All Day Kindergarten

[momof3]

gatormom said:

wvhsparent said:

Re-open Wheatland as an all-day K for those who want it.

That is interesting parent. Were you around when they tried to implement a kindergarten center? It was a disaster. People were not happy and the district backed down. That was around 16 years ago.

The plan was to house K in Indian Plains and bus all the K students there. This was before the overpass on Eola and parents were outraged at the plan.

ETA: It might work for those who are interested and a good way to see how many people really want it. Use a lottery system to select children.

In my sister's district out of state, they assess every incoming kindergartner over the summer and identify those needing more help. Those children go to all day K and then there is a lottery for any remaining open seats.

That being said, her kids went to half day and are both doing great - in the gifted program.

I definately see the value of all day K with small classrooms for kids that need it.

But I don't see the value in all day K for everyone at the expense of bigger classrooms and compromised art and music for all in ES.

eta - another lesson for admin. When you are trying to sell the public on a new program, please don't gloss over and sugarcoat the down side. "There's no downside! This is the one case in recorded history where it actually is too good to be true!"

[title1parent]

What you are stating is pretty much how PCP works. They take those children with needs and then have kids on a waiting list to fill in the rest of the classes. Works for the Preschool....would just be an extension of that concept.

[wvhsparent]

momof3 said:

gatormom said:

That is interesting parent. Were you around when they tried to implement a kindergarten center? It was a disaster. People were not happy and the district backed down. That was around 16 years ago.

The plan was to house K in Indian Plains and bus all the K students there. This was before the overpass on Eola and parents were outraged at the plan.

ETA: It might work for those who are interested and a good way to see how many people really want it. Use a lottery system to select children.

In my sister's district out of state, they assess every incoming kindergartner over the summer and identify those needing more help. Those children go to all day K and then there is a lottery for any remaining open seats.

That being said, her kids went to half day and are both doing great - in the gifted program.

I definately see the value of all day K with small classrooms for kids that need it.

But I don't see the value in all day K for everyone at the expense of bigger classrooms and compromised art and music for all in ES.

eta - another lesson for admin. When you are trying to sell the public on a new program, please don't gloss over and sugarcoat the down side. "There's no downside! This is the one case in recorded history where it actually is too good to be true!"

I was around then, and I recall a little about it.

Keywords in my statement was "for those who want it"...they have to want it (or have it strongly suggested to them it would help their child),
They might even consider doing 2 or 3 schools to keep travel to a minimum. (See I can be sensitive about travel issues too !)

Should be part of the realignment of ES Boundaries considerations. IMHO

[doctorwho]

gatormom said:

wvhsparent said:

Re-open Wheatland as an all-day K for those who want it.

That is interesting parent. Were you around when they tried to implement a kindergarten center? It was a disaster. People were not happy and the district backed down. That was around 16 years ago.

The plan was to house K in Indian Plains and bus all the K students there. This was before the overpass on Eola and parents were outraged at the plan.

ETA: It might work for those who are interested and a good way to see how many people really want it. Use a lottery system to select children.

I was here also with my oldest in school and they not only wanted to do this for K -- but also for PA -- it was going to be a pull out and bus program also -- that idea also was dropped, but we were approached on it at the time.

[EagleDad]

FYI here's a comment I saw on 204's All-Day-K on another blog which I think is golden and must be rembered:

Do you know what I want to see with all day kindergarten? Milk breaks at 10:00a.m. Lunch at noon not in the lunchroom with the older children (it's too distracting) and they need to much extra attention to be in a large cafeteria.They need rest in the afternoon with their own cots and pillows. They'd need an afternoon snack. They are still babies of sorts and not little corporate trainees! Give'em a break I'd have to know the structure of the day before I'd approve this move

I agree with the milk/crackers break and a naptime. I home accomodations are made for this.

[kae]

All day kindergarten eh? I thought that we couldn't do that because we had no space in the elementary schools, not to mention the additional teachers that would need to be added to the ranks. interesting.