Incoming kindergarten students have chance to experience school
On Tuesday, March 22, the Medford Township School District held an event at Kirby’s Mill School to help incoming kindergarten students get acclimated to elementary school life. The children were able to take part in activities such as coloring, reading and racing around on scooters.
This was the first year the district held this event. The theme revolved around racing. The children were even able to take a picture with a race car.
“It is one of a series of programs that we are putting on for parents and students,” Superintendent Joseph Del Rossi said. “The biggest outcome for me is seeing the excitement in the kids when they come in, and they are greeted and engaging in activities and getting a feel for school as a happy, welcoming place, a place where you can have fun. That is really important for us. Each one of our areas speaks to different developmental skills for kids. This is a fantastic program and a great way for a child to transition from preschool into kindergarten.”
Amy King, a media specialist at Kirby’s Mill who has worked for the district for 23 years, was helping during the event.
“When I taught kindergarten here, everything was different,” King said. “Kids came in not knowing their letter, not knowing their sounds. Some of them could not write their names. Now we expect them to be reading. They did increase the program to a full-day program. In order to keep up with that and to help the kids succeed, you have to have the parents’ support. The parents did not go to school to be teachers. They are not aware of the changes to the curriculum and how to prepare them and help them succeed. Some of the activities are geared to helping them prompt their children in the right way, notice things and illustrations in books, how letters work together and teach them some of the strategies that teachers use in the classroom so they can have successful learning opportunities at home.”
“We want children to be successful,” King added. “If we have knowledge that can help parents be successful at home, then it will provide a more enriching experience when they do their homework. We need to educate the parents and help them do that, not to mention having the children feel comfortable in the school setting. Getting to see their teachers tonight is just another opportunity. They have a kindergarten roundup that happens in April, so there is another experience to see that. Some of the kids have not been in a school setting. Activities like this make them feel comfortable with things like where the bathrooms are and things like that.”
Dylan Marabella, who is one of the incoming kindergartners, was excited about being at the school and taking part in the activities and being in kindergarten next year.
“I saw the race cars,” Dylan said gleefully. “I am looking forward to candy.”
The annual kindergarten round-ups will still take place at each elementary school the children will attend. However, this unique event was an early way to get the kids excited about school.
Click the box below to see more images from the event.
