Kindergarten entry attributes
These attributes were taken from the Dayton Region’s School Readiness Formula.
The guide recommends children have the following attributes when entering kindergarten:
Social/emotional
Express his or her own wants and needs
Listen to adults/others and follow simple instructions
Follow simple rules and routines
Take turns and share when playing with other children
Separate from parents/families without being upset
Physical development
Dress and meet toilet needs independently
Use pencils, crayons and scissors
Skip, jump, hop and catch
Language
Listen to stories read
Answer questions
Tell the difference between print and pictures
Recognize letters of the alphabet, including some in addition to those in first name
Recognize and write name
“Write” or scribble notes, letters, stories
Hold a book correctly
Recognize and say simple rhymes
Math
Count 10 objects
Sort objects by color, size or shape
Show understanding of general times of day
CENTERVILLE — The Centerville Library is hosting a kindergarten readiness program from 7 to 9 p.m. today, Jan. 27.
At “Kindergarten: Ready or Not?” a panel of kindergarten teachers from Centerville City Schools, Incarnation School and the Miami Valley School will share information on the traits and skills kindergartners should have at the start of the school year.
The program is geared for adults only. Registration is not required, and the event is free and open to the public.
Centerville Library is at 111 W. Spring Valley Road. For more information, call (937) 433-8091.
Robyn Lightcap — the director of Ready Set Soar, the Dayton region’s early care and education initiative — said that there are many opinions regarding kindergarten readiness.
“You can take the viewpoint that every child is ready for kindergarten at 5 years old,” Lightcap said. “You just want to set your child up to succeed.”
Lightcap said, when weighing readiness, kindergarten teachers often place a heavy emphasis on social and emotional development, while parents often look at the child’s academic capabilities.
Mindy Cline, principal of Centerville Primary Village North, said it is important to look at whether the whole child is ready.
“You have to consider child development all the way around, and not focus on one element,” said Cline, who also is on the Montgomery County kindergarten readiness committee.
To help toward this end, kindergarten screening is held at the school each child will attend.
Centerville City Schools, Incarnation School and the Miami Valley School all have upcoming kindergarten events:
Centerville
Parents who plan to enroll their children in Centerville City Schools for the 2011-12 school year should pick up a registration packet at Primary Village North, Primary Village South or the Board of Education office starting Tuesday, Feb. 1.
Children should be 5 years old by Sept. 30 to enroll in kindergarten, which is a half-day program.
PVN is at 450 Marshall Road, PVS is at 8388 Paragon Road and the Board of Education Office is behind Cline Elementary at 111 Virginia Ave.
After completing the paperwork in the packet, parents should return the packet to their child’s assigned school anytime between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and 4 and 7 p.m. March 1, and between noon and 7 p.m. March 2.
For more information, call PVN at (937) 438-6062 or PVS at (937) 312-1273.
Incarnation School
Incarnation, 45 Williamsburg Lane, near Ohio 48, is holding a kindergarten/early fives parent information meeting at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 27 in the Parish Center. Registration packets will be available, and parents can ask questions.
Children should be 5 by Sept. 30 for kindergarten, and by Dec. 31 for early fives.
The school also is having an open house for all new students from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. March 6.
Incarnation’s kindergarten/early fives screenings will be held March 14-15 in the Parish Center.
First-grade screening will be held in March.
Incarnation offers full- and half-day kindergarten.
For more information, call Kim Shields at (937) 433-1051, ext. 134, or e-mail her at Kim.Shields@Incarnation.Catholic.org.
Miami Valley School
The Miami Valley School, which offers full-day kindergarten, is holding a kindergarten transition screening from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 29, at the school, 5151 Denise Drive, Washington Twp.
Screening also can be scheduled by appointment by calling (937) 434-4444.
The age cutoff for kindergarten is 5 before Sept. 30.
MVS also has an early childhood program.
For more information, call (937) 434-4444.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7325 or jikelley@Dayton DailyNews.com.
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