LEWISTON – Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care partnered with the Lewiston School Department and Child Development Services in a year-long planning process that resulted in the city’s first pre-kindergarten classrooms at Longley Elementary and Farwell Elementary schools.

By working together, the Lewiston School Department, CDS and Androscoggin Head Start are able to provide enriched pre-kindergarten services to 72 4-year-old children in Lewiston.

The staffs work together in the classroom. At Longley Elementary, an Androscoggin Head Start early childhood educator and Lewiston School Department teacher share teaching responsibilities over two half-day classrooms, and at Farwell Elementary, Head Start, Lewiston School Department and CDS deliver services to children in four half-day classrooms. The goal of the pre-k program is to prepare children for kindergarten by giving them the basic skills required to succeed.

“This program is such a wonderful opportunity for children entering the Lewiston school system,” said Estelle Rubinstein, executive director of Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care.

“Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care has been providing pre-school services in Lewiston for over 40 years, and has enjoyed a wonderful relationship with the Lewiston School Department and CDS. The new pre-kindergarten partnership has brought services to a higher level by joining staff resources to benefit the children and families and served,” she said.

Applications for Head Start programs are accepted at any time. Most are free to eligible children. Call 795-4040 or visit www.androkids.com for more information.