After many months of preparation, Altoona’s 4-year-old kindergarten program, “Altoona 4K… All Aboard,” is set to register its first group of students during the week of Monday, January 12 through Tuesday, January 20. 

   Initial planning for the program began in May 2007, when Altoona School District Curriculum Director Karen Henry and Altoona School District Early Childhood Special Education Teacher Susan Hintgen applied for a grant to explore the special education needs of the pre-kindergarten community in Altoona. 
   Since that time, dedicated community members have been working hard to make the new program a success. Many volunteer hours later, committees have met, ideas have been processed, and forms have been produced to welcome this incoming group of 4-year-olds. 
   The Altoona 4K program will be offered at partner sites throughout the community. The day care sites will have to be licensed for a 4K program to participate. As Hintgen pointed out, “Some parents may prefer to have 4K at their child’s current day care facility.” 
   Nikki Stuve, co-owner of Altoona We Care Childcare and Preschool, is excited to be one of the partner sites.
   “We are expecting 18-20 students,” Stuve said. “We are hopeful that most of our current day care children who are eligible will be participating in the program.” Children are eligible if they will be 4 years old as of September 1, 2009. 
   Both Stuve and We Care co-owner Kathi Murray agree that the 4K program will be a benefit for Altoona’s children. 
   “They will be better prepared for kindergarten – not only academically, but socially as well,” she said.  
   Registration dates and times are as follows:

• Monday, January 12, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Elementary School, 1829 Lynn Avenue.
• Tuesday, January 13, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Altoona We Care Childcare and Preschool, 819 South Hillcrest Parkway.
• Wednesday, January 14, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Lil’ Mouse Playhouse, 3628 Spooner Avenue.
  Thursday, January 15, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the Altoona School District Commons Addition, 1827 Bartlett Avenue.
• Friday, January 16, from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Altoona School District Early Education Center, 701 7th Street West.
• Tuesday, January 20, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Little Star Daycare, 2245 Hayden Avenue.

   Questions about the “Altoona 4K… All Aboard” 4-year-old kindergarten program can be asked by calling the Altoona School District Early Education Center at (715) 832-5543.