Kids in the Collinsville community are “Gearing up for Kindergarten!” This means staggered attendance for kindergartners on the first two days of school.
CUSD 10 Kindergarten teachers have developed a program to help ease families and kindergartners into the classroom. The theme Gearing up for Kindergarten has been in motion since early spring when each school invited incoming students and their families to a Gearing up Night where they had a chance to view the building and classrooms, as well as meet the teachers and principals.
During this time, the teachers shared different tasks the new kindergartners could do during the summer to ease the transition — including activities like using a pencil and sitting with books. According to Renfro Elementary kindergarten teacher Ginger Schantz, “The kindergartners left with a baggie of goodies and a smile. The district is thrilled with the amount of early kindergartners we were able to meet.”
The next transition activity will take place during the first week of school. Since it is important that the foundation of young learners begin with an smooth entry into kindergarten, the kindergarten teachers and district agree that this can be done through a smaller classroom size the first two days of school.
On Tuesday August 15th, ONLY kindergartners with last name A-K will attend.
On Wednesday August 16, ONLY kindergartners with the last name L-Z will attend.
PLEASE NOTE: An adult is asked to be in attendance with their kindergartner on the assigned day for an hour. At the end of that hour, the teachers and students will be busy working on routines and developing friendships.
Schantz is excited about the new program. “This transition into the classroom has been important to the kindergarten teachers for many years. Through a smaller classroom setting at the start, we are easing some of the fears and anxiety that the first day may bring. This is going to be also an opportune time to build relationships with the students and parents.”