Families were given the chance to see what the PathStone in Lehighton is all about at an open house Friday afternoon at the building at 110 N. Third St.

The event included food and games, classrooms visits and an opportunity to meet the staff.

Ashley Campanelli of Lehighton said she was glad she brought her son, Dominick Campanelli, 4, with her to check out all the facility has to offer.

“It’s for him to start school,” Campanelli said. “It’s interesting, and (to get him) to know other children.”

Campanelli said the school’s reputation speaks for itself.

“I heard great things about this school, and they come highly recommended,” she said. “They have great teachers, nice people.”

Lori Roke, campus director, said this was the third open house this summer the school has held to “showcase our quality program and the services we provide to the children, families, and our community.”

Roke explained the purpose of the open houses.

“We want to integrate the school into the community more and to be a strong presence,” Roke said. “Everyone we’ve seen has loved the classrooms and all signed back up for the program.”

Roke said the PathStone Carbon County Child Development Center is the name of the program.

She said the school offers a free Early Childhood Development Program from birth to age 5, and provides three meals a day, along with transportation for preschool age children.

Roke said Aug. 13 marks the beginning of Early Head Start Center Based, which is age 6 weeks to 3 years; Early Head Start Home Based is for expectant families and children up to 3 years old.

The Head Start and Pre-K Counts, for 3 years to kindergarten eligible children, begins Sept. 3.

Roke said their health and family engagement coordinators work with the families to ensure their children are up to date on their health requirements and also work with the families to create and accomplish family goals.

She said the education team focuses on lesson planning, curriculum, and working with families on improving suspected disabilities, as well as works with the families to create and accomplish family goals.

Roke said the home visiting team is where they go into the homes to work with early Head Start home base program.

She said two of their teachers stayed on through the summer to help get the classrooms cleaned and ready for next year.

PathStone offers free preschool programming for qualified families; provides education, health and social services to pregnant women and children, birth to kindergarten eligible. Children with special needs are welcomed and encouraged to apply.

“We are a quality, early childhood education program that works with children and families,” Roke said. “We want all children to get a ‘Head Start’ in life.”

Call 610-377-5671 to apply.