Making sure children are prepared and eager to start kindergarten is the goal of a new program just for families of three and four-year children.

READY for Kindergarten! is a free early learning program starting February 12th for families in the Newberg School District whose children will be starting kindergarten in the fall of 2015 and the following year. The program is built on the belief that parents are children’s most powerful teacher.  Three class sessions are designed to help parent participants prepare children with the early learning skills needed to start and stay at grade level throughout school.

Each class is a 90-minute interactive lesson led by a trained instructor. Classes encourage parents to talk, sing, read and play with their child in simple ways that foster essential pre-literacy, pre-math and social-emotional skills. Materials, toys and tools used in class are for participants to take home and use with their child.

Three class sessions are scheduled this spring on February 12, March 5 and April 23. Registration opens at 5:00pm. A meal will be available between 5:15 – 6pm. Childcare is provided with check-in at 5:45pm. The class is from 6 – 7:30pm.

All classes will be held at Mabel Rush Elementary School and are open to all families in the Newberg School District at no cost. Free transportation will be provided from Dundee Elementary, Edwards Elementary and St. Michaels Church neighborhoods.

To reserve your place, please contact Zoraida Anaya to register at 503-554-5000 or register online at www.readyforkindergarten.org/newberg.

READY! for Kindergarten is funded through a grant to the Early Learning Hub of Yamhill County.