By WILL PERKINS
Glasgow News 1
As the final group of local students begin their new school year this week, many kindergartners will not be seeing the inside of their classrooms for the first time.
All three area public school districts — Barren County, Caverna and Glasgow — hosted kindergarten readiness camps for their newest class of students before their official first days.
The first of these three camps took place during the last week of June, when all Barren County elementary schools opened their doors to rising kindergartners.
Superintendent Amy Irwin spoke about these readiness camps during the district’s board of education meeting in July.
“The transition to school is such a critical time and sets that foundation for future success,” Irwin said. “We averaged over 130 students per day districtwide, so we appreciate parents entrusting us and bringing those students for that early transition experience.”
Earlier this month, Caverna and Glasgow offered kindergarten readiness camps in their respective independent school districts.
Beth Carter, a kindergarten teacher at Caverna Elementary, said their camp allowed her students to be in the building without all of the usual traffic of a normal school day.
“I think it really helps ease some nerves because there’s not all the excitement of the first day,” Carter said. “They’re able to come in a little bit more relaxed.
“We started forming those relationships before they even started the first day of school.”
Caverna Elementary principal Vonda Stockton said their kindergarten readiness camp also reduces anxiety for parents, allowing them to practice drop-off and pick-up procedures.
When the rising kindergartners participated in a scavenger hunt around the building, Stockton said she could hear the students’ excitement reverberate throughout the school.
“I could hear those kids giggling and laughing while they were on their scavenger hunt,” Stockton said. “You want kids to be happy, because if they’re happy, they want to come to school.”
Over at South Green Elementary, rising kindergartner Imerson Logsdon and teaching assistant Rachel Lindsey smiled and conversed while swinging back and forth on a swing set during recess.
Lindsey said the readiness camp is a great way to connect with her students and give them confidence for their first day.
“It gives them the peace of mind to kind of understand a little bit more of what we do in kindergarten,” Lindsey said.
South Green Principal Josh Turner said their kindergarten readiness camp gives the students a head start and is also beneficial for educators.
“It allows our teachers to start building relationships with our students so that they can kind of hit the ground running when school starts,” Turner said. “I just think it’s a great way for families to feel good about their child starting school.”
South Green Elementary kindergartner Imerson Logsdon speaks with teaching assistant Rachel Lindsey earlier this month during the school’s kindergarten readiness camp. Will Perkins/Glasgow News 1
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