Waiouru kindy sessions change

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 443, 14 July 1992, Page 6

Waiouru kindy sessions change

BY

JAN

SAVELL

On Monday 13 July Kenningston Kindergarten resumes the age group sessions that were suspended a year ago. After a special meeting of parcnts last year the kindergarten introduced a system of vertical grouping. Each child attcnded two morning and two afternoon sessions a week. The vote on the issue had been tied, with the chair casting the deciding vote. Vertical grouping was to be trialled for twelve months. Last month parents were invited to a meeting to discuss the issue. Marita Broadhurst from the Kindergarten Association's office in Palmerston North chaired the meeting. At its conclusion the majority of parents voted to revert to the previous system of separate sessions depicted by age. The teachers were prescnt but did not have voting rights at the meeting. Head teachcr, Margie Dennehy is eager to put the change into practice. "I would have supported the children and their parents eithcr way but I am plcascd. I be-

lieve that this system better caters for the specific needs of our children." "At Kenningston we have children coming in very young. We will be better able to tailor the programme. As teachers we have different expectations from a child of three years to a four and a half year old." Morning sessions are likely to become more structurcd, with the teachers dcciding on the corrcct time for children to be 'promotcd' from the afternoon sessions. Waiouru's. other kindergarten will retain the vertical grouping system. Margie is pleased that residents will be offcred a choice. "It is important for parents to be able to make dccisions." A few transfers are expected as space becomes available. Currcntly rolls at the Keningston Kindergarten are at their highest levcl since 1989. "At the moment we accept transfers as long as the natural progrcssion of our children is not effccted. We cxpcct the association to addrcss this issue."