Published: May 02, 2009 10:31 pm      

Class of 2022 readies for kindergarten

Educators at New Hope Elementary School hope to see fewer tears in this fall’s kindergarten class.

At the first of monthly orientations that began in January, prospective students were still clinging to their parents’ legs. Now, says principal Brinda Clayton, more members of the class of 2022 take off with school staff and teachers with a nonchalant “See ya, mom!”

“This is kind of like an induction to our school,” media specialist Kristi Crumpton said following one of the school’s orientation sessions. “We want kids to feel comfortable coming in.”

This is the first year the school has opened its orientation to area preschool, day care and Head Start programs instead of only to siblings of students who were zoned to attend New Hope. About 25 parents and children attended the March orientation. Each monthly event is designed to introduce newcomers to a different aspect of the school.

Rising kindergartners get to meet the office staff, principal, and teachers outside of their regular classes. Students often do OK in their regular classes but become upset when they’re taken outside of their usual setting to specialized classes like music and computers, several teachers said.

“They latch on to us,” said kindergarten teacher Denise Langford, “and then it’s like we’re leaving them ... We usually have about three or four criers per room at the beginning.”

Parent Brittany Sewell said she suggested having a “practice lunch” in the cafeteria for one of the orientation sessions so that parents and their children will know what to expect. Children are required to choose their own food, remember to get a fork and napkin, and must be able to tell the cashier their four-digit identification number for payment — and some say that can be quite a task for the average kindergartner.

“Where else do you have to go and tell the lady some number when you’re 4?” said Crumpton.

Other Whitfield schools offer a one-day kindergarten orientation before school starts. Orientation information is provided by individual schools.

In Murray County, elementary curriculum director Barbie Kendrick said the process varies by school. For example, at Coker Elementary School, some teachers invite parents and their upcoming kindergartners to visit once a week for a few hours during the summer.

“It really cuts down a lot on anxiety that first day,” she said.

Schools that don’t have mini sessions at least have a one-day orientation program before school starts. Parents receive letters from their individual schools explaining the process.

Five of the six elementary schools in the Dalton Public Schools district will hold kindergarten orientations this month, and families will receive mailed invitations to the events.

“Activities often include riding a school bus, going through cafeteria line to get a snack, visiting classrooms, etc.,” said spokeswoman Deana Farmer.

If students have not enrolled for 2009-2010 kindergarten yet, families may call the Dalton Public Schools’ enrollment center for an appointment at (706) 876-4065.