SAD 41 announces second pre-kindergarten session

    LAGRANGE — SAD 41 has announced it will be adding a second pre-kindergarten session for the 2013-14 school year. This is the initial year that SAD 41 has worked in partnership with Penquis Head Start to provide a pre-K program for children of the district, a program that is now housed at the Derby Community Center. Currently the program has space for only 20 area children.

    “Adding this second session will allow for more children to be able to take advantage of pre-kindergarten services in the district.” said Assistant Superintendent Stacy Shorey. Shorey has overseen the program in conjunction with district elementary principals and teacher Heidi Finson since the program’s inception last fall.
    “We are so pleased with this early education opportunity that we wanted to be able to reach out to even more children by increasing to a second session,” said Shorey.” The current Head Start/SAD 41 partnership has focused on literacy acquisition and has allowed for district literacy specialist Julie Royal to work with pre-K students on early literacy concepts,” she added.
    Along with a second session, another major change is a planned program move to Milo Elementary School for the 2013-14 school year. “We feel moving the program to Milo Elementary School will eliminate a transition for the students,” noted Shorey
    “With the addition of the second offering each session will now become a shorter, three hour day for the students. There will be a midday bus run to pick up afternoon students and drop off morning students. While the program will continue to run four days a week, Tuesday through Friday, students will have even more options, such as adding a structured physical education, art and music program to their weekly activities.”
    Children who are 4-years-old by Oct. 15 are eligible to enroll in the program. Application paperwork can be picked up at the Derby Community Center or at one of the elementary schools in the district. Anyone with questions can call any of the district elementary schools or the Derby Community Center at 943-2111. 
    “Should more than 36 students seek enrollment there will be a lottery system used to fill program openings,” added Shorey.