This summer, inside a colorful classroom at Samoset Elementary School, a group of bright-eyed four and five-year-olds are practicing their ABC's.
Teacher Aide Doris Schmucker pulls tiny items from a plastic container while holding the letter "N". "Do you know what this is?" asks Schmucker.
"A notebook!" says a little girl, before the entire small group of students repeats the word back to her.
This program is key to starting a successful school year for these new kindergartners, according to Cari Whiddon, VPK Program Manager.
Summer Booster Kindergarten Readiness Camp provides students the opportunity to improve their academic skills prior to the start of the 2022-2023 school year.
For kindergarten teacher Jennifer Bue, it doesn't take long to get to know the kids by name.
She works with another group on their reading skills, as students show excitement about finding out what happens next in the book, "Dad's Turkey Sandwich".
It's almost lunch time - but there's plenty more fun and learning left in their six-hour day of instruction.
The camp runs from early June through mid-July at Samoset Elementary School, with hopes of expanding to five schools next summer.
This year's campers are attending Samoset beginning August 10th - and most will have Mrs. Bue as their kindergarten teacher.
Whiddon says it's a great opportunity for these kids to establish a special bond with their teacher before the first day of school.
PreK Summer Booster Kindergarten Readiness Camp is available to qualifying families thanks to Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds, known as ESSER III funds.
The funding was created by the federal government to make up for some of the losses and meet new demands created by COVID-19.