This week: Learn About STEAM Tonight, Register for Preschool and Kindergarten Next Week

March 28, 2017

Learn About Hemingway STEAM Tonight!

Photo Credit: Owatonna People's Press

All parents are invited to learn about STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) tonight, Tuesday, March 28 at Hemingway Elementary at 6:00 p.m. Dr. Thomas Meagher, STEM Education Coordinator for Owatonna, Minnesota Public Schools will speak about STEAM. He is conducting staff training at Hemingway Elementary this week.

All Blaine County parents are invited to learn more about STEAM from 6:00-7:00 p.m. At 7:00 p.m. there will be a meeting for parents of children who are interested in participating in the middle school component next year in sixth grade. Any parent interested in Hemingway as an option for their rising 6th grader is welcome to attend the meeting.

Kindergarten and Preschool Registration:Wednesday, April 5

Wednesday, April 5

Alturas, Bellevue, and

Hailey Elementaries

11:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

at the Community Campus

Hemingway Elementary

8:15 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

at Hemingway Elementary

Students entering Kindergarten and Preschool MUST be age five (K) or four (Pre-K) on or before 9/1/2017.

Go to blaineschools.org to find your child's registration checklist.

"My Favorite Thing About Kindergarten"

Parent Choices for Kindergarten

Full Day Kindergarten:

Kindergarten is full day in the Blaine County School District, thanks to community feedback during the 2008 Strategic Planning process that placed full day Kindergarten as a priority. Full day Kindergarten is offered at every elementary school in the District. Half of this is paid for by the state and half by support from local property tax.

Full Day Dual Immersion Kindergarten:

In addition to a traditional Kindergarten program, parents may choose to enter a lottery for Dual Immersion Kindergarten, in which students receive instruction of the core curriculum in both Spanish and English. Dual Immersion Kindergarten is offered at Alturas and Hemingway Elementary schools.

What Happens in a Kindergarten Classroom?

Kindergarten is a crucial year in a child's educational journey. Kindergarteners have different needs than preschoolers, but Kindergarten is not "first grade made a bit easier." Kindergarteners need an educational approach that is developmentally appropriate. They need time to learn from play, choices in their daily routine, and teachers who are responsive to their individual needs. There is a reason Robert Fulghum's book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten was a best seller.

Dual Immersion Kindergarten

The Dual Immersion (DI) program began in 2001. Now , the program continues K-12, with the first class of Dual Immersion having graduated from Wood River High School in 2014. During their elementary years, students receive their education in the core curriculum in Spanish and in English. This means that each student has the experience of learning in their native language and learning in a second language. Effective language arts instruction builds literacy skills that transfer into another language. At the middle school and high school level, students have the opportunity to take a Spanish class at their proficiency level and also a social studies class in Spanish each semester. Read more here .

Preschool Emphasizes LEARNING THROUGH PLAY

Creating a World of Play: The half day Preschool program provides opportunities for each child to grow emotionally, physically, intellectually, and socially. Each day, children engage in a variety of learning activities. Intentionally organized learning experiences are planned to build self-esteem, challenge children's thinking and reasoning skills, encourage healthy relationships with peers and staff, and explore various curriculum topics. Children will spend time in self-directed learning centers that include blocks, dramatic play, math and manipulatives, art, discovery, computers, sand and water table (sensory), and literacy centers. Read more here.

Developmental Preschool

The Developmental Preschool primarily serves children with developmental needs; other typically developing children are also included in this setting. Children enrolled in the Developmental Preschool have a wide range of abilities and needs. Their ages are 3-5. They must meet Idaho eligibility requirements for special education and must reside in the Blaine County School District. Read more about Special Education here .