Jump into JK program ‘win-win’
Rhema Christian School adopts pre-JK program from BCS
Wednesday June 2, 2010 -- Jennifer Higgs
Rhema Christian School parent Jeanette Boersma says the new Jump Into JK program has been a great introduction to the school for her four-year-old daughter, Charlotte.

Boersma is a mother of three and her oldest child attends senior kindergarten at the Peterborough school. She says Charlotte has been shy and uncertain about attending school for the first time in the fall and thought the program would be a way to get her excited about school.

“This is a nice alternative and to get used to the school environment and what the routines might be like and just to get excited about school,” she says. “She loves it.”

Capped at 12 students, Rhema opened the program up to students enrolled at the school and anyone in the community who has a child entering kindergarten, and has attracted more than half of its students from the community.

Eleven pre-junior kindergarten students signed up for the program, which runs Wednesday mornings for five weeks.

Junior kindergarten teacher Wendy Smale says the idea came from Belleville Christian School kindergarten teacher Laurie Tuckey, who presented about the program at a conference.

Smale says the program is especially beneficial for students who have not attended nursery school to learn about socializing with others. It is also important for the children to experience separating from their parents, she adds.

The program teaches students some of the routines that happen at school, such as making a line when leaving the classroom.

Students going into JK were previously invited to attend a morning in August to get to know one another, but Smale says the disadvantage is the school is empty.

“I love this because their siblings are down the hallway and the school is functioning as a school, they hear bells going off signaling snacks or recesses, so it really immerses them in the school life prior to fall,” she says.

After the first Wednesday session Smale received a call from Knox Christian School in Bowmanville asking how it was going.

“I can’t say enough about it so far,” says Smale. “It’s just a great start.”

Smale says if all goes well Rhema will consider running two spring sessions next year.

She says the program has been an opportunity to show off the school.

“I just think it’s win-win all the way around,” says Smale.

Boersma also notes the program is providing a way to increase the school’s exposure.

“It’s a great exposure to them to get different families in there seeing what Rhema is all about and even getting the community involved in the school,” she says.

This article was originally posted at www.oacs.org.