Closing a gap

Huntington Beach City School District will begin to prepare children

for school earlier.

In January, the district will begin a developmentally appropriate

Extended-Kindergarten Program. The curriculum and related learning

activities are designed for children who were too young to attend the

start of the regular kindergarten program in September but who will be 5

by Jan. 28.

“I believe that we are one of the few districts in the county to offer

this extended program,” said Supt. Gary Rutherford. “This program will

afford youngsters in our community who were not age appropriate in

September the chance to get a head start.”

The district’s board of trustees voted unanimously to begin the

developmental extended-kindergarten program at Eader, Kettler and Perry

elementary schools.

“We’re very happy to have the program back here,” said Perry Principal

Elaine Keeley, who added that Perry had the program three years ago.

Perry stated that her own son, now a sixth-grader, was in the school’s

extended kindergarten program seven years ago.

Rutherford said that the district plans to bring the program to all

the schools in all areas of the city.

“We are able to do it where space is available,” he said. “The

district is in a good spot this year with the availability of three

sites.”

Teachers will be brought in for one semester, Rutherford said, so that

the program complies with the class size reductionrequirements.

The program’s curriculum is based on the needs and abilities of

students rather than chronological age alone, he said. Activities are

planned to develop a child’s self-esteem and positive feelings toward

learning.

Since the inception of the program as a pilot study in Feb. 1988, the

district has continued to receive positive feedback from teachers and

parents concerning the program’s effectiveness in preparing youngsters

for success in the regular kindergarten program.

“This nurturing, yet challenging program gives children specific

instruction in thinking skills that are foundational to learning academic

content,” Rutherford said.

Registration materials are currently available at neighborhood

elementary schools within the district and will be accepted through Nov.

14, Rutherford said. At the time of registration, parents are required to

provide proof of a child’s age, up-to-date immunizations, health exam and

residency.