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Westminster Full Day Kindergarten Program Showing Positive Results

Jun 29, 2016 | 10:33 AM

LETHBRIDGE:  In the spring of 2016, the Board of Trustees approved the establishment of a full-day kindergarten program at Westminster Elementary School.

The program was intended to be a three-year pilot, with the understanding the program would be assessed to determine its impact on students.

And if feedback from the first year is any indication, the pilot program is off to a solid start.

“Parents have expressed they really appreciate the programming,” said Westminster principal Jessica Rumer. “They’ve seen big differences in their children in terms of self-regulation skills and their development with literacy and numeracy.”

Westminster Kindergarten teacher Krystal Biesbroek agreed.

“Just seeing the growth from their letter recognition, numeracy and literacy skills, they have expanded so greatly, and they’re feeling more confident. I think it will be a great transition next year into Grade 1.”

Lynette Kostiuk, who has taught Kindergarten for years in the District, added having more time for the children, each and every day, is proving to be very beneficial.

“I really find a difference from having them just for a morning or an afternoon, in that we can spend a lot more time doing academic things and spending a lot more time learning social and emotional skills. We also spend a lot more time in play, which has proven to have such a value for growing brains.”

Kostiuk added having time to work with every student on an individual basis, every day of the school week, has sped up the development of the students.

Rumer added the way the school day is structured for the Kindergarten students plays a large role in the success of the program.

“Our Kindergarten is quite play based. With the play-based activities, the students are doing a lot of great learning, and skill development is happening at that time, but they don’t feel as fatigued because to them, they are playing.”

Due to a high number of student registrations, two full-day classes were offered during the

2015–2016 school year at Westminster. A committee comprised of school and District administrators and Dr. Noella Piquette from the University of Lethbridge Faculty of Education, monitored the program and developed an assessment strategy.

“The preliminary data analysis has demonstrated great success for the full-day Kindergarten program,” said Piquette. “In the language and literacy components, every subtest reached statistical significance, indicating that the students in full-day Kindergarten have made notable gains in these areas. Within the executive-functioning domains, the full-day Kindergarten students are demonstrating a slight improvement in competencies related to listening, attending to directions, reduction in impulsivity and decision making.”

Piquette added those involved with full-day Kindergarten have been impressed with the program.

“The comments from the parents, teachers and students have all been positive – their experiences with full-day Kindergarten were positive academically and socially.”

According to Rumer, Westminster Elementary School itself has benefitted from having the youngsters in school on a regular basis.

“It’s been absolutely wonderful to have the kids with us for the full day,” said Rumer. “We love having them in our halls, including them in our assemblies and all the activities we have school-wide. It’s been absolutely a treat to have our Kindergarten students with us.”