KINDERGARTEN

The Mansfield Public Schools provide full-day kindergarten with an integrated half-day program for all age-appropriate children.

The full-day program gives classroom teachers approximately one-half the number of students and families they previously served in two half-day programs.  The program also provides more than twice the time for instruction, supported by educational research as a major factor in student understanding and achievement.  In addition to traditional classroom instruction that includes reading, writing, mathematics, science, social studies, and health topics, students in the full-day program receive instruction in art, music, and physical education.  The added time enables teachers and children to explore these topics in greater depth to develop specific student skills in a relaxed and supportive setting.

If parents or guardians believe that the interests of their child are best served by the district’s integrated half-day program, they may select the morning half-day session for a portion of the school year or for the entire school year.  The half-day program is developed to follow, as closely as possible, the traditional model offered in Mansfield for many years, including instruction in music, physical education, computers, and library time.

Should parents/guardians wish to move their child from a half to a full-day program, a Transition Plan (not to exceed two school weeks), may be developed at any time during the school year, in consultation with the classroom teacher and with approval of the building principal.

District guidelines governing both programs are available at each school upon request, and also are posted on each school’s website.

ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDELINES

The guidelines for full and half-day programs are as follows:

-         The school day will be from 8:55 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. for half-day K and pre-school students and from 8:55 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. for full-day students.

-         Students in the half-day program will receive the following specials during a five day school week:

o        1 PE (30 min.)

o        1 Music (30 minutes)

o        1 Library (30 minutes)

o        1 Computer (30 minutes/group)

-         Students in the full-day K program will receive the following specials during a five-day school week:

o        3 PE/Music Classes (30 minutes each)

o        1 Art (30 minutes)

o        1 Library (30 minutes)

o        1 Computer (30 minutes)

-         Recess

o        Total recess time for the full-day program is 30 minutes daily, but may be divided as building schedules allow.

o        Students in the half-day program will participate in a 15-minute recess, with the exception of the day they have physical education.

-         Delayed openings, early closings, and emergency closings for students in the half-day program will remain the same as they are currently. 

§         Delayed openings - no school.

§         Scheduled early closings - 8:55 - 10:50– Students may stay upon request by parent/guardian.

§         Emergency closing - 8:55 - 12:45 – Students will go home with all full-day students unless picked up by a parent/guardian.

-         Students starting a half-day program and wishing to change to a full-day program should do so before January 2^nd.  A parent meeting with the classroom teacher will develop a Transition Plan of up to two school weeks in length and be approved by the building principal.

-         Students may start a full-day program and go back to the half-day program if necessary, based on a meeting with the parent, teacher, and principal.

-         Students enrolled in the half or full-day program will not be permitted to mix programs (half-days and some full-days, and/or early dismissals).

-         If a grade-appropriate assembly, field trip, special event and/or all day event is held in the afternoon, students in the half-day program may attend the event upon parent/guardian request including a parent/guardian plan for student lunch.

Individual schools will determine:

-         Student placement per Board of Education Policy

-         Time and location for K lunch (30 minutes)

-         Time and location for K recess(es) and the degree to which students are with students from other grades