Parents Invited to Explore Ferndale Kindergarten Options, Meet Teachers at Informational Event Tonight

It might be difficult to think about sending your 4- or 5-year-old to elementary school for the first time, but school officials say now is the time to start planning.

If your little one will be headed to kindergarten in the fall, there’s an event this evening at that you won’t want to miss.

Parents will have the opportunity to meet their child’s potential teachers, ask questions about the various full-day programs the district offers at and and learn more about school readiness.

Meet teachers, ask questions

“I think it’s important for families to have an opportunity to meet our kindergarten teachers,” said Pauline Nagle, principal at Kennedy School. “Also, because we are a district where parents have an opportunity to make choices about where their child is placed for school, it’s important for them to have an opportunity to learn about the different programming.”

The event is schedule for 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Grant Early Childhood Center. A pizza dinner will be offered at 5:30 p.m. and the program will begin at 6 p.m. Nagle said the event is mainly geared toward informing parents, but children are welcome to attend.

'The new first grade'

Though kindergarten curriculum has changed in the past several years – Nagle said she sometimes calls kindergarten “the new first grade” – she said parents need not worry.

“While we’ve increased expectations we still work with kids in a way that’s developmentally appropriate,” she said, adding that there is plenty of active play, movement and small groups involved in kindergarten programs in Ferndale. “Active play, but play that’s geared toward learning.”

The Ferndale school district produced a growth chart/informational brochure this year for families that offers three easy steps to prepare for kindergarten, according to Stephanie Hall, Ferndale schools director of community relations. She said the brochures will be available tonight, by request of the school district or at the , and other locations around town.

Is your child ready?

Ferndale Schools also offers a “young 5s” program for children who turn 5 between Sept. 1 and Dec. 1, providing an extra year before starting kindergarten. Nagle said teachers from that program will also be on hand to answer questions.

It’s never too early to start preparing children for school, Nagle said, encouraging parents that activities such as reading can begin “as early as right when they’re born.”

“As a parent certainly they can be and should be part of the team,” she said, adding that many everyday at-home activities like reading, playing games and working on counting and colors are great for school readiness. “Any exposure to literature and having conversations with their kids, when they’re on car rides, counting the signs, pointing to letters or noticing things is really helpful.”

For more information on the event or to RSVP for the pizza dinner, call 248-586-8686.