HAMPTON -- After two years of planning, the Hampton Child and Family Program started morning classes this week with a full roster. "We thought it would be Christmas before we were full," said Pat McKenzie, Board of Directors President. The full-up morning class has seventeen three-year-olds and twenty four-year-olds with a proposed afternoon class that is filling fast. The pre-school project with class rooms in building D, of the One Merrill Industrial Park building is an offshoot of the statewide Success-By-Six initiative. Virginia Bridle, Executive Director, brings 13 years of owner/teacher experience to the school.

The preschool is a truly affordable program with tuition for a two-day attendance per week cost-of $20 per week and a three-day per week tuition of $25 per week. Funding is available for scholarships, and there is an even mix of funded children and full-pay children. "Our philosophy shows how we are different," says Chairman McKenzie. "There will be parenting education, and a link with the public school system and with Head Start."

Families will be a working part of the program. There will be programs for adults on Adult Literacy, Parent Support, How to Listen to Your Child Workshop and Active Parenting. More information is available by calling 929-7349.

The Hampton Child and Family Program could not have come about without the generosity of the following sponsors: Alpha Investments; Brownie Troop 738; Chatham Trust; Davidson Rubber/Textron; EBPA Healthsource; Educational Field Services; Exeter Hospital; Foss Manufacturing; Greater Piscataqua Community Foundation; Hampton PTA; Hampton Rotary; Hampton Seniors; Hampton Firefighters Union; Kid Stop and Charlie Brewer; Omni Hotels; Rockingham County Diversionary Funding; Tyco International; United Way; and Wheelabrator Technologies Charitable Trust.