It won’t be all naps and graham crackers for kindergartners at
the Presbyterian Co-op Preschool’s new kindergarten class this
fall, Director Trish Brem said Thursday.
Hollister – It won’t be all naps and graham crackers for kindergartners at the Presbyterian Co-op Preschool’s new kindergarten class this fall, Director Trish Brem said Thursday.
Brem said now kindergartners learn what used to be taught in first grade, because research has shown young children can absorb more knowledge than was once thought possible. Kindergartners will learn colors, shapes, numbers, letters and will even begin phonics and basic reading by the end of the year.
Brem said the new kindergarten was designed as an alternative to Hollister School District Kindergarten, with lower student-to-teacher ratios, a Christian education and voluntary parent participation. Brem will limit the class to 20 children because she feels that this will provide an optimal learning environment for students.
Marlis Khan-Smith said her son, 4-year-old Jaymine, is excited about the prospect of attending kindergarten., which is important to her because it sets the tone for future school experiences. She chose the new kindergarten, despite the extra expense, because of the smaller class sizes, and because she appreciated the cooperative preschool experience.
“I liked the parent involvement and the positive Christian environment,” Khan-Smith said. “I just like being involved with his school and knowing what he’s doing in class.”
Brem explained that the Presbyterian Co-op Preschool is the only school in the county that requires parent participation in the classroom. Parent participation in the new kindergarten class will not be mandatory, but will be encouraged Brem said.
Parent involvement in the classroom is one the distinctive qualities of the co-op, which Brem said is important to many parents.
“Parents get to work in the classroom and be part of their child’s first educational experience,” Brem said.
This provides parents with a unique opportunity to watch their child interact with peers in the classroom Brem said. She said many parents learn how to be better teachers and disciplinarians as a result of the experience.
“Some parents enjoy it so much that they show up even when they’re not scheduled,” Brem said.
Brem said biblical stories will be incorporated into classroom lessons, but church doctrine will not be taught. She believes such teaching will help kindergartners to develop strong moral character.
Stephanie Pritchard, an accredited teacher, will teach the class with help from an assistant and students’ parents. Pritchard previously worked as a kindergarten teacher in San Jose at the Oak Grove School District. She’s glad to working with a small, private Christian school and said one of her favorite activities is reading aloud.
“I’m just excited about working in the community that I live in,” Pritchard said. “I’m looking forward to working with the children and their parents.”
The preschool was established in 1963 by a pastor’s wife and has been teaching children in the Hollister area for 42 years.
The afternoon kindergarten program will run from 12 to 3:30 p.m. for a full, 180-day school year and cost $300 a month. School starts Sept. 6.
