After years of not having a 4K program at all, you will see another positive change for early childhood education this fall at Gibraltar Area Schools. The Gibraltar Area School Board unanimously approved extending the four-year-old kindergarten to a full-day program on its campus in Fish Creek and at the Northern Door Children's Center in Sister Bay. The move comes ahead of the enrollment period for 4K, which runs from February 1st to March 7th. Gibraltar Elementary School Principal and 4K Director Lauren Ward says that before the decision, the district was the only one on the Door County mainland without a full-day 4K program. Like they did before creating their half-day program two years ago, Ward also wanted to make sure that the area's existing early childhood centers would be able to survive if the district entered the 4K education space.

Ward says they will still offer half-day options at Gibraltar, Northern Door Children's Center, and The Ridges Sanctuary Dragonfly Nature Preschool. However, those wanting to enroll into all-day 4K will be given preference. The district is having an informational meeting on the full-day program on January 16th at Northern Door Children's Center in Sister Bay at 5 p.m.