A Practice Run For Kindergarteners

By Susan Coney

Kindergarten students across the Newtown school district took part in a practice run last Friday, August 26, to help prepare them for starting school this week. All kindergarten students were invited to participate in the practice exercise especially designed to help them have a positive experience when attending school for the very first time.

Kindergarteners traveled from home aboard their assigned school bus, allowing them the opportunity to meet and develop a comfortable relationship with their bus driver. Every bus in the school system had an additional volunteer on board to assist in making the ride a positive one.

Bus driver Don Bauch, fondly known as “Mr B,” delivered happy, excited kindergarteners to Sandy Hook Elementary during the practice run. “I have kids of my own and I know that riding the bus and going to school for the first time can be scary. I have Beanie Babies to pass out to help distract them. Anything to help them along,” he said.

As the kindergarteners arrived at Sandy Hook, staff and volunteers lead them to their prospective kindergarten classrooms. As part of the orientation process the children found their classrooms, met their teachers, located the ever-crucial bathrooms and were assigned a cubbie.

Veteran teacher Janet Vollmer and her assistant Karen Wilk warmly greeted children and showed them around the classroom, making them feel at home. The teachers and children played a name game to get acquainted and help break the ice and then Mrs Vollmer read to them from a giant book. Throughout the story time session Mrs Vollmer was careful to include the children in interactive hand motions and singing along with repetitive phrases from the story.

Later the children had the opportunity to sit at tables and learn some all important school concepts such as how to hold a chunky, oversized pencil correctly. Without the children even knowing it Mrs Vollmer prepped them in kindergarten rules and etiquette, while they proceeded to do a coloring activity and enjoy cookies and juice.

The entire session flowed extremely well and the children showed that they were excited to begin kindergarten and clearly wanted to impress their teachers with their best behavior.

Karen Wilk, an educational assistant for the past nine years, said the following about working with kindergarten age students: “It’s the coolest thing. I still get teary eyed when they come in not knowing anything and then they learn to write their name or learn to read for the very first time. Right in front of you. It is so wonderful and a great age!”