GREENFIELD — There’s no telling what will come out of the mouths of lively, wiggly kindergarteners experiencing what school is like for the very first time through Kindergarten 101.
The week-long, two-hour daily program gave youngsters a practice run last week to prepare for the first day of school this Wednesday.
“Playing with toys,” Emerson said was the best part.
“Reading books,” Fin said, adding, “I’m so excited.”
Estes and Steven rolled Play-Doh into “worms” and agreed: K101 is the place to be. There aren’t babies around anymore like at daycare, and no naptime. The boys are definitely ready for big-kid school.
Kindergarten 101 has been a 12-year tradition for Greenfield-Central Schools through Purdue Extension, according to a press release from the school corporation.
Children – some of whom have never even been in a preschool setting – tour J.B. Stephens Elementary School, practice what morning routines are like, hear stories, learn at stations, and – of course– share at recess.
“There’s only one merry-go-round. You have to work together to play on that!” said Mandy Gray, health and human sciences educator for Purdue Extension Hancock County.
Gray said K101 started as a partnership in 2012 to meet the needs of the community that realized some children weren’t ready for kindergarten.
“I think it benefits every single student that comes in the door, in one way or another,” Gray said.
Children definitely have anxious jitters on the very first day, teacher Jane Hale said, but after a warm welcome it’s amazing to see how quickly the anxiety rolls off. It’s easy to see parents relax as well.
“Especially when it’s your first child going to kindergarten — that can be pretty rough,” Hale said.
The program is funded through Hancock County Extension Homemakers and the Greenfield Central School Foundation. Dawn Sonsini, Greenfield-Central director of preschool and early learning, said parents and children alike practice car line procedures. Then kids take part in morning routines, book time and more.
“It’s the small things, even walking in the hallway and restroom procedures, but also getting them acclimated to small group and large group settings,” Sonsini said.
One time during the week, children tour the entire school building. That’s helpful for children who will attend other elementary schools because every school has an art room, gymnasium and library.
Children enjoy a hot school lunch on the last day of the week. And perhaps the most exciting moment of K101 is getting on a large, yellow school bus for the very first time.
A queen and princess even came for a visit: Hancock County 4-H Fair royalty read books to the kids.
Purdue Extension has been a fantastic partner with G-C Schools for more than a decade, said Superintendent Dr. Harold Olin.
“They have helped many of our students become ‘kindergarten ready’ as they prepare for the first days of school,” Olin said. “This is a huge step in creating a path for success that is valuable to some of our students who have not had formal school experiences.”
While many of the children will end up attending J.B. Stephens next week, some will head to one of Greenfield-Central’s other elementary schools. K101 teachers are jotting down notes regarding those students and will share with their new teachers ideas on how to help them feel comfortable in their new building.
“Sometimes it’s just that one face or smile that makes you think, ‘Oh, I’ll be OK,’” Sonsini said.
The program is free to local families, and participants even get to take home school supplies, a backpack and new books.
Sonsini said the program is a great transition for children eager to start the new school year with confidence. But sometimes, parents are the most grateful.
“For a lot of parents, they’re videoing as they step out of the car. It’s that first time letting go,” she said. “This is a more intimate setting, where letting go can be more memorable and bearable.”
