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Chisago Lakes Community Education's new Pre K program, Stepping Up to K, was a huge success this summer. The program was offered through Kids Club and gave pre-K students and their families a learning/childcare opportunity over the summer.

The primary goal was to provide families with an exciting and reliable opportunity to get a head start in preparing for kindergarten. The first day of school is a big deal for kindergartners and their parents. Therefore, Kids Club helped by acclimating the pre-k students to school during the summer months, to make that first day less stressful.

Parent Jennifer Barnick said, "My daughter was very anxious about starting kindergarten in the fall. But now after attending Stepping Up to K over the summer, she is looking forward to and very excited about kindergarten!"

Another parent, Tom Kieffer, said, "We appreciated the time spent with a kindergarten teacher during the program."

Parent Kelly Hoover said, "It has been a great experience for my daughter. She loves all of the teachers!"

Kids Club is looking forward to offering Stepping Up to K again next summer for students starting kindergarten in 2010.

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