Pennsbury School District is set to launch a new kindergarten readiness camp this summer to offer incoming students a chance to acclimate to the school environment before their first official day.
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The four-day program will focus on developing academic skills, social-emotional learning, and familiarizing students with school procedures, according to Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Theresa Ricci, who announced the program at a recent school board meeting.
“We’re talking about engaging and starting a new adventure in school. Making new friends. Providing parents and guardians with an opportunity for some family engagement,” Ricci explained.
The camp will be staffed by Pennsbury certified teachers, along with paraprofessionals and instructional aides as needed. It aims to address the varying levels of school experience among incoming kindergartners.
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“Students come to us with really varying experiences with school,” Ricci said. “Some have been to preschool for really like years, while others have never really been in any kind of a school setting.”
The curriculum will focus on three main areas: fine motor skills, early literacy skills, and mathematical concepts. Activities will include letter and sound recognition, counting, number recognition, and early writing skills.
Social and emotional development will also be a key component of the program. Students will learn how to interact appropriately with peers and teachers, ask for assistance, and manage themselves in a classroom setting.
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“We really hope that students will build self-confidence and be able to have some respectful interactions,” Ricci said.
Each day of the camp will mimic a typical kindergarten schedule, starting with a morning meeting, followed by learning centers, playtime, a snack break, and story time.
The district plans to offer multiple sessions throughout July and August to allow families to choose a week that best fits their schedule. A virtual parent orientation is scheduled for July 1 to explain expectations and procedures.
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The camp will be self-funded, with a cost of $225 per student. However, Ricci noted that financial support will be available for families who qualify.
Ricci said that parents will receive information on the program as they register their children for kindergarten.
While the camp will not be held at every elementary school, the district plans to group students at select locations throughout the district.
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Transportation will be the responsibility of parents or guardians, though the district is exploring options for familiarizing students with school bus procedures, officials said.
The school board approved the camp at a cost to the district not to exceed $10,000.
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