Parents in the Poplarville School District will have an opportunity to participate in a series of training sessions to help prepare their preschooler for kindergarten through a Parent Academy.

The six topics covered during the sessions will help parents gain the knowledge and acquire teaching materials needed to ensure their child is ready for their first day of class in the Poplarville School District.

Poplarville Lower Elementary Principal Candace Henderson said the six-month course is open to parents with 4-year-old child who will be 5 in time for school next year. Each course will be held once each month, and parents who participate in all six will receive a package of educational materials worth $150 to $200.

The courses will focus on key areas that will help their child when he or she enters kindergarten. Topics include oral language, alphabet and writing, reading, mathematics, general development and guided practice.

Through each session, the parent will learn hands-on how to effectively teach their child those skills. These skills can help children communicate more effectively, learn to associate and identify common items and increase their vocabulary, Henderson said. Parents will also learn how to lead their child to writing through drawing.

The purpose is to provide the parents with the necessary skills and materials so they can teach their child at home, Henderson said. All of the materials are provided to the parents free of charge through a grant from the Barksdale Reading Institute. Henderson said that statewide, more than 40 schools applied for the funding, but only 10 were approved.

Door prizes and gift cards will be given away at each session.

Henderson hopes to make this inaugural event an annual training session for Poplarville area parents.

Child care for children 4 and older will be provided, in addition to a light dinner for the parents.

Classes will be held on Oct. 26, Nov. 28, Jan. 25, Feb. 22, March 22 and April 26. All classes will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. each of those nights at the Poplarville Lower Elementary campus.

Parents are urged to pre-register before the first class by calling the school at 601-795-4736. Even if a parent misses the first classes, they can still register for the remaining sessions. And, sessions that conflict with a parent’s schedule can be attended by a close relative such as the child’s grandparent.