A helping hand for students

Parents who postpone enrolling their children in kindergarten because of late birthdays or for developmental reasons will have another option in the Las Virgenes Unified School District next year.

Carol Martino, principal of Sumac Elementary School in Agoura Hills, said a new program called "Journeys—A First Step Kindergarten Program" was developed by the district for young students who might need extra time to develop socially or academically.

Opening at Sumac this fall, the program will offer more hands-on learning experiences for students than the standard kindergarten program, Martino said.

Journeys is for children who will turn 5 between July and Dec. 2, although students with earlier birthdays will also be allowed to enroll in the class.

Journeys classes are aimed at children who "don't quite fit in preschool and don't quite fit in kindergarten," Martino said. The curriculum will use the same California content standards as typical kindergarten classes but will be presented in a "sheltered, developmental way, at a pace that meets the students' individual needs," she said.

Martino said students might practice writing in shaving cream, sand or salt and will practice phonics and reading by dictating stories. The Journeys students will learn science through hands-on projects and attend field trips, she said.

"They will learn letters and sounds but in a slower way," Martino said. "It's a wonderful stepping stone, a bridge between preschool and traditional kindergarten."

Students will be assessed upon completion of the Journeys program, Martino said. While some students might qualify for first grade, most will enter a traditional, faster paced kindergarten class.

"We have been looking for ways to provide this important head start to our students," said Rose Dunn, director of elementary education for the district. "Ms. Martino and her Sumac team have developed a program that will optimize the school experience for some of our atrisk students. We are delighted to be able to offer this wonderful program."

Each class will maintain the same schedule as regular kindergarten classes, from 8:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., except on Wednesdays, when children will be dismissed at 11:45 a.m. The number of classes opening in the fall will be determined by parent interest and enrollment.

Parent interest has been sparked through word of mouth. Martino said seven students have already been enrolled in the program.

If a child turns 5 before Dec. 2, he or she is eligible for kindergarten in California.

"Most states have a much earlier cutoff date," Martino said, explaining that September is a common cutoff date but some states require that new kindergarten students have their fifth birthday by the July before school starts.

"It's really the call of the parents," Martino said. "We just felt (the Journeys class) was a service we could provide for kids. (The program) will make sure that they are ready."

An informational meeting on the Journeys program will be at 9:30 a.m. Thurs. May 28 in the Sumac multipurpose room.

For further information, call the school at (818) 991-4940.