Begindergarten gives students a taste of school

YUTAN - Parents who don’t think their child is ready for kindergarten have another option in Yutan Public Schools.

For the second straight year, Yutan is offering begindergarten, a program where 5-year-olds attend kindergarten for a half day to better prepare them for full days the following year.

The program had three children last year and there are six in begindergarten this year.

The decision to enroll a child in begindergarten is entirely up to the parents, Yutan Elementary principal Ryan Knippelmeyer said.

"This begindergarten program is an option for them if they want to give (their children) the kindergarten experience, but at a half-day level for the first year," Knippelmeyer said.

Michelle and Patrick Timmins have taken advantage of the program both years.

Last year, they enrolled Seth in the begindergarten program. His sister, Anna, is in begindergarten this year.

Michelle Timmins, the children’s stepmom, said Seth - who is in kindergarten this year - has trouble being around new people and has to learn to trust those people.

"The program, for him, was perfect," Michelle Timmins said. "Last year he struggled a little bit but this year he loves school. He’s really excited about going to school."

When they found out that begindergarten would again be offered this year, Michelle and Patrick didn’t hesitate to enroll Anna, who just turned 5 in October.

"She needs this extra year to grow up a little bit," Michelle said.

Knippelmeyer saw an immediate payoff to the program when school started this fall and the three students who participated in begindergarten last year started kindergarten.

"They were familiar with what to do on that first day," he said. "They were familiar with expectations of what goes on in school. They were familiar with where their coats and bags went in the classroom. So definitely that begindergarten last year did help them."

The begindergarten students do the same things the students in kindergarten do, including going to music, art and physical education. They even take part in snack time.

When the kindergarten students go to lunch at 11:20 a.m., the begindergarten students go home.

"They do the exact same routine that every other kid in our elementary is doing," Knippelmeyer said. "They are getting a true taste of what the elementary school is like and what the elementary schedule is like at the half-day experience."

And that is a big plus for parents like the Timmins.

"That is extremely important because they’re not separated," Michelle said. "All these kids are going to grow up together and it lets them know, even at this young age, you’re still part of the group and you’re involved. I think it’s great the way that they do it."

Knippelmeyer has heard similar sentiments from other parents of begindergarten students.

"The ones I’ve talked to, every one of them said it’s been very beneficial. It’s what they wanted," he said. "If we didn’t have the begindergarten program, some of them might have decided to hold (their child) back until they were 6 to send them to kindergarten, and they’re happy that by doing this they have the opportunity to at least get them in the school setting.

"They get started with kindergarten at a half-day level and it gives them an opportunity to start being able to play and socialize and build those relationships with other kids that are their age, and they get a little taste of the academic side of it as well."