Students embark on educational journey




Journeys, a kindergarten preparatory program launched last year at Sumac Elementary School in Agoura Hills, is growing.

A first-step kindergarten program, Journeys is for children, most of whom will turn 5 between July 1 and Dec. 2, who might not be socially or academically ready to enter a traditional kindergarten class. The program allows children to spend an additional year in kindergarten rather than staying in preschool for another year or not going to school at all.

According to Rose Dunn, director of instruction for Las Virgenes Unified School District, the 2009 pilot program was so popular with parents at Sumac that the district opened the program at Lupin Hill in Calabasas the same year. The program was brought to White Oak Elementary School in Westlake Village this year and will come to Bay Laurel Elementary School in fall 2011.

“The goal is to open the Journeys program at all schools if there is enough parent interest,” Dunn said.

Students are eligible to enter kindergarten at the age of 4 years, 9 months, an age that many parents and teachers believe is too young for children to handle the rigors of today’s standards-based curriculum, which is more akin to the first grade of years past.

When they’ve finished kindergarten, children are expected to know all of their letters and phonetic sounds and to be able to write a sentence or two. They also need to be able to read enough to recognize 35 words.

New legislation, the Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2010 that was passed by the state Legislature on Sept. 1, will change the kindergarten entry date in California from Dec. 2 to Sept. 1. The new date ensures that by 2014 all children will enter kindergarten at 5 years old.

The bill also provides for a transitional kindergarten program similar to Las Virgenes’ Journeys.

The kindergarten rollback date will be phased in, Dunn said. In 2011, students can be enrolled in kindergarten if they turn 5 by Dec. 2. In 2012, they must turn 5 by Nov. 1, in 2013 by Oct. 2 and in 2014 by Sept. 1.

In Journeys, children are exposed to all of the standards required in traditional classes but are not required to move on to the next grade level. After a year in the Journeys program, most students will enter a traditional kindergarten program, although some youngsters may be ready for first grade.

Dunn said the program offers teachers the ability to present lessons at a slower pace and in a way that meets the students’ individual needs.

The Journeys classes are open to district students. Children living in other districts will be admitted as space is available. Registration begins Feb. 10, 2011, at each school site.

Each school will hold an informational meeting for interested parents in early February. Lupin Hill’s meeting will be Wed., Feb. 2 at 8:30 a.m.

Call each school for the dates and times of meetings.

For information visit www. lvusd.org or each school’s website.


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