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As they bundled up in coats and jackets, snow still covering half the playground at noon Thursday, the students in Lisa Constine's class for 4-year-olds at the South Routt Early Learning Center sang the "Goodbye Song" as they left.

The students were saying goodbye to their school for the day, joining their parents to go home, which could be anywhere across southern Routt County. Families drive to the early learning center from as far away as Stagecoach and Burns. At $12 for a half-day session - either morning or afternoon - the preschool caters to nearly 60 families.

Even with its enrollment of 60 students, Tami Hotchkiss, director of the center, said the facility is only about two-thirds full. The early learning center has a maximum enrollment of 95 students spread through several sessions.

The extra space was created last year when the center moved to a new facility in Yampa, next door to the South Routt Elementary School. The group has been in operation for three years, but the new facility was a major improvement and expansion, Hotchkiss said.

The center's new facilities feature a full playground and two large, brightly lit classrooms.

Parent Tammy Delto, who brings 4-year-old Trinity from Phippsburg, said she brought Trinity's older brother to the center's old facility in Oak Creek and is happy to make the short drive to Yampa for the new location.

"They have more space and more facilities for the students here," she said.

The new building also has two one-way windows, where parents can see into the classrooms but the students are not distracted by their presence.

To recruit new families the center is hosting health screenings including cognitive, social/emotional, vision and hearing tests from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the center. To register, families are encouraged to call the South Routt School District office at 970-736-2313.

Early learning center registration for next year is open until September.

Hotchkiss said the group also will host a community park picnic in May and a Zoo Mobile rural family safety event later this year.

"It's allowing us to better serve the kids across the board," she said about the center's bigger classrooms and play areas.

The group also hopes to find grants to expand the playground area to include a path for the children's tricycles.

- To reach Zach Fridell, call 871-4208

or e-mail zfridell@steamboatpilot.com