AUBURN – The Auburn School Department is accepting names for next year’s pre-kindergarten programs at Sherwood Heights, Fairview and Park Avenue elementary schools.

Due to demand, schools are unable to accommodate all of the children whose families have indicated an interest. Therefore, students will be picked by lottery.

To enter the lottery, parents need to include their child’s name and their own names, child’s date of birth, telephone number, home address and child care address. The information can be e-mailed to [email protected] or parents can phone 333-6600, extension 1201.

Children are eligible for pre-K if they will be 4 years old on or before Oct. 15, 2008. Parents who have already submitted their child’s name do not need to re-submit it.

Names will be accepted until noon on Wednesday, May 7. The lottery will be held at 4 p.m. that day in the Community Room at the Auburn Hall. Parents do not have to attend the lottery for their child’s name to be drawn.

Children’s names will be drawn according to where they live or attend child care.

Once the pre-K sites are full, the remaining names will be placed on a list of alternates.

Auburn pre-K is a public program that offers bus transportation at no cost to parents.