Kindergarten at Garrett Park Elementary School

[Anonymous]

How is the day structured? It is lots of worksheets? How many recesses?

This is our inbound public school but we’re also thinking about private kindergarten for our kid who’s not great at sitting still.

I’ve searched the DCUM archives about MCPS kindergarten generally, and folks seemed to say it varies a lot so best to post the name of the particular school.

Thanks in advance for sharing recent experience!

[Anonymous]

Anyone??

[Anonymous]

I think all MCPS elementaries have a lunch time recess only..probably 30 mins.

[Anonymous]

Typically Kinders have one 30 min recess. Teachers may schedule more on certain days but on a day-to-day basis, recess is once a day. Yes MCPS does have worksheets for Kinders. Many are reading and writing anywhere from a Pre K to 2nd grade level.

Go on one of the school tours to ask your questions. Tours scheduled when MCPS has early release:
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/garrettparkes/news-index/school-tours/
|Please enjoy a visit to Garrett Park Elementary School with our Principal Dan Tucci at 9:40 a.m. Friday, February 2, or Friday, March 15. Please call the school with any questions at 240-740-0700.|

[Anonymous]

Kindergarten at GPES
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/garrettparkes/classroom/kindergarten/

[Anonymous]

At our school, K recess is 40 mins, but that includes getting there and coming back so they get about a half hour in the playground.

OP K in MCPS is very academic, and includes a lot of sitting. I don’t think that fact varies by school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Typically Kinders have one 30 min recess. Teachers may schedule more on certain days but on a day-to-day basis, recess is once a day. Yes MCPS does have worksheets for Kinders. Many are reading and writing anywhere from a Pre K to 2nd grade level.

Go on one of the school tours to ask your questions. Tours scheduled when MCPS has early release:
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/garrettparkes/news-index/school-tours/
|Please enjoy a visit to Garrett Park Elementary School with our Principal Dan Tucci at 9:40 a.m. Friday, February 2, or Friday, March 15. Please call the school with any questions at 240-740-0700.|

Recess time is in addition to lunch! 30 min for lunch too. So about one hour in the day for non classroom time. Talk to your neighbors if you have any with recent or current K students at Garret Park.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Thanks everyone!!

[Anonymous]

GPES parent here. Both our boys had a great experience with Kindergarten (and beyond). Most days there was just the single recess after lunch, but every once in a while (maybe once a month) they did a second one if the weather was great. They also did gym once a week.

The teachers were very good about get the kids up and moving during the day. I can't recall exactly how often they did worksheets, but I'd say it was pretty often. We were always getting various papers they completed coming home with them. Usually one or more a day.

Hope this helps. GPES is great. Let me know if you have more questions.