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Wednesday, April 26, 2006
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Rehearsal for kindergarten KinderClub provides readiness experience Staff Writer NISSWA - Is your child ready for kindergarten?
A new offering for children entering kindergarten next fall in both Nisswa and Brainerd will allow them to attend all-day child care combined with an enrichment and school readiness experience this summer.
Brainerd Community Education last fall began offering the fee-based KinderClub program to kindergartners at Riverside and Baxter elementary schools on the alternate days when students would not have kindergarten. Nisswa's KinderClub program will start this fall. All-day, everyday kindergarten is offered at the five other elementary schools at no cost to parents.
Special funding was available for a few of those schools as a result of the higher number of students who qualify for free or reduced lunches. The Brainerd School Board decided last year to expand all-day, everyday kindergarten to other schools with a high number of students who qualify for free or reduced lunches. School districts do not receive additional compensation for all-day, everyday kindergarten.
The KinderClub program has become so well-received that the Summer KinderClub program will be offered for children entering kindergarten next fall. This summer program will be offered at two sites - Washington Educational Services Building in Brainerd and Nisswa Elementary School. Children will be able to spend time with their peers in an enhanced kindergarten setting. Their learning experiences will include the following areas: language arts, health, art, social studies, science, physical education, computer skills, math and music, along with cooking, creative dramatics, social skills, team building and outdoor play.
Beth Knettel, the Nisswa site supervisor for the Brainerd Community Education Youth Connection program, will teach the Nisswa KinderClub program. Brea Chrisinger, currently the KinderClub supervisor at Baxter Elementary School, will teach Summer KinderClub at the Washington site.
Registration
Summer KinderClub will be offered from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays from June 5 through Aug. 25 for children entering kindergarten in the fall. It will be offered at Washington Educational Services Building and Nisswa Elementary School.
Cost is $25 per day and includes meals. Before and after child care is available on site through Fun 'N' Friends at no additional cost from 6:45 a.m.-6 p.m.
Deadline to register is May 12.
For more information call Nisswa Elementary School at 963-2288 or Washington Educational Services Building at 822-6950.
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"A KinderClub program is what we've wanted to do for 19 years," said Lisa Stawarski, coordinator for the Brainerd School District's Youth Connection program. "We'd like families to know this is an option. I think it's a nice opportunity for them."
Stawarski said the opening of Forestview Middle School for fifth- through eighth-graders freed up classroom space at the elementary schools, allowing them to offer KinderClub. The Fun 'N' Friends summer program is operated at Washington and Nisswa, which is why the Summer KinderClub will be at those two sites. When kindergartners are not in KinderClub, they can attend Fun 'N' Friends.
Stawarski said the parent surveys they've received from those who use KinderClub at Baxter and Riverside indicated their children have become more mature in the classroom, have established friendships and developed stronger classroom readiness skills.
Families can sign up for Summer KinderClub on a part-time or full-time basis. There is a limit of 24 children per KinderClub classroom and a classroom assistant is brought in to help when the classroom has more than 14 students. Stawarski said Baxter now has 17 children enrolled and Riverside has one class with 11 and one with 16 children enrolled.
Judy Lykins, Nisswa kindergarten teacher, said Summer KinderClub will help kindergartners feel at home at Nisswa School before they start school. During the school year, Knettel's KinderClub program will complement what Lykins' students are doing in the classroom.
Lykins said for the students who attend KinderClub, the program will provide consistency. The KinderClub classroom is close to Lykins' room.
She said many of her kindergartners say they wish they could go to school every day.
"There's so much going on and they're so ready to learn," said Lykins. "They love it. Beth is a certified kindergarten teacher. We couldn't ask for a better situation."
While all-day, everyday kindergarten would reach all kindergartners in the district, KinderClub is an alternative for parents willing to pay for it.
"These kids who are in it are gaining from it," said Baxter kindergarten teacher Bev Dunphy. "I think the kids being on a regular schedule is very helpful. Brea Chrisinger is very good for the kids. They have a lot of fun and they look forward to it. She complements our curriculum but doesn't repeat it. She enriches it. It's pretty unique."
JODIE TWEED can be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
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