Published: July 27, 2007 02:34 pm         

LYNDONVILLE: Ready for pre-k

LYNDONVILLE — Three-year-old Aidan Covert is proud to be among the very first to attend pre-kindergarten in the Lyndonville Central School District.

His backpack is already filled and ready to go — even though school doesn’t start until September.

“He was really excited,” said Aidan’s mom, Melissa. “I thought it was nice because there’s finally something local. Everyday he asks, ‘Are we going to school today.’ He feels like a big kid.”

Aidan will have the opportunity to attend pre-kindergarten, while his older sister, Isabelle, who will be entering kindergarten this year, did not. Until now, parents have had to drive their children to Medina or Albion for programs, which made it difficult for parents who were working or had children in different schools, Covert said.

“I think it’s an asset of the school district as a whole,” she said. “It’s going to get him used to the structure of school, the socialization with other kids.”

According to Elementary School Principal Nancy Good, plans for the universal pre-kindergarten program are now underway. A teacher and teacher’s aid have been hired, the curriculum is set and the 36 slots for students have been filled.

Lyndonville received a $83,296 state universal pre-kindergarten grant to fund the new program, Good said, allowing them to provide early intervention services not previously offered in the district. Children born between Dec. 2, 2002 and Dec. 1, 2003 were eligible to apply.

The curriculum and assessments are aligned with state standards for the development of cognitive and numeracy skills, social and emotional skills, physical health and wellness, early literacy and creative expression. Transportation and special education services are available for those who need it, Good said.

Morning sessions will be held from 8:50 to 11:20 a.m. and afternoon sessions will be held from 12:40 to 3:10 p.m., each with 18 students to a class. Breakfast and lunch for the youngsters will also be provided.

“Research tells us that early intervention is certainly important,” Good said. “We’re really looking to deliver our curriculum through a child focused, center based approach. We want our children to learn to be independent and develop problem solving skills that are age appropriate.”

There will be multiple opportunities in the classroom for students to learn through doing, including a block and movement, story and listening center. Traditional authentic practice centers, complete with a play kitchen, will allow the children to learn at their own pace.

Whether or not the program will be able to continue beyond the 2007-08 school year will depend on grant funding, Good said.

“I like the half day program because a whole day would be too much for him,” Covert said. “Now he will already be used to going to the school when he starts kindergarten next year.”

Contact reporter Nicole Coleman at 798-1400, ext. 2227.