Holmdel Superintendent Dr. Robert McGarry has announced that the school district is set to hold its first Full Day Kindergarten registration during the month of January.
Until now, the district has only funded a half-day program for any child who turns the age of 5 five by Oct. 1 of each year. Beginning in September, all Kindergarten classes will be full day, according to a press release.
“It is incredibly rewarding to be able to offer parents the kind of program that they’ve been asking the district to put in place for a number of years and even more rewarding to know that the program we are building will provide our youngest learners an even stronger foundation for their education,” Dr. McGarry said in a statement.
Research examining the impact of full-day kindergarten has found that children who attended for a full day program had better academic outcomes the following year as well as more self-confidence, according to the press release.
Director of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Dineen Seeley, as well as a team of administrators and teachers, have been working for two years to create a child-centered, developmentally appropriate, integrated program of learning for Holmdel’s young learners. Seely said a full day program will provide a strong foundation for growth in the early years.
“Our goal is to create a safe, nurturing and purposeful program that will promote the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of all students,” Seeley said.
Registration for the 2019-2020 program will be held Jan. 15 to17 at Village Elementary School. Information is available on the Village Elementary School website.