Kooken has new afternoon hours
It’s all about little learners at Kooken Educational Center. In fact, Kooken is the only school in the Arlington ISD dedicated exclusively to only one grade level – pre-K for 3-year-olds.
But that’s not the only thing that makes Kooken so special.
“What makes Kooken special is our ability to serve, make connections and design all learning experiences for our 3-year-olds and their families,” said Kooken principal Elizabeth Huebner.
WHY PRE-K 3?
“Early childhood learning is crucial for building a strong foundation for students’ futures, both academically and socially,” Huebner said. “Through rich learning experiences, they experience valuable socialization skills and develop a strong and critical academic foundation.” 
Parents who enroll their children into pre-K 3 give their child a jump start on their peers.
“Kids get their foundation in pre-K 3,” said Staci Nelson, a special education teacher at Morton Elementary who also taught pre-K at Kooken. “They learn to self-regulate and learn how to be learners. When they move on to pre-K 4, they will be prepared for full-day study.”
Pre-K 3 lays that foundation for a lifetime of success.
“Seeing where the little ones begin in August and where they are in May is amazing,” Nelson said.
The biggest reason the students experience such tremendous growth is because of the outstanding teachers and the opportunities they provide.
“Our teachers also provide such rich and bountiful opportunities extending past the classroom walls – through the STREAM Maker lab, Outdoor Classroom and pre-K yoga – while still focusing on social-emotional skills,” said Stephanie Ross, Kooken’s instructional coach.
JOIN THE KOOKEN KOALA FAMILY
Kooken is more than a school for pre-K 3. It’s one big family.
“When families walk through our doors, they are part of the Koala family, or what we like to call ourselves, the SUPER (Supportive, Unified, Positive, Engaging and Responsible) Dream Team,” Huebner said. “Every faculty member assists in family engagement. Whether it is enrollment, parenting classes, family nights or learning experiences.” 
Join the Kooken family and register your 3-year-old for half-day pre-K at Kooken today. It’s free if you qualify, but if you don’t, Kooken offers an affordable tuition-based program.
Plus, there are morning and afternoon options. And this year, the afternoon times are changing to help parents who may have children at other schools. The morning class is from 8:10-11:20, and the afternoon class is 11:55-3:05.
You can start the registration process online here. Or come see us in-person at Thornton Elementary and get registration assistance Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon from June 9-26* and then again July 7-17.*
Learn more about all of our outstanding pre-K programs throughout the district at aisd.net/prek and don’t hesitate to contact the pre-K team at (682) 867-9418 or prekquestions@aisd.net with any of your questions.
*Click here for more details.