Lehighton Area School District’s Pre-K Counts program has a few openings available, giving families an opportunity to enroll their children in a classroom designed to prepare them for kindergarten.

Located at Lehighton Area Elementary Center, the program serves children who are at least 3 years old by Sept. 1 of the school year. Students can remain in the program through age 4 before moving on to kindergarten.

“It’s really a stepping stone and a bridge into our kindergarten,” said teacher Lori Hoppes.

The pre-K program operates two sessions each day. The morning session includes breakfast, while the afternoon session provides lunch. Hoppes said mealtimes are an important part of the day because they teach independence and social skills.

“They’re already getting those skills by sitting with friends at a table, eating their lunch, and cleaning up after themselves,” she said. “It even starts right then with building independence.”

Each day begins with a meal followed by a class meeting. Lessons include music and movement; pre-reading activities using children’s literature; and pre-math skills such as counting, measuring and comparing. Science lessons are incorporated through activities such as observing nature and watching plants grow.

Students also practice name recognition, letter recognition and letter sounds.

“We work a lot on fine motor skills,” Hoppes said. “Children get to use Play-Doh, building blocks and kinetic sand — lots of different ways to strengthen their fine motor muscles and get ready to write.”

Much of the learning happens through play-based centers, where students can choose from building with blocks, retelling stories with puppets, creating art projects or using musical instruments and science materials.

Hoppes said the biggest changes she sees in her students go beyond academics.

“The biggest growth that we see is children’s confidence, their independence and their development of social skills in a group setting,” she said.

Curiosity, vocabulary and conversation skills also develop throughout the year. “Their ability to have conversations with other children and adults grows immensely,” she said.

The program has no cost for families because it is funded through Pre-K Counts, but parents must provide transportation. Enrollment is income-based, though Hoppes stressed that the guidelines are broad.

“The parameters are quite generous, so I always want to encourage parents to at least ask,” she said.

Throughout the year, the children participate in field trips and family activities, all free of charge.

“One of our favorites is going to Yenser’s Farm for the pumpkin patch,” Hoppes said. The class also makes visits to the Lehighton library.

Outdoor play is also a daily part of the schedule.

“We have a playground just their size, and lots of space to run,” Hoppes said. “We get outside every day, and that’s an important piece of what we do.”

The program is designed to make the transition to kindergarten smooth. Students become familiar with the school building, practice using lockers and spend time with kindergarten teachers. Toward the end of the year, children moving on to kindergarten visit classrooms and join activities.

“That’s a highlight,” Hoppes said. “They really enjoy that.”

Hoppes, who has taught in the program for three years and has been with the district for 11, said watching the transformation in her students is the most rewarding part of her work.

“Getting to be part of the children’s personalities developing and blossoming from the beginning of the school year to the end is amazing,” she said. “We witness so much growth and joy as they interact with each other, with teachers and with other adults in the building.”

Families can contact Aaron Sebelin at the elementary center at asebelin@lehighton.org or Amanda Citro at acitro@lehighton.org for more information on enrollment.