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Post by steckdad on Jul 22, 2008 0:31:58 GMT -5
I received a request to share info passed on by the district regarding ADK. the booklet given to all parents can be found here... ipsdweb.ipsd.org/Documents/0809/Kindergarten_Curriculum_Book.pdfMrs. Merrill also took us through a 20 min. powerpoint presentation, but it is not available online. so I will give you folks the cliff notes. 905am-335pm with break for lunch and recess. Typical daily instructional (apprx.)breakdown is as such: reading 2 hours writing 50 min. math 75 min. science 75 min. soc. studies 50 min. weekly specials (alternating) art 50 min. music 50 min. PE 75 min the overview went into depth regarding what they will be teaching in each category, as well as library time and specials. If you have any specific questions I will be happy to answer.
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we4
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Post by we4 on Mar 17, 2009 6:40:23 GMT -5
I want to add some info I have recently learned about options for 1/2 day K and ADK. If you have a 2009-2010 kindergartner and are considering the 1/2 option, find others in you ES attendance area and see who is thinking what. We have several parents in WE that want to send their child to 1/2 day but do not want to have them on the bus for 30-40 minutes. Many of us have moved to were we moved because of proximity to our elementary school. You can get an idea by talking with neighbors who have next year kindergartners how many want what. We have heard from the administration that the location of the 1/2 program will be where the most people are and what school has the room. If you have a kindergartner next school and want to hear more of what I know about options for registration and location, please PM me. I do not feel comfortable posting some information.
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Post by gatordog on Mar 17, 2009 7:43:17 GMT -5
... 905am-335pm with break for lunch and recess. Typical daily instructional (apprx.)breakdown is as such: reading 2 hours writing 50 min. math 75 min. science 75 min. soc. studies 50 min. weekly specials (alternating) art 50 min. music 50 min. PE 75 min the overview went into depth regarding what they will be teaching in each category, as well as library time and specials. If you have any specific questions I will be happy to answer. So the core day of reading/writing/math/soc studies/sci is over 6 hr of daily instruction for kindegarten I think they are overselling this just a bit. "If you are ADK, they will be doing academics the entire day. Look at our time break downs." These 5 year old will be doing nothing but concentrating on their studies, all day!
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Post by gatordog on Mar 17, 2009 7:46:37 GMT -5
..... We have heard from the administration that the location of the 1/2 program will be where the most people are and what school has the room. thanks for good info, we4. I always thought it was too restrictive to have 1/2 day at one and only one ES. When you say "the" 1/2 day school, have they already decided their will be only one (like it was this current year)? I think there should be at least one 1/2 day ES in the north, central, and south part of district. Is there possibility of that?
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Arwen
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Post by Arwen on Mar 17, 2009 8:04:37 GMT -5
thanks for good info, we4. I always thought it was too restrictive to have 1/2 day at one and only one ES. When you say "the" 1/2 day school, have they already decided their will be only one (like it was this current year)? I think there should be at least one 1/2 day ES in the north, central, and south part of district. Is there possibility of that? According to the Brooks principal, the northern schools don't have the empty classroom space to host it. He thought it was likely to remain at Clow.
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we4
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Post by we4 on Mar 17, 2009 8:10:33 GMT -5
..... We have heard from the administration that the location of the 1/2 program will be where the most people are and what school has the room. thanks for good info, we4. I always thought it was too restrictive to have 1/2 day at one and only one ES. When you say "the" 1/2 day school, have they already decided their will be only one (like it was this current year)? I think there should be at least one 1/2 day ES in the north, central, and south part of district. Is there possibility of that? I do not know if the location has been decided nor if more than one school will house the 1/2 program. According to the SB, 1/2 day must be offered by state law. Each child who is enrolled in the 1/2 program will be picked up by bus at their house unless the 1/2 program is at their home school and they are walkers. I believe June 1 is when forms need to be turned in but WE has not had their kindergarten meeting yet so I have not seen the papers yet. As for the multiple locations, I think it depends on who wants the 1/2 program. That's why I suggest talking to your friends and neighbors in your ES if you want to get an idea of how many families want ADK vs 1/2 DK. If you are the only one that you know of in your area and your school is already bursting at the seems, it may not be there. But it maybe at the next closest school. I believe I have also heard that it will be in the afternoon, but I cannot remember for sure if that's true.
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we4
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Post by we4 on Mar 17, 2009 8:15:29 GMT -5
thanks for good info, we4. I always thought it was too restrictive to have 1/2 day at one and only one ES. When you say "the" 1/2 day school, have they already decided their will be only one (like it was this current year)? I think there should be at least one 1/2 day ES in the north, central, and south part of district. Is there possibility of that? According to the Brooks principal, the northern schools don't have the empty classroom space to host it. He thought it was likely to remain at Clow. The 1/2 day K teacher at Clow wants part time and volunteered to be teach it. I have talked to a few kindergarten teachers and they say they didn't think that had anything to do with why Clow was picked.
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Post by eb204 on Mar 17, 2009 8:26:23 GMT -5
thanks for good info, we4. I always thought it was too restrictive to have 1/2 day at one and only one ES. When you say "the" 1/2 day school, have they already decided their will be only one (like it was this current year)? I think there should be at least one 1/2 day ES in the north, central, and south part of district. Is there possibility of that? I do not know if the location has been decided nor if more than one school will house the 1/2 program. According to the SB, 1/2 day must be offered by state law. Each child who is enrolled in the 1/2 program will be picked up by bus at their house unless the 1/2 program is at their home school and they are walkers. I believe June 1 is when forms need to be turned in but WE has not had their kindergarten meeting yet so I have not seen the papers yet. As for the multiple locations, I think it depends on who wants the 1/2 program. That's why I suggest talking to your friends and neighbors in your ES if you want to get an idea of how many families want ADK vs 1/2 DK. If you are the only one that you know of in your area and your school is already bursting at the seems, it may not be there. But it maybe at the next closest school. I believe I have also heard that it will be in the afternoon, but I cannot remember for sure if that's true. Last year, the location and numbers of classes was determined by enrollment numbers. Because there ended up being around 27 1/2 day students, there was only one class needed and Clow had the room, so it was at Clow. Much will depend again on enrollment figures and available room. No one should count on it being at their own home school. I know many people who originally wanted 1/2 day changed their minds because they found out it would not be at their home school. That can be a deal breaker for some. Unfortunately, those enrollment numbers are a moving target as people change their minds. IIRC, the location of ADK was not "known" until about early August.
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Post by momto4 on Mar 17, 2009 8:31:16 GMT -5
The SB last year set a minimum number of students requesting half day needed for a particular school to have a half day program. I think it was around 20. So if there are say, 21 kids in one school whose parents request half day, there will be a half day program at that school (in addition to the collector school that gets all the kids whose schools do not have the minimum number).
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Post by eb204 on Mar 17, 2009 8:40:50 GMT -5
..... We have heard from the administration that the location of the 1/2 program will be where the most people are and what school has the room. thanks for good info, we4. I always thought it was too restrictive to have 1/2 day at one and only one ES. When you say "the" 1/2 day school, have they already decided their will be only one (like it was this current year)? I think there should be at least one 1/2 day ES in the north, central, and south part of district. Is there possibility of that? I understand what you are saying GD, but last year, there were only 27 students that were enrolled in 1/2 day. Clow had the room to house them, so that was the school that was chosen. With only 27 students, it wouldn't be cost effective to have one school in the north, central and south. That would mean 3 teachers & 3 locations for all 27 students. While 9 students in a class would be great from a teaching standpoint, it's not very cost effective. Not to mention that we don't know exactly how many came from the north, central and south. We could have ended up with 3 in the north 5 from the central and the rest in the south or any combination like this if they were looking at it simply from a location enrollment basis. With many schools overcrowded, I'm thinking they will have to do the same this year. Look at enrollment numbers, look at location, then look at who has the most room to accomodate the numbers, in that order.
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Post by momto4 on Mar 17, 2009 9:04:17 GMT -5
thanks for good info, we4. I always thought it was too restrictive to have 1/2 day at one and only one ES. When you say "the" 1/2 day school, have they already decided their will be only one (like it was this current year)? I think there should be at least one 1/2 day ES in the north, central, and south part of district. Is there possibility of that? I understand what you are saying GD, but last year, there were only 27 students that were enrolled in 1/2 day. Clow had the room to house them, so that was the school that was chosen. With only 27 students, it wouldn't be cost effective to have one school in the north, central and south. That would mean 3 teachers & 3 locations for all 27 students. While 9 students in a class would be great from a teaching standpoint, it's not very cost effective. Not to mention that we don't know exactly how many came from the north, central and south. We could have ended up with 3 in the north 5 from the central and the rest in the south or any combination like this if they were looking at it simply from a location enrollment basis. With many schools overcrowded, I'm thinking they will have to do the same this year. Look at enrollment numbers, look at location, then look at who has the most room to accomodate the numbers, in that order. I'm certain if the school hadn't been so far from the north, and if people hadn't been pressured so much into ADK, there would have been more kids enrolled. I remember hearing of many people who switched from half day to all day after phone calls, letters, and finding out how long their 5-year-old would be on the bus.
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Post by gatordog on Mar 17, 2009 9:16:02 GMT -5
I understand what you are saying GD, but last year, there were only 27 students that were enrolled in 1/2 day. .... I'm certain if the school hadn't been so far from the north, and if people hadn't been pressured so much into ADK, there would have been more kids enrolled. I remember hearing of many people who switched from half day to all day after phone calls, letters, and finding out how long their 5-year-old would be on the bus. That is my understanding too, mt4. I am suggesting if they offer a north, central, and south ES then more parents may opt for the 1/2 day. (But maybe that is the whole idea of the admininstration.....to discourage parents from the half day option). I submit that if it is only offered at one school, you are not making it a fair choice for parents. I believe that the "27 kids wanting half day" really means "27 kids wanted half day when they have to be driven to Clow as the only choice." I think more geographically diverse choice of schools would lead to more families seeing the 1/2 day option as viable.
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Post by steckdad on Mar 17, 2009 9:30:16 GMT -5
... 905am-335pm with break for lunch and recess. Typical daily instructional (apprx.)breakdown is as such: reading 2 hours writing 50 min. math 75 min. science 75 min. soc. studies 50 min. weekly specials (alternating) art 50 min. music 50 min. PE 75 min the overview went into depth regarding what they will be teaching in each category, as well as library time and specials. If you have any specific questions I will be happy to answer. So the core day of reading/writing/math/soc studies/sci is over 6 hr of daily instruction for kindegarten I think they are overselling this just a bit. "If you are ADK, they will be doing academics the entire day. Look at our time break downs." These 5 year old will be doing nothing but concentrating on their studies, all day! art and music are on mon and tues. respectively. they have PE wed-fri. they get 20-30 min? for lunch and recess...
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Arwen
Master Member
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Post by Arwen on Mar 17, 2009 9:33:54 GMT -5
I'm certain if the school hadn't been so far from the north, and if people hadn't been pressured so much into ADK, there would have been more kids enrolled. I remember hearing of many people who switched from half day to all day after phone calls, letters, and finding out how long their 5-year-old would be on the bus. That is my understanding too, mt4. I am suggesting if they offer a north, central, and south ES then more parents may opt for the 1/2 day. (But maybe that is the whole idea of the admininstration.....to discourage parents from the half day option). I submit that if it is only offered at one school, you are not making it a fair choice for parents. I believe that the "27 kids wanting half day" really means "27 kids wanted half day when they have to be driven to Clow as the only choice." I think more geographically diverse choice of schools would lead to more families seeing the 1/2 day option as viable. I agree with you GD, if more geographically diverse options were available, more parents would opt for half day. I think the point IS to discourage half day, and they actively did so last year by calling parents repeatedly to try to get them to switch. If they weren't mandated by the state, half day wouldn't be an option at all.
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we4
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Post by we4 on Mar 17, 2009 12:36:24 GMT -5
You guys are right. I wish they would have several locations for 1/2 day K. I do believe more parents would opt for that. Heck, I do not want my child on a bus for 30-40 minutes. He's a 5 year old. I have a feeling they have already decided the location of 1/2 day K. Why do they even ask for choice? This is such a hard decision.
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