Need Advice Kindergarten Enrichment

My son has for most of his past 4 years been in full time schooling in the AOL program and has excelled wonderfully and is academically very interesting in learning and advanced. I"m wondering if putting him in just the three hour "half day" public kindergarten would be holding him back.

While I'd love to sign him up for lots of sports, science fun classes, crafty classes and stuff like that in the after school hours, I'd be keeping him at home while my younger two are napping for the afternoon. Wondering if anyone has feedback on the Golden Pond kindergarten enrichment program or any other. I'd especially be interested in something just part time and not all 5 days.

If you have experienced the Golden Pond one, what time do the kids actually get there and start their day (how long does the whole bus transfer process take), and is it structured learning along with science, outside time, crafts, etc., or more of just a free play after care program?

Thanks for the feedback....

 

We kept T8ertot in full day kindergarten at the child care center where I work. We largely made this decision for financial and convenience reasons. If he had gone to Mill Run for half a day, we would have been paying nearly as much for some local daycare to come pick him up and take care of him until we got home. And, his full day kindergarten was in the building where I work and I get an employee discount.

However, in retrospect, I would not do it again. He was the only kid in his first grade class that did not go to Kindergarten at Mill Run. It was very difficult for him to "catch up" to the other kids with regard to knowing how "real school" works vs. what he was used to in a smaller ratio, less structured private kindergarten. The first two months of the school year were truly painful. Plus, academically, its just different. There were many things he knew and understood that were far beyond what the other kids got at Mill Run, but, he certainly was not as versed in the things that they were all very familiar with. So, it was hard for his teacher to get him caught up on those things, too.

The other thing, which you think would not matter so much at this age, is that many of the other kids knew each other already. This presented another challenge for him--but since he is a big-mouth and a social kid he overcame it quickly. Had he been a shy child or more intimidated, this would have been harder.

 

We have been sending our daughter to golden pond for preschool and will continue on with enrichment.... What I can tell you is that the school is great, teachers are energetic and creative and the environment has been excellent four our child.

 

My daughter attends KE at Golden Pond and it has been great. Her preschool class last year was 5 hours a day 5 days a week and I too thought only going to Kindergarten for 3 hours a day would have been a step back. Besides that she only missed the cutoff by 2 weeks so she is an old Kindergartner.

The teachers have been great, very energetic and creative. They are very responsive to any concerns that I have had this year (my daughter is painfully shy and quiet).

She gets picked up from her elementary school by Golden Pond (she loves riding the bus or van), they get to GP and get recess time, then have lunch and then class time until pick up time at 2:20. They take field trips (in Nov it was to DC touring the Capitol) and the most recent trips are walking or local (nature related).

I can't say enough good things I am already planning for my son to attend in 3 years time. PM if you have any other questions or just want to chat.

 

my daughter is very social and went to a 4 hr long preschool so I was afraid the shorter day at public kindergarten wouldn't be enough for her so I sent her to Kindergarten Enrichment at Golden Pond. Very good program, good teachers. I think Little Bear Preschool here in Broadlands still offers a Kindergarten Enrichment program too. Call 7038580117 or nancyshep@hotmail.com.

 

I have heard really great things about the GP Enrichment program and would have sent our upcoming kindergartener there, but the idea of picking up 3 kids from 3 different childcare places was too much. So she is staying and doing the private kinder at the center where she is now, and then will move to Mill Run for 1st grade. If she wasn't as social and diverse as she is, I would have made GP work to make sure she started at Mill Run with all the other kids. I know I don't know your child, but I would think going from a full-day program at AOL to 3 hours of kinder would be a BIG transition. HTH!

 

Any thoughts/reviews about Kindergarten program at Chesterbrook Academy at sterling location.

Thanks.