This summer, Shawnee Mission School District welcomed the Class of 2036! Dozens of rising kindergarteners participated in a three-week program designed to introduce these young students to their education journey.
Jump Start to Learning is focused on literacy, numeracy, and the skills of being a student. It takes place in SMSD classrooms with SMSD teachers and connects students to their (soon-to-be) schools and peers.
“I love it for the time that we’re here. Those three weeks are very fun and it’s very engaging and enjoyable,” explained Georgia Klos, a kindergarten teacher at East Antioch Elementary. “But the benefit of the program is long into August and September because these little kids who have been here have a jump on the school year.”
In addition to academics, students learn classroom routines and expectations like circle time, listening when the teacher is talking, following directions, and interacting with their peers.
“We try to mimic what we do in Jump Start to be exactly like what we’re going to do in Kindergarten,” explained Klos. “It’s the perfect preview of what’s to come.”
Jump Start also provides family engagement events, which give family members a chance to visit students in the classroom and engage in activities.
“We’ve been really excited about Jump Start,” said William Hailey, a parent of a Jump Start student. “We’ve been anxious to jump into kindergarten and it’s been a great way to calm [my daughter’s] nerves and get her excited about it and we just think it’s great.”
This year, students and families took a field trip to Shawnee Mission West for a puppet show. For many students, this was their first time riding a school bus!
Students also got a visit from Dove, a therapy dog from KSDS Assistance Dogs Inc. thanks to Briarwood teacher Liz Peters.
Several other community partners participate in the program including Johnson County Library and the Overland Park Fire Department to introduce students and their families to the resources available across the community.
“Any time we’re able to meet and impact students at an early age, to build that rapport and relationships, I think it just helps us and them as they get older,” explained Captain Stan McDonald from the Overland Park Fire Department.
By the end of Jump Start, incoming kindergartners are ready to hit the ground running on their first day, shared Chris Osgood, one of the administrative interns for Jump Start.
“I think it’s really important, especially for students who haven’t had the opportunity to attend Pre-K because it gives them a chance to meet teachers, make new friends and understand what school is all about,” he said.
But, it’s not just the students who benefit from the program.
“It’s also a nice step for the parents. They get to see us when it’s not quite so full,” said Klos. “The whole school isn’t here so it’s just these kids and their parents.”
Find out more about early childhood in the Shawnee Mission School District by clicking here.
Jump Start to Learning is made possible by generous support from the Hall Family Foundation and the Shawnee Mission Education Foundation.