Parents, Educators Get Tykes Ready for Kindergarten

Parents of prospective kindergarten students were entertained along with being informed about school readiness by Professor Anthony Coletta of William Paterson University at the Lacey Township's School District's annual kindergarten orientation.

Coletta began by giving parents two homework assignments. The first was to go home and whisper in their child's ear, "How is it that with all the boys and girls in this world, I got the best one?"

The second was a song he taught and instructed parents to teach to their children first thing in the morning if their kindergartner was asleep when they got home.

Coletta then sang "wally o-cha, dippity do" several times switching hands as he touched his nose and both ears alternately while singing, telling parents it was an exercise to get both sides of the brain working.

Addressing the issue of kindergarten readiness, Coletta encouraged parents to make use of the district's Developmental Kindergarten, which gives children behind in maturity or academic readiness an opportunity to get off to the best start possible.

Coletta said many adults reference the adage, "It's not where you start it's where you finish,” but for pre-school children, the beginning is the most important thing.

"The beginning is the most important, it's branded in their brains," he said.

Discussing the power of early childhood he told the story of a woman he knew who was now a lawyer but still doubts her intelligence because a pre-school teacher told her she was stupid.

"Deep down I feel like I'm not that smart, down deep I feel like I'm stupid," he said she told him.

Coletta then talked about differences between children in the same family starting with children who are "born easy" and then discussing the ones who come hardwired to be “uncooperative, stubborn, defiant and disrespectful."

He then asked the audience how many children they would have if they had a guarantee that every child would be an easy child.

One man answered "10." 

Also offering advice and information to parents were various organizations and teachers.

The halls of Lacey Township High School were lined with tables full of displays for parents and guardians as pencils, pens and magnets were given away and they had the opportunity to meet staff and parent teacher organization representatives.

Also hosting tables were the local children’s librarian from the Lacey Branch of the Ocean County Library, Laura Meeker-Korch, who set up a table full of books.

"We wanted to make the connection with parents and teachers here,” she said.

Meeker-Korch also had forms for children wanting to get library cards available.

Kindergarten English as a Second Language teacher, Katie Munn, had a colorful display, featuring books, instructional toys and miniature animals

"Many parents aren't aware that we do offer ESL," she said.

Munn said she now has 15 students, most of whom speak Spanish, with two Mandarin speaking children and one Polish-speaking child.

Asked how she teaches children of various languages, she said, "It's mostly repetition of English words - and a lot of cultural (lessons), some of them were not born here."

Girl Scout leaders Maryann Pietruska and Eileen Jacome wanted to let parents know that kindergarten girls can be scouts too, Daisy Scouts.

We're looking for scouts and leaders," Pietruska said.

She added that they are also looking to see if there is a need for a special needs group to form.

Principal of the Lanoka Harbor School, Eric Fiedler, said there are about 120 kindergartners in his school and expects a similar number when September comes around.

"It's been about that number for several years," he said. "We will get 75 percent tonight and then the other 25 percent over the summer."

In the auditorium Assistant Superintendent of Schools Dr. Vanessa Clark welcomed parents before showing a slide show montage of the current school year's kindergartners telling parents, "These are the memories your kids will be making."

Superintendent of Schools Richard P. Starodub welcomed the parents of the class of 2024 before introducing a PowerPoint budget presentation detailing the educational gains being made in China and India and the exponential growth of technology in the past few years.

One slide said, "We are preparing students for jobs that don't even exist yet.”

Parents can pick up kindergarten registration packets at each of the elementary schools at any time.