Orland School Dist. 135 starts full-day kindergarten
Originally published August 25, 2016
School buses are snaking through neighborhoods. Children and parents are gathering at the appropriate bus stops.
And teachers, parents and students alike are welcoming a new school year.
Big changes also are in motion at Orland School Dist. 135.
A two-year project that was committed to doing research and studying the validity and feasibility of implementing a full-day kindergarten has moved forward to offer that option to students.
As of the beginning of this school year, the full-day curriculum for kindergarten is off and running.
Dave Snyder, director of curriculum, explained the process of arriving at this decision, and also detailed the research and implementation process.
Snyder gives the credit to our District 135 school board, which was (then) headed by Joe LaMargo and currently Laura Berry, “without whose support this endeavor would not have moved forward.”
He calls this group “visionary and supportive.”
From gaining the green light to proceed; research was compiled to seek the best options for implementation, and the necessary curriculum, data, and studies to support the endeavor.
With input from current kindergarten teachers and building principals — who were very enthusiastic and excited — a program was built that would extend the two hour and 45 minute day, to a full-day curriculum. The shorter day schedule is still available.
The new schedule started last month.
A critical component of the research was an outside exploratory committee consisting of district office personnel; building personnel; kindergarten teachers, parents, and our school board.
The importance of this committee was to work with all departments to create an experience specific to our Orland Park families.
This meant doing the right thing for the whole child (encompassing many areas of child development), and doing the right things for the parents. By lengthening the day, there is more availability for scheduling structure, which is a win-win for students, teachers, and parents.
What is valuable in this is that they looked at the schedules of other school districts, safety concerns, classroom materials and furniture, family nights, and even parking. Every aspect was considered when evaluating this program. Regarding the template for a full day verses half day schedule, Snyder stated that they did not want to load the morning with the “heavy work” and then have the lighter courses in the afternoon to extend the day, but to build a curriculum that would enhance academic success — which included balance — a not too rigorous but still academically challenging full-day program.
With 23.2 students per average kindergarten classroom, there are 488 students. The full-day vs. half-day is an option, of which 99.98% of the families chose the full-day. Having the extra time in the classroom allows teachers to give one-on-one attention; individual, and small group learning opportunities to the students.
I asked if there were any options to change back and forth from full to half day, and Snyder provided that the option to change is there for families to shift if the option they chose is not working; however, research (outside the district) shows that students going back from full-day to half-day was 0%.
Snyder explained that the full-day option, although it lengthens the day, is much less upsetting for a child, as daily transitions are not part of the routine (i.e. daycare, sitter, etc. after school care). Staying in one location provides for more stability and routine for the child.
The roll-out of this program has been successful, but it is still evolving. Snyder stated “part of our job is to be evaluating it every step of the way.”
He also would like to remind parents that, if there are any issues, it is always best to start with contacting your child’s teacher; the building principal, and then district administration.
Snyder would like to acknowledge the great leadership in moving forward thanks to the current board; Supt. DJ Skogsberg; Lynn Zeder, assistant superintendent for teaching/learning; and John Bryk, assistant superintendent for operations and human resources. This was an all-encompassing project, in that input needed to be gathered from many departments — business, facilities and maintenance, technology, community relations, safety, curriculum, special education, and human resources.
The full-day kindergarten option is available at Park, Prairie, Centennial, and Center schools in Orland Park.
“We have the most wonderful families, students, principals, and teachers that pull these things together, ” Synder said. “Our teachers are second to none.”
He has a vested interest in our schools. As an Orland Park resident with children attending schools in the district, decisions that administration makes land at his own kitchen table.