Kdg in Dist. 191 & Half Vs. Full Day

I do not live in District #191, but my kids attend in #196, a neighboring district. We are extremely happy with District 196 and our elementary school. I have heard that #191 has experienced some budget cuts and failed referendums that have people frustrated, but I have no personal experience with that. I think the best way to get information about Rahn Elementary and #191 is to talk to neighbors and people in the community who attend that school and other schools in the district. That is what I did before my kids started school--I probably talked to 20 different people about their school experiences. The principal of Rahn would also be willing to meet with you to give you a tour of the school, talk about your concerns and discuss your kindergarten options. I met with our principal before my oldest started school and found it to be very helpful. I also toured other schools and met with at least one other principal.

As to 1/2 day vs. full day it really depends on the needs of your family and your individual child. The academic curriculum is supposed to be the same for full and 1/2 day. The full day program is able to add enrichment activities such as extra field trips and extra specilaists (music, art, gym, etc.). They also have extra downtime--lunch and rest. My kids both attended 1/2 day kindergarten and were very prepared for 1st grade and do quite well in school. I have heard other people rave about full day kindergarten. It may depend on your needs--would you be working so that she would be in daycare otherwise, is she ready for a full day of school, will she be an older or younger kindergartner, does she have special needs? What will she be doing for the other 1/2 day if she isn't in kindergarten for a full day? I did many "enrichment" type activities with my boys on my own. My younger son had been home with me full time since birth and I didn't feel he was ready for a full day of school and that the 1/2 day would be a good transition for him to get used to school. Kids who have been in daycare full time will be used to a full day away from home and a day full of activities. This is also something you could discuss with neighbors, teachers or administrators who are familiar with your school and district.

Good luck!

Glacier Hills is an excellent choice in district 191. I like the environmental/science thrust of the school.

D.,

www.greatschools.net is a great resource to compare and contrast schools. You can also schedule tours (or drop in) with the schools to get a better feel. Rahn Elementary didn't do real well on their test scores and there are several negative parent reviews on the Greatschools.net site.

Good luck,
S.

My daughter attended full day kindergarten at MW Savage in dist.191 just last year. Here's my thoughts ......

My daughter was barely old enough to start kindergarten turned 5 just a few days before school started. So .... she was tired alot, and it pooped her out. They did have "quiet time" for the first half of the year. Where they could rest, read or just relax. They also had milk/snack time too.

They weren't rushed as much as 1/2 day because they had plenty of time.

They got to eat lunch and have recess a big plus. But did not get art,music,or gym (they don't do that til 1st grade)

Is it a better education probaly just more time at school though so they can go over stuff and take their time, I personally think 1/2 day wouldn't have been enough to keep my daughter busy. Only child at home she would have been bored.

Fullday had bigger class sizes and Halfday had smaller class sizes too.

I'm not saying this in a bad or good way but this is just a fact I'll let you decide how you feel about this.

I personally noticed this while at school(I volunteer alot) and in the yearbook that:

Full day kindergarten is mostly middle-upper class white students.

Half day was mostly minorities and all the students who speak english as a second language.

Once they get to first grade they all get crammed into the same classrooms anyways but that was a huge difference I saw. Now that my daughter is in first grade I have noticed the kids that went to Full day K are better readers most of them are in the Accelerated or Advanced reading group.

I debated heavily on where to send my daughter, when to send her 5 or 6 years, and full or half day. It was literally the hardest decision of my life.

I would opt to do full day K if I had to do it again.

I also volunteer alot at the school and have met alot of other mom's and know exactly how things are run and am involved I like that.

Then I signed my daughter up for Daisies in kindergarten and Brownies in 1st grade and she's made a ton of friends and the mom's are really cool. Great way to get connected! I highly recommend that.

Dist.191 did have some budget problems but they just passed a referendum and will have more money next year and are reducing the class sizes so that is GREAT news!

Fullday kindergarten is exspensive but if you qualify they do have scholarships. My daughter qualified for a scholarship or financial assistance and it wasn't bad.

I don't live in that school district so I can't help there, but with regards to full-day vs. half-day... I think in most cases, full-day is better. Basically, they learn the same amount of info (and it's a Lot--basically things we learned in 1st grade!) but it's spread out over a few more hours, so there's more time for the kids to relax and play.

I know some districts charge for full-day (like $3,000/year!), so if that's not an option financially, then it's just not an option. We're lucky in that our district (South St. Paul) offers it free of charge. It is definitely an adjustment though--my son's first week was really tough! He got the routine down pretty quickly and now loves it.

Good luck!