BRUNSWICK

A program to help pre-kindergarten students acclimate to school life has earned some needed funding.

Through private donations, a fundraising event and a $10,000 commitment from the Brunswick School Board, the estimated $21,000 needed to operate the Cub Camp program has been mostly raised.

Cub Camp serves as a pre- K program and was started last year when federal money was used to help students who needed extra attention before enrolling in school.

While benefiting Brunswick students, the program is not run by the Brunswick School District.

The district does not have a pre-kindergarten program open to all students, and lacks the necessary space or the estimated $300,000 to operate it, Superintendent Paul Perzanoski said in a previous interview.

Based on projections, a formal pre-K program would serve about 120 incoming students each year.

Willo Wright, the force behind the program’s fundraising, said the community needs to be involved in what’s happening in schools. Last year, 40 out of 196 students assessed presented red flags with number and letter recognition, limited vocabulary or difficulty with socialization, Wright said.

About 40 students participated in last year’s Cub Camp, and that number is expected to remain consistent for this year.

Lori Watson, a behavior interventionist at Coffin Elementary School and lead teacher of Cub Camp, said last year’s pilot program allowed for amazing gains from students.

She said many students are not accustomed to a school day and the endurance it takes — learning how to sit in a group, listen to a story or stand in a line.

Students who participated in the camp last year were from all walks of a life, and the summer program helps ease anxiety about school and allows a child to learn about what a day in the life of a kindergarten student is like.

Watson said the experience is valuable for students, and apart from literacy and math instruction, teaches the foundations of a kindergarten experience.

Students were provided transportation to and from the class and the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program provided lunch.

Four teachers worked for five weeks to ready the students for kindergarten, with positive results. In compiled data of student improvement, all students demonstrated marked improvement.

Anecdotally, Watson said she remembers one student in particular who had difficulty adhering to a routine and following directions. When the student came to school in the fall, the student was able to adjust easily to the classroom environment.

Coffin Elementary School Principal Steve Ciembroniewicz said Thursday he was amazed by the support of the community and the dedication of Wright in raising money to fund the program.

“It’s pretty amazing, and the outpouring of community support is inspiring,” he said.

This summer’s Cub Camp will run in two sessions in July and August, and is reserved for children who score lower on assessment tests than their peers.

Perzanoski said Cub Camp, although not run by the schools, will act as a bridge until the school-run pre-K program is implemented, when a new Coffin Elementary School may be built.

Voters will decide June 13 whether to support building a new, $28 million school.