News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sisters' kindergartners seem to be taking to an all-day schedule. The all-day kindergarten program implemented this year has 19 students and, according to Sisters Elementary School Principal Tim Comfort, they seem to be thriving.
"The students are definitely motivated and like school," Comfort said. "They're learning. We have not seen fatigue or irritability."
The full-day program is subsidized by participating families, who pay $200 per month in tuition. The program is optional; the school also offers a traditional morning and afternoon session, each of which also have 19 students.
Comfort said that the full- day program is not specifically designed to provide a scholastic boost.
"We're not purposely trying to accelerate the students," he said.
However, the full-time students may have some advantages as they move on in school.
"Kids that move from a half-day program to a full day in first grade will have an adjustment," Comfort said. "Students who already had a full-day program will take it in stride."
Full-time students, Comfort noted, will already be experienced with lunch programs, recess and the social aspects of school.
Though it is too soon to tell for sure, there might be some academic benefits as well.
"There may be a slight increase in the readiness to learn (among full-day students)," Comfort said.
He noted that music and physical education teachers in particular have observed that the full-time students settle down faster than their half-day peers and listen a little better.
Comfort said the school will start screening future kindergartners in about two months. The principal hopes to provide a full-day program again next year. The program requires 16 students to break even.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
Reader Comments(0)