Cartwheels (and Anxiety) at Kindergarten Orientation

Parents of incoming kindergarteners applauded when the district introduced its first full day program at Kindergarten Orientation Tuesday night.

“I don’t think you’re excited enough because I know you’re worried about your children going to school,” said William Zylinski, District Supervisor for Humanities.

Zylinski encouraged Assistant Superintendent Dr. Vanessa Clark to begin the program with three words: full day kindergarten, he said.

“It is an absolute game changer for your children. The fact that the Board of Education saw it that important to establish a full day program for your children, you’ll be the first to benefit in that really as a group,” he said.

The district announced the implementation of its full day program at its February Board of Education meeting. At approximately $254,000, the district will be implementing five full day kindergarten classes in each elementary school with a projected average class size of 25 students.

“It really is no small feat. It is really exciting,” Zylinski said. “It’s kind of fitting that you’re starting your children’s educational career where they’re going to end it in 13 short years and I say that because it’s going to be 13 short years.“

Kindergarten is about establishing a foundation, explorations, new learning and developing character — patience, discipline, manners and perseverance, Superintendent Dr. Sandra Brower said.

“Our commitment to you is to provide an outstanding kindergarten program with an outstanding teacher,” she said.

While speaking to the parents about Lacey’s Parent Teacher Organizations, Carolyn Roselli became emotional. With four kids in the school district—the youngest in first grade and oldest in sixth—she is happy to see a full day program come to fruition.

“It’s wonderful that there’s a full day,” she said.

Christine Britton echoed that sentiment.

“I could’ve jumped up and down and did cartwheels,” she said of when she heard Lacey was implementing full day kindergarten.

Britton has three children but this will be the first in the Lacey Township School District as her family recently moved into the area. The full day program will provide a convenience to working parents who would otherwise need to create accommodations for their children in school for a half day.

One of Britton’s older children had a half day of kindergarten while the other did full.

“She was better prepared for first grade,” she said of the child who was registered for full day kindergarten.

This will be the first of Tina Verone’s three children to enter full day kindergarten and the introduction to the district administration and teachers calmed her nerves, she said.

“I think it’s great for the students. I think it’s great for the parents,” she said, adding that structure will be beneficial. “There’s a lot to plan for.”

But not all Lacey parents want to do cartwheels.

“I hate it,” said Christine Fischer, a stay at home mom. “I feel it’s too much.”

Fischer has three children, the oldest being 16 years old, and feels a half day of school is more suited for children that age. A full day will be “overwhelming,” she said, hoping her child will adjust and reap the developmental value the district is promising.

“I hope it will be developmentally good for them but I have my doubts,” she said.

She also was concerned that class sizes may be too large and details such as lunchtime have yet to be resolved, she said.

Between now and the time the class of 2026 enters school in September, the district will be embarking on curriculum and facilities work, professional development and hashing out final details.

“It’s been a long and winding road and we have a ways to go but we will spend the rest of the school year planning and preparing,” Clark said.