ABC... it's as easy as 123

The Thompson Falls Elementary Kindergarten Round-up to include early testing

THOMPSON FALLS – This coming autumn a new group of kindergartners will flock to school to learn their ABCs and 123s. The first day of school is still a while off but the preparation begins now.

The Thompson Falls Elementary School Kindergarten Round-up has been scheduled for March 5 after regular school hours. The purpose of the round-up is to prepare parents of future students, and the students themselves, for what to expect. It is also useful for the teachers and other faculty to get an idea of the new class size.

Thompson Falls School Secretary Diane Hedahl said class sizes are a difficult thing to predict. There has been a decrease in incoming class sizes for the past several years but the last two years unexpectedly increased. The Kindergarten Round-up event is very important for the school so they can gage how many teachers are needed among other things.

In past years of the event parents came and picked up registration packets while faculty took the names of students and parents. This year will be slightly different, according to Hedahl.

This year, the hope is to take academic assessment of as many of the future students as possible before classes actually begin. The children will be tested at the Kindergarten Round-up event as opposed to the first few days of school which is how it was done in previous years.

For the past five years, Thompson Falls Elementary School has participated in the No Child Left Behind Program. This program involves an academic assessment of students. The tests show what the children already know and what they still need to learn.

The same tests will be done this school year but the hope is to get some of the assessments completed early so that greater preparations can be made before fall.

“This is to better prepare for the new year because we will know how many teachers we need and where the class is academically and what they still need,” Hedahl explained.

Hedahl said this new plan of action was the idea of Principal Len Dorscher. This academic year was Dorscher’s first and with his second he wanted to make some changes to better the success of the school.

According to Hedahl, the teachers are really excited to get the ball rolling.

Hedahl listed what will be on the agenda for the Kindergarten Round-up.

“They will come in half hour testing time slots and immunizations will be available,” Hedahl said.

Parents will be asked to provide birth certificates and proof of immunization for their child. Soon-to-be-kindergartners and parents are encouraged to come but Hedahl stressed it is not of major concern if people are unable to attend.

Hedahl wanted all of the parents to know that for a child to be eligible for enrollment they must be five years old on or before Sept. 10.

As of now, 10 have said they are coming but Hedahl and other faculty members are hoping for more.