The transition from preschool to kindergarten can be an overwhelming time for both young students and their parents. Students need to adapt to a new setting as they enter public school, and their parents face the challenge of staying up to date on a new schedule. Last year, the Owl Hill Learning Academy partnered with Landisville Intermediate Center (LIC), 330 Mumma Drive, Landisville, to offer Pre-K Counts, a program designed to assist those preparing for kindergarten and beyond.

Pre-K Counts is a free full-day enrichment program for 3- and 4-year-olds who reside in the Hempfield School District. The program uses a state-approved academic curriculum that primarily focuses on literacy, mathematics and social development. Pre-K Counts also seeks to bridge the gap between day care and kindergarten by teaching children how to behave in a more structured setting and how to follow class rules. In addition to preparing children for public school, the program helps parents to become accustomed to a new schedule and checking for emails from teachers.

"Our mission is to offer high quality prekindergarten programming to Hempfield students and to teach them how to be safe and responsible in all areas of their lives," said Julie Mathers, administrator for Pre-K Counts.

Since first being introduced to Hempfield School District, Pre-K Counts has been positively received by families and school staff members alike. The program also allowed for a partnership with Hempfield High School, which gave high school students in child development classes an opportunity to shadow teachers at LIC. After completing a community need evaluation this past spring, Owl Hill Learning Academy began writing grant applications to allow for an additional Pre-K Counts classroom at LIC. The organization was able to implement the expansion at the beginning of September with funding from the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning.

Each Pre-K Counts classroom is outfitted to support 20 students, and the program has a rolling admission process. Families that are interested in registering for the program will be required to take an eligibility screening as part of the admission process. To complete an application, visit https://tinyurl.com/signupprekcounts.

Owl Hill Learning Academy previously operated as part of Owl Hill Learning Center. Although both are based in Lititz, Owl Hill Learning Center focuses on offering child care at its main facility, while Owl Hill Learning Academy operates programs in the Hempfield, Lampeter-Strasburg, Warwick and Conestoga Valley school districts.