Ready! for Kindergarten expands to Cocolalla

By Reader Staff

After serving Sandpoint-area families for the past 18 years, Ready! for Kindergarten, a free family education program offered locally through Panhandle Alliance for Education, is expanding to Cocolalla.

The workshops equip parents, grandparents and caregivers with practical strategies, take-home learning materials and simple everyday activities that help build early literacy, math, language and social-emotional skills before a child enters school. There will be free child care on site for all participating families. The program feeds into the nonprofit’s wider goal of preparing and supporting Lake Pend Oreille School District students from kindergarten through high school graduation.

“One of the greatest gifts we can give children is a strong start,” stated PAFE Representative Heather Lowman. “By bringing Ready! for Kindergarten to Cocolalla, we’re helping ensure that more families have access to the resources and support they need to prepare their children for success long before the first day of school.”

Space may be limited, so families are encouraged to register as early as possible. Classes take place on Saturdays and will be held at Farmin Stidwell Elementary School (1626 Spruce St., in Sandpoint) on Nov. 7, Jan. 30 and March 27, and at Southside Elementary School (1626 Spruce St., in Cocolalla) on Sept. 26, Jan. 23 and April 17. For more information or to register, visit panhandlealliance.org.