after preschool enrollment declined during the pandemic School leaders in Camden decided they needed a new approach this year they've been going door to door and even holding enrollment fairs to make sure families have their little ones signed up for Pre-K come September it's all complete with music food and prizes but also Health screenings free vaccinations and the back to school supplies needed to start the year off on the right foot Melissa Rose Cooper has the story kids in Camden are getting to have a little fun before they head back to the classroom next month while also getting some of the most important tools they'll need to succeed if you need uniforms we have uniform vouchers if you need book bags we have book bags free laptops for kindergarten and newly enrolled students were also on site the giveaway is part of the Camden City school district's back to school enrollment and re-engagement fear the event allows families to enroll their children in school an initiative state district superintendent Katrina McComb says is especially important for Early Childhood programs we have multiple seats that we offer our young people over 2 000 seats are available for three and four-year-old students to enter Pre-K free free absolutely free pre-k in any of our locations his evidence that research shows us that children carry throughout the years and sometimes into adulthood mainly in terms of lifelong skills like collaboration creativity social skills Zane of origin is the department chair and professor of early childhood education at the College of Education at Rowan University she says schools Across the Nation including here in New Jersey are still trying to get their enrollment numbers back up after dropping in the wake of the pandemic so that was the period where you know sometimes families were out of work they were working remotely and they had to have their children and not always by choice you know at home and so I think we're just recovering from that slowly the Camden District teaming up with Scholastic for the enrollment and re-engagement event handing out take home reading kids to students the goal is for the children of this District to walk away in lifelong readers and Learners we also know that we anticipate a lot of curiosity and mentoring moments and this will be shared not only in the classroom but in families and the community you are we know that from research when students have access to a large number of books guess what their reading motivation increases their attitudes for reading increases and they have a more positive outlook about their competence as it relates to literacy and growth so again we are excited to be here today and as you can see the kids here they are having a blast and parents say they're so appreciative for all the support they're getting here today I think that's wonderful a lot of kids aren't able to get you know those sort of those resources so for them to provide that it's beautiful Maggie Tatum battle decided to check out the event with her 11 year old daughter Maya who's entering fifth grade she says she's grateful for the help all the services that could possibly be needed in the school in the schools in the school district and in the city it's wonderful it's just a testament to the community here in the city of Camden we are all uniting together to make sure that our young people know the importance and the value of education but that also we can provide support for our families so that they know that we're all in this together families who still haven't enrolled their children in school can contact the district through its website or a solution Center and as long as seats are still available school officials say all students are welcome for NJ Spotlight news I'm Melissa Rose Cooper