It's that time of year again! MECK Pre-K teachers, assistant teachers and site administrators returned on August 17th to kick-off the new school year. Excited and ready to help young children build a foundation for lifelong learning, they spent the week training, setting up classrooms, conducting family "meet-n-greets" and more. This week students are doing staggered entry, giving them the opportunity to explore their classroom, connect with their new teachers and experience the daily routine.

We we're honored to have Mecklenburg County Manager, Dena Diorio join us at the kick-off event to celebrate successes, extend gratitude and provide words of encouragement for all of the hard work done on a daily basis to provide high-quality pre-K to children in our community. Check out the Mecklenburg Minute video below to hear from Dena and some of our MECK Pre-K providers. On Tuesday, September 6 we will officially start the school year; each class will have their full roster of students present and begin a year of fun and learning. MECK Pre-K will serve almost 1,900 children and their families this year, and we can't wait to see them walk across that stage to receive their pre-K diplomas next June!

Space is limited, but you can still apply for the 2022-2023 school year! Children must turn four on or before August 31 and live in Mecklenburg County to enroll. Visit our website and apply today! If your child won't be four on or before August 31, 2022, don't worry! It's a great time to start learning about the pre-K options available. You can also sign up to be notified when registration is open for your child's year.

The foundation created in a high-quality pre-K program prepares children for the demands of life — not just in the short term as they succeed in school, but also in the long term as they enter adulthood, become employed, and contribute to the strength of the community. Learn more about MECK Pre-K and take the step to help your child start a lifetime of learning!

Here's what MECK Pre-K Curriculum and Teacher Support Manager, Shakekia Moss had to say about her team's role in MECK Pre-K:

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Curiosity is learning! That's the moto at MarcoPolo Learning where they've studied the research showing that curiosity triggers areas in the brain that help us become better at learning skills and retaining information. MarcoPolo Learning's award-winning educational content is designed to nurture curiosity in children, allowing them to learn more and ultimately become better learners. During the time period between February-April 2022, MarcoPolo Learning ran a pilot with MECK Pre-K. Watch the video below to hear from teachers who shared about their experience using the MarcoPolo for Educators platform. MECK Pre-K is excited to introduce this tool in all of our classrooms this year to enhance the learning experience!