Welcome to Kindergarten

This year will be an exciting year and challenging year for your child.  PUSD has put a lot of time and effort into improving student academic skills in all areas of the curriculum with a target focus on reading and writing.  Now it is our job to expose and teach all the children the many skills required in kindergarten.  We often hear comments “We never did all of this when I was in kindergarten” or ”I can’t believe how much the children have learned this year”.

The children will learn a lot.  However, they also need time to grow and develop their social skills, small motor skills, large motor skills, etc.  It is through the development of the whole child that your child will learn all the necessary skills they need to do the more intense required of them in future grades.

As you look at the demands of the curriculum, you may wonder if kindergarten is still going to be fun and exciting.  Yes, it will be, for as the saying goes, “We have our ways!”. Children naturally find the world around them fun and exciting at this age.  If they are interested, then they will learn.  The kindergarten team will work hard to see that each child is exposed to an exciting and rigorous year.  Please understand young children need much one-to-one help to develop to their utmost ability, therefore, you too will need to become a partner with your child and his/her teacher to ensure their best progress.

Although many things we do may look like just fun and play, buried within are many important skills, which are being developed.  What may be a simple task for an adult is often a very difficult accomplishment for the young child.  Please realize that although some work may not look like much it is to be celebrated.  It is through continual practice that growth and change will take place.  The children are all at different levels when they begin kindergarten.  More mature students may breeze through some work and need to be challenged at higher levels.  Others will need to work hard to accomplish base skills that seem insurmountable.  All the children will learn.  With time, and structured practice at school and at home, your child will grow.  First a rosebud, and ultimately a beautiful rose.

We are together beginning a journey.  Together, we can guide your young little child down the road of learning.  Please come along and be a partner on this important trip, so your child reaches his or her destination.

 Mrs. Hanzel and Mrs. Perkins