Are they ready?

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
Kindergarten is not about fun and games anymore, according to Lacey Von Eye. According to the Newcastle Elementary School kindergarten teacher, screenings and early childhood education are even more crucial today than they were in years past. 
“Kindergarten is not what it used to be or what people imagine it to be anymore. There are no more half days or every-other-day type things anymore. There are no more naps and milk and cookies. Kids are reading when they leave kindergarten,” Von Eye said. “So what we expect when they begin kindergarten has changed drastically.” 
According to Von Eye, children who have not attended a preschool or day care facility with some sort of focus on academics or who have not been worked with at home, tend to come in behind and struggle at the beginning of their educational career. 
“We like all students to feel and be successful, so these prior kindergarten skills help to start them off on the right foot,” Von Eye said. “Maturity is the No. 1 thing seen with students who wait to come to kindergarten. It helps a lot in kindergarten if they are older because they seem to be “ready,” but it also follows them through school.” 
Children in Weston County School District No. 1 are eligible to begin kindergarten in the 2020-21 school year if they will be 5 on or before Sept. 15, Von Eye said. Because of the rigor and requirements that come with kindergarten today, the school strongly suggests that children beginning kindergarten turn 5 before summer of the year they start kindergarten. 
“This extra maturity really seems to help with academic and social success, not necessarily in kindergarten but future years as well,” Von Eye said. 
Teachers of higher grade levels can typically pick out the students that were older when they started school, she said.  
“You start to see this more in upper elementary school and definitely middle school. If parents take the suggestion of waiting a year and enrolling them in some sort of preschool the following year seems to be very successful for them,” Von Eye said. “We have had a lot of parents regret sending their children when they were ‘eligible,’ but rarely does anyone regret waiting a year.” 
Both Amanda Dixon, owner of Little One’s Daycare, and Francie Gregory, executive director of the Weston County Children’s Center, expressed similar thoughts when it came to waiting an additional year to begin kindergarten. 
“When Jenna started kindergarten her birthday was in December — and I didn’t even know there was such a thing as keeping children back a year — but I know some people who have done it. I can tell you I saw how much those kids did change in that year, being in preschool an additional year, not so much in education but in maturity,” Dixon said. “I looked at the kinder teachers we have now, and if they are holding their kids another year in preschool it is beneficial; they must see how much it helps. 
Dixon noted that she is happy to see more parents making the decision to let their kids experience another year of preschool. 
“It is totally my opinion, but I am very glad I made the decision to hold my [children] back an additional year,” Dixon said, noting that her second daughter, Morgan, will start kindergarten this fall. 
According to Gregory, it is never a bad decision to give a child another year of preschool, and if parents are questioning that decision the school and preschools will work with those parents to determine if they are making the right choice for their child. 
“We work closely with the school and we work with them to make the best decision for each child,” Gregory said. “If in doubt, you will never be sorry that you waited a year.” 
Gregory added that, for some children, keeping them in preschool an additional year helps the child gain maturity that leads to more success in kindergarten and beyond, similar to what both Von Eye and Dixon remarked. 
“You are looking at your kid being a leader instead of a follower. When kids are older they are leading the way,” Gregory said, adding that the annual kindergarten screening held by the school district is a helpful tool in determining whether or not a child is ready to proceed to kindergarten. 
“The screening is a helpful tool in making that decision. We always recommend going to the screening if a parent is considering sending their child to kindergarten,” Gregory said. 
This, according to Von Eye, is why kindergarten screenings are so crucial, because they provide the opportunity to determine whether a child is ready to begin elementary school or not. 
“Children go through five screeners while at the school. There is a language portion that focuses on articulation, letter naming, beginning sounds, rhyming and more. There is a concept portion that focuses on ‘math skills,’ colors, sorting and basic concepts. There is a motor portion that looks at their gross and fine motor skills. We also do a hearing and vision screen as well,” Von Eye said. 
Once the screenings are complete, the information is entered into a computer and an overall score is provided, along with an individual score for each section. 
“This helps us to discuss with parents if another year of preschool would be beneficial, if they are ready for kindergarten, if there are areas to work on before the fall or if they are eligible for ‘Kick Start,’ a program offered prior to kindergarten for about two weeks to help kids become better prepared,” Von Eye said. 
Registration for kindergarten screenings is Feb. 1-15. Parents with children need to attend the screenings that will be held April 23-24. Parents are encouraged to call the school’s secretary, Dawn Williams, at 746-2717 to schedule a screening time. 
“This allows us plenty of time for parents to become aware of the screening and for us to track down any others that may not have heard about the screenings,” Von Eye said. 
On the day of the screenings, parents will need to bring a copy of their child’s birth certificate and a updated shot record for their incoming student. Parents and students will then meet with the kindergarten staff in the school library to fill out paperwork while the their child completes the screening. 
“When all is said and done, we hopefully have the list of future kindergartners for the following fall,” Von Eye said. “If they are registered, they will receive a letter in the mail in early August from their teacher explaining everything they need to know about kindergarten and the day their child starts.” 
Von Eye said that if parents or guardians have any questions or concerns, they are encouraged to call the school.