Getting ready for your child to attend kindergarten? Dearborn Public Schools offers two new programs to ease youngsters into kindergarten schedules: “Jump Start” for children who did not attend preschool and a “Soft Start” week at the beginning of the school year to ease children into their new schedule.
Kindergarten “Jump Start”
For incoming kindergarten students who did not attend a preschool program, the school district will offer a free one week “Jump Start” program in August. Jump Start provides a comprehensive orientation to kindergarten in a fun and interesting way. Introducing small groups of students to the norms of school life will help them become comfortable and will promote their success in school.
School staff will contact parents of enrolled kindergarteners to inform them of the Jump Start program offered at their school.
In addition to providing an opportunity for students and parents to meet the kindergarten teachers, the week-long Jump Start class will give children an opportunity to learn and play with small groups of students in the school setting. The children will learn about their kindergarten classroom and visit the gym, art room, music room, media center and lunch room.
Kindergarten “Soft Start”
Every Dearborn elementary school plans a Soft Start program for incoming kindergarten students during the first week of school. Kindergarten students will attend school part time during the first four days of school, which begins this year on September 8.
During the hours when the new kindergarteners are not in class that week, each school will hold a variety of activities to meet the needs of its students and families. Teachers may schedule appointments with parents, conduct home visits, complete assessments with students, or conduct parent workshops. Several schools will offer child care during the time students are not scheduled for class.
All students will be in school for a full day by the second week of school which begins Monday, September 14.
For more information about the Dearborn Public Schools “Jump Start” program and “Soft Start” week for incoming kindergarteners, parents may call their local elementary school or the district office at 313-827-3026.