Kiski Area plans 4-day camp to give incoming kindergartners a jump-start

The Kiski Area School District is rolling out a new, free program to help incoming kindergartners adjust to life on campus.

Kinder-Camp will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 15 to 18 for any incoming kindergartner at the district’s three elementary schools: East, North and South Primary.

The goal is to offer these transition days to acclimate students to their primary school so they’re more likely to have a smooth transition this fall.

“We want our students to feel comfortable coming into the building and become familiar with our procedures and routines before the first day of school,” said Christine Ross, principal at Kiski Area North Primary School.

Registered kindergartners will attend all four days as part of the transition process.

Class size is expected to hover around 15 students per kindergarten class.

So far, 227 students have registered for the camp, said Emily Mather, Kiski Area director of curriculum and instruction/federal programs.

The new camp is financed by ESSER II federal grant funding.

Ross and her fellow primary school principals, Pat Marchand and Brian Kutchak, co-organized the event.

Kiski Area offers full-day kindergarten.

The first day of classes is Aug. 25.

A variety of lessons and activities will be offered and will focus on socializing, academic development, learning readiness and more.

North Primary kindergarten teacher Karen Legters has taught in the district for more than 20 years, 13 as a kindergarten teacher.

Legters said she is excited to see this new program because it provides a before-school experience for her students.

She plans to incorporate story time, phonemic word games, hands-on math activities and calendar time during the camp.

“It is going to be a nice transition from preschool which is usually part time. The students will have a tour of the building and get acquainted in the cafeteria and get to know each other,” Legters said.

Dan Smith, director of technology and information for the district, has produced several YouTube kindergarten videos available online for parents and guardians to watch with their children.

The district hosts various transition activities for kindergartners throughout the school year, including a family science and information night, registration and screening, a kindergarten kickoff, a meet-the-teacher night and professional development sessions.

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Busing will be available, based on need.

To register, use the online link here.