Fairfax County kindergarten only 3 hours??

[Anonymous]

My child is entering a private Pre-K program. But we're thinking about switching to public school next fall.

I just checked the schedule for the local kindergarten in Great Falls. It said:

Kindergarten (AM)

Monday 8:25 AM - 10:30 AM
Tues-Fri 8:25 AM - 11:45 AM

Kindergarten (PM)

Monday 10:30 - 12:35
Tues-Fri 11:45 - 3:05

This is supposed to be one of the best school districts in the entire country. I'm amazed to see that kindergarten only lasts two hours on 1 day and for three hours on the other days. Am I reading this right??

[Anonymous]

Yep. Some schools in FC have full-day kindergarten and some have only half-day, but they're all supposed to be full-day by fall 2010.

I did hear that this plan might be in jeopardy given all the recent budget cuts, but I do know that Oakton Elementary went to a full-day program for this fall.

[Anonymous]

in loudoun county, I was told by a relative who was about to send her daughter to kindergarten (they wound up moving out of state, but that is beside the point) that the reason there is still half day kindergarten is because the schools cannot accomodate all the kids on a full day schedule. Too many kids, not enough spaces.

Not certain of the validity of this, but it makes some sense. I wonder if some of this is at play in Fairfax as well.

[Anonymous]

The reason it has gone all day is so the kids can get a "head start" to pass the lame tests required these days. If I could find a half-day public program, I would LOVE it. They are 5 years old and do not need all day school at that age. Many working parents love it b/c it makes childcare easier and cheaper but at what price? The kids started back to school this week and the poor kindergarteners that live on my block look like walking zombies after-school.

[Anonymous]

What is astounding is that the kindergartens in Fairfax all follow the same curriculum and goals ... so the half day programs (try to) complete the same level and amount of work as the full day programs. This means that the half day kids are moved quickly from one activity to the next with little transition in order to "fit it all in". It's true that the full day kids spend more time on eating, resting, and playing ... but that is all important stuff at that age. Common sense tells me that the half day kids really don't get the same level of schooling, although I think children of that age don't really need the level of academics being thrown at them.

[Anonymous]

I would very much love to send my son to a half-day K program. And let him be a kid while he's still a kid. Alas we cannot move to Great Falls right now ....

[Anonymous]

ok, for the record, I was in 1st grade full day at 5 years old. If 5 is too young for a full day, where do you draw the line? SIX, SEVEN? When?

[Anonymous]

Thank God for full-day kindergarten in Arlington County. Parents at our son's preschool who were going to Fairfax County schools were really upset that there was no full-day kindergarten in many places -- on top of it, Fairfax has very limited after-school care, whereas in Arlington, all the schools have it in place.

I find it fascinating that some parents don't want full-day kindergarten. In Arlington, at least, it allows some kids to start learning a foreign language and the day is not nearly as jam-packed.

Our son went to daycamp for 6 hours/day this summer -- if he can handle that, he can handle full-day kindergarten just fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reason it has gone all day is so the kids can get a "head start" to pass the lame tests required these days. If I could find a half-day public program, I would LOVE it. They are 5 years old and do not need all day school at that age. Many working parents love it b/c it makes childcare easier and cheaper but at what price? The kids started back to school this week and the poor kindergarteners that live on my block look like walking zombies after-school.

Why don't you home school? Not being sarcastic, but really it sounds like that might be a better choice for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reason it has gone all day is so the kids can get a "head start" to pass the lame tests required these days. If I could find a half-day public program, I would LOVE it. They are 5 years old and do not need all day school at that age. Many working parents love it b/c it makes childcare easier and cheaper but at what price? The kids started back to school this week and the poor kindergarteners that live on my block look like walking zombies after-school.

Why don't you home school? Not being sarcastic, but really it sounds like that might be a better choice for you.

Once I hit the jackpot, I would love to homeschool. I am a single parent so pulbic school is the only option. If FT K were optional, that would be great. At age 5, I was still taking an afternoon nap. I needed one after school all morning. My neighbor started K last week and she has had recess once. The rest of her recesses were spent practicing how to walk the hallways in silence. She has art once a week where the teacher tells her what and how to draw/paint. In PE, they spend lots of time sitting and listening and standing in line. I just don't think that is what 5 yr olds need to be doing. If they made a K program that was developmentally appropriate, I would be fine w/ it.

[Anonymous]

My neighbor started K last week and she has had recess once. The rest of her recesses were spent practicing how to walk the hallways in silence. She has art once a week where the teacher tells her what and how to draw/paint. In PE, they spend lots of time sitting and listening and standing in line. I just don't think that is what 5 yr olds need to be doing.

Please, please tell me that your neighbor is not in K in NW DC ...