By KATIE STOCKSTILL
Morning Sun Staff Writer

It's 8:30 a.m. Friday and kids and parents sit, anxiously awaiting the start of another school year.

But the only students in the gym are kindergartners, those in grades first through 12 still have a couple more days of summer and sleeping in.

This is the first year Pittsburg USD 250 has held Kindergarten Kickoff. The district hopes the kindergarten-only day will help alleviate some of the nerves and hesitation that both students and parents experience on the first day of school.

Gary Price, USD 250 superintendent, said the funding for Kindergarten Kickoff came from a grant from the Kansas Children's Cabinet Trust Fund and administered through Smart Start.

Price said the district chose to use the money for an early school day for kindergartners to help ready them for school.

Ruth Miller, principal of Westside Elementary School, said many times kindergartners are intimidated by the older students in the school building.

Miller said Friday was intended to allow the students to get to know one another, their teachers and their surrounding, and parents were allowed to come along for the ride.

For Chaise Bryant, Friday could not have come fast enough. With a new backpack full of school supplies, Chaise squirmed waiting for the day to start.

"I like going to school," Chaise said.

"He's been like this since he woke up at 6 a.m.," Chaise's mother Teresa said. "He's really excited to be here."

Teresa said the day in school with her son was going to be a big help because this is her first child.

"He's my baby," Bryant said. "I'm really glad I got to come today. It makes me feel better."

Stephanie White, Westside Elementary kindergarten teacher, said she thinks having the kindergartners in the schools early will help everyone.

"It's great," White said. "It gives parents an opportunity to come in and visit with me, see the building and learn how the classroom is structured."

The agenda for the day included a tour of the building, learning the class rules and a short writing lesson.

"It gives them a little bit of security so they don't feel so overwhelmed," While said.

White said she planned to have parents label their children's supplies and just help out around the classroom.

"The first day is always so hectic and full of little, time consuming tasks," White said. "So I'm gonna have parents help me out."

Price said that at the conclusion of school on Friday, the effectivness of the new Kindergarten Kickoff would be evaluated and the district will decide if it should be a permanent program.

White said she hopes it will continue.

"This is really great for me," White said. "I helps me to get to know parents and put a face with a name."

The Morning Sun, (www.morningsun.net) July 12, 2006

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