Step Preschool. This building, with its long history of service to the community, is in need of extensive renovations to make it usable for the preschool. Built in the mid-1800’s, the school building was purchased by the Advent Christian Church in 1963, and used as additional Sunday School space. Over the years, the building has deteriorated, and does not meet accessibility code. Now, we want to renovate the building, maintain its historic integrity, and bring it up to code to educate a new generation of children. The Advent Christian Church will provide a long term, no cost lease to the district if the building is renovated. This will result in substantial savings to the district, as we will no longer be paying rent for program space. This will allow us to better serve more children, and keep them in their own community.
The SAU 44 Joint School Board is undertaking the necessary renovations to save the building.
Much needs to be done inside and out. The foundation, roof, chimney, fire escape, and cupola need repair. New windows and doors are needed, as well as a new coat of paint. A new well and sewer system are needed. Inside, the building needs insulation, paint, lighting, new plumbing and heating. A number of other items must be taken care of in order to meet health, safety and accessibility codes, while maintaining the historical integrity of the building. The board estimates that $197,000 is needed for the renovations.
Some money has been appropriated by each town, and donations of building supplies and labor have been provided. But we need much more to make our dream a reality. We need your help! Businesses can provide cash, materials, and/or labor. Individuals can make contributions to the Preschool Building Fund. Volunteer help is also appreciated.
Working together, we can make this a building the community can be proud of, and that will meet the needs of our very young, vulnerable children for years to come. Won’t YOU please help?
For more information, to make a donation, or to volunteer, contact SAU 44 at 942-1290.
The SAU’s preschool program has moved to the Nottingham Community Universalist Church, 106 Church Street, Nottingham, NH, telephone (603)679-8400. The preschool serves children 3-5 years old. For more information contact the SAU office at 942-1290.
