Staff at the Popo and Lupe Gonzalez School for Young Children will open its doors Thursday for Preschool Preview, offering the public its first look at the campus, which will officially open Aug. 23.

From 5 to 7 p.m., visitors can meet school staff, ask questions and learn about upcoming registration sessions.

Residents visiting the campus on Thursday can walk throughout the 64,000-square-foot facility, which was designed with each room resembling city buildings and storefronts.

Principal Felicia Sprayberry said the open house will allow residents to preview the innovative campus. The school will provide a friendly and nurturing environment that was designed with preschool children in mind, she said.

“The feel of this program is of a community, because the school belongs to the community,” Sprayberry said. “The feel of the school is that of little children coming to learn in an environment that is natural and that is so much like their community, so that they learn to become involved and feel like they are part of where they live.”

One of the school’s namesakes, Emilio “Popo” Gonzalez, said that throughout construction of the facility he only viewed its development from Loop 288. Gonzalez, who plans to attend Thursday’s preview with his wife, Guadalupe — the school’s other namesake — and their immediate family, said he’s excited about taking his first look at the new school.

“I’m in for a surprise,” he said. “I understand that it’s beautiful, and I’m sure that it is. I saw a video that they [the Denton school district] put together, and if it’s anything like the video, it’s going to be tremendous. It’s going to be unlike any other school.”

DRC/Barron Ludlum

A section of the Popo and Lupe Gonzalez School for Young Children displays a U.S. Postal Service design.

View larger More photos Photo store

About 270 children have been registered to attend the school, and Sprayberry said enrollment could increase to 350 students by opening day.

The school is registering 3- and 4-year-old students who qualify for pre-kindergarten, and students ages 3 to 5 who qualify for preschool programs for children with disabilities.

Children ages 3 and 4 who don’t qualify for either program but live within district boundaries can enroll in the school’s tuition-based Pre-School Academy.

Registration is slated for 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 5 and 6.

The school is located at 1212 Long Road. For more information, call 940-369-0584.

BRITNEY TABOR can be reached at 940-566-6876. Her e-mail address is btabor@dentonrc.com .