An Old Chair – sort of speaks!
Another New Program for our Young Students and their Families
These ideas/thoughts are mine and mine alone… I cannot and do not speak for the board. Now, let’s move on to my topic – What is happening in the District!! Topic today: More on YOUNG families and the district. By young – I am referring to having very young children by the way… so that would include grandma and/or grandpas raising their grandchildren as well as younger and older parents of little ones. I reached out to the principal of Veneta Elementary, Olivia Johnson, for information on the KITS program. She wrote such a fine commentary that I decided to share it as written. A little background first as I understand it. This is a program from the Lane Early Learning Alliance. Dr. Sally Storm brought this program idea with her as a possibility for helping our young children and their families prepare for their years at school, reached out to the correct people and secured it for our district. So without much more to say – Here is Olivia’s article:
Like any graduation ceremony there were proud parents and excited students, certificates and treats, speeches and proud walks to the podium…. only these graduates are a lot shorter than those at EHS. On June 2nd, the KITS program held a graduation ceremony to mark the end of the first KITS program in our school district and the 28 students who spent four hours a week for the last weeks learning, growing, and laughing together.
KITS (Kids In Transition to School) is a program through the Oregon Social Learning Center and the Early Learning Alliance. It is funded in part by the United Way of Lane County. Traditionally the KITS program provides a summer program for incoming kindergarten students who are about to enter school. It has been highly successful throughout Lane County in helping children start kindergarten with basic literacy skills and ready to learn.
The program at Veneta Elementary is different. For the first time ever, the KITS program at VES served students who were already in kindergarten to help them prepare for the transition into first grade. The goal of the program was to reinforce the academic and social skills that students were learning in school- to give them more practice to build mastery of the important skills they needed to learn in kindergarten so they would be ready for first grade. It was an ideal approach for Veneta because of our current half-day kindergarten program. KITS was used to supplement the three hours of instruction students received in school with two hours of additional tutoring.
KITS uses their own curriculum to provide students with opportunities that don’t just teach basic reading or basic math but integrate science, art, and social skills at the same time. During their eight week program, the students in our KITS program at Veneta had the opportunity to create art projects, tackle fun science experiments, learn through imaginative play, and design fun projects to take home. Social skills were an integral part of the KITS program but they weren’t taught separately, but integrated into everything they did. For example, students don’t just read a story about sharing they are asked to create an art project sharing one bottle of glue as a small group.
If you walked by the KITS program all you heard was students laughing and having fun. If you peeked in and watched, you could see the learning happening.
Students were selected for the KITS program for a variety of reasons. Some were chosen because they needed just a little extra practice in math or reading. Some were chosen because they have the potential to be strong leaders and good role models. Some because we knew they would enjoy the art projects or the hands on science activities. Some because they loved school so much we knew they would be excited to come back for more. It didn’t matter why they were in the program; every student benefited from the program and enjoyed it.
The KITS program also had a parent education component that Veneta was lucky enough to have as well. Parents met weekly to share parenting stories and ideas, because the best learning happens when we learn from each other. The KITS program provides childcare and food for these meetings as well as snacks for the children after school.
Unfortunately, at this point, we have been told that we will not be able to have a KITS program in the district for students starting school in the fall. However, there may be a chance to have another program for students during the school year. It was great to have the KITS program in our school, and it will be great to have it back again next time. KITS graduation ceremony was at 2:15 on June 2nd and was great fun.
My Thanks to Olivia – and as always, I remain open to comments and questions. Please write to me at tmorton@fernridge.k12.or.us – I look forward to hearing from you again. I leave you with this thought and quote from Paul Vallas – a superintendent / official in difficult areas such as Louisiana, Philadelphia, and Chicago. “If you’re going to equalize the academic playing field, you’ve got to get the kids in early childhood programs.” For a smile – watch this short video https://youtu.be/3bK5OiSMVAU on YouTube – proving ONCE AGAIN, you can teach an old critter [chair] new tricks!!! Have a great week!
addendum to published article: Principal Johnson has heard that this program will be renewed at VES- GREAT news for our district. More later.