Kindergarten and Kindergarten Readiness

A Parent’s Testimony

“I have to admit, I was skeptical about all day kindergarten. None of my children attended preschool, and I wondered if this would be too big of a jump. I worried that my daughter would not be able to have time to just learn through typical child-play. The first week was tiring for her, but she was eager to get to school. She took great pride in her work, and I was pleased to see how quickly she began to read. When I visited the classroom, I was also pleased to see that there was such a range of activities for the students to enjoy. Not only are they working on the newest technology with Ipads or internet field trips to far away places right on their smart board, but there is also time for that very important imaginative play with a kitchen, restaurant or toy trucks. The all day program provides time to address the current curriculum recommended for kindergarteners without making children feel rushed or burnt out. The bottom line is that at Eastern we are fortunate enough to have plentiful child-centered materials and excellent teachers who observe each child carefully and tend not just to the child's academic success, but to the emotional well being of each child as well. “  

--A parent of a previous kindergarten student.

Frequently Asked Questions

Kindergarten and Kindergarten Readiness

My kindergarten student will receive an iPad?

 A: Yes.  Every student here at Eastern will receive an iPad.  This iPad will be used in school and the students will bring it home each night for extra practice with apps and other assignments that the kindergarten teacher will assign throughout the year.  It is also used on E-Learning days.  We ask that the students have it charged for each school day.

Are there any fees for Kindergarten?

A:  No.  There are no book fees for Kindergarten at Eastern Elementary School.

How involved are parents in the classroom?

A:  Kindergarten teachers utilize parent volunteers almost daily in the classroom. Teachers will have scheduled times for volunteers.  This information will be available at the start of the school year.

What type of handwriting do you do in kindergarten?

A:  We use the Modern Manuscript formation with our students at Eastern.

Will my child be tired after a full day of school?

A:  Students are a little tired from a full day of school at first until their bodies adjust to the new schedule.  Most parents do not see this as a problem after the first couple weeks of school.   

Does Eastern still provide busing to students out of the district?

A:  Yes.  Families will need to attend a mandatory transportation meeting towards the start of the year  to learn more about the stops and bus rules.  That meeting will be announced.  Currently, we have 5 stops outside of our district.   

Feel free to ask us more questions and we'll provide an answer on this blog.  Email your questions to randy.maurer@eastern.k12.in.us or leave a comment to this post.  Thank you.