North Dickinson looks at all-day kindergarten

By LISA M. REED, Staff Writer
By LISA M. REED

Staff Writer

IRON MOUNTAIN — North Dickinson County School is another Michigan school looking at having kindergartners attend school all day, everyday.

School Supt. Claude Siders said there are a couple of reasons why the school is looking at this option. He said one reason being as part of state legislation, there is a possibility that all Michigan Schools will have to go to all day five-day-a-week kindergarten.

“Our numbers are now small enough. We could do one session of kindergarten all day everyday instead of two sessions five days a week,” Siders said. “Next year we’re projecting 10 to 12 maybe 15 (kindergartners) all together.”

Currently, kindergartners at North Dickinson County School attend school all day every other day.

Siders also said research indicates all day everyday kindergarten is a benefit to at-risk students. At-risk students fall into several categories, including a single parent or foster home, divorced parents, health conditions, reduced lunch or students with regard to readiness for school.

“We have 40 percent of our students that fit in that category, and it doesn’t hurt students that are at risk,” he said. “It does show a significant benefit to those who fall in at-risk.”

Norway-Vulcan Area Schools decided to go to all day everyday kindergarten eight years ago. Elementary Principal Brad Grayvold said the change may have had something to do parents in the district voicing a desire to do that.

“And administration and the teaching staff thought was a good move not only academically but program-wise at that time,” Grayvold said. “They could probably see where changes were coming down the road for state requirements and the number of hours in a day to meet those.”

Siders said he has heard some parents are concerned that all day kindergarten is too much for a child of that age and it may leave them too tired in the evening to be involved with their family.

“When we talked with the parents a couple of weeks ago, they were all over the board .. some said they are going to be here and will do either way. There didn’t seem to be a consensus,” Siders said. “It’s a change and with any change there is concern on what the change will be.”

North Dickinson County School has 22 kindergarteners this year.

Diane White, kindergarten teacher at Beecher-Dunbar-Pembine School since 1984, said all day everyday kindergarten is the best way to fit in a kindergartener’s curriculum.

The school started with full day kindergarten in 1985-86 and then went to half days to accommodate increased enrollment before going back to full days again in 1992-93.

White said the students and teacher can relax with the curriculum in full day everyday kindergarten.

“By having full days we are able to get so much more done,” she said. “I think we can do so much more. It is more relaxed and I think it gives you time to develop your curriculum. I can’t imagine going back to half days or alternate days. We do so much in five days.”

Grayvold said all day kindergarten has been very well received by the district.

“We don’t have any complaints because we offer a half-day developmental kindergarten. Developmental kindergarten is based on age or social concerns,” he said. “Then that option is there and they can go to kindergarten next year.”

By having full days, White said kindergarteners can do language arts and reading in the morning and art, physical education and music in the afternoon along with social studies and science.

“They eat lunch here. It still allows time for play and I think play is very important to five year olds,” White said. “They are not tired. They may be tired when they get home, but I think parents have to get tough and have them get to bed at 7 p.m.”

Siders said at North Dickinson, there will not be an educational requirement for students entering kindergarten.

The board is hoping to make a decision at Monday’s meeting.

Lisa M. Reed’s email address is lreed@ironmountaindailynews.com'>lreed@ironmountaindailynews.com'>lreed@ironmountaindailynews.com'>lreed@ironmountaindailynews.com.