First Year "Camp Kindergarten" A Success

6/15/2016

Campers and staff from South Edmonson Elementary.

Staff members and next year's kindergarten students at Kyrock Elementary.

Campers enjoy a snack at Kyrock.

Edmonson Voice Staff Report
Camp Kindergarten was held at South Edmonson and Kyrock Elementary Schools on June 14th and 15th, 2016.
The camp was developed by Edmonson County School District to help incoming Kindergarten students transition to school. This is the inaugural year for the event.

“We're always looking for areas in which we can improve the services we provide for our students and parents," said Wyn Caudill, Preschool Coordinator for Edmonson County Schools. “There has been a lot of work done in our district over the past several years to address College and Career readiness. Current data demonstrates a direct correlation between kindergarten readiness and college and/or career readiness for students. 80% percent of the graduating class of 2016 were college and /or career ready as determined by state guidelines. While this is one of the top percentages in our region, we still are looking for ways to improve student success.”

Students at SEES learn about bus safety.

Camp kindergarten students worked on skills that will help make a smooth transition to kindergarten. In addition to working on academic skill like counting and letter and word recognition, campers also worked on social skills, learned about school rules, and school bus safety. They also participated in story time and worked on computer skills and outdoor activities.

Representatives from Adult Education and the Health department provided information for parents in attendance.

All campers received a camp T-Shirt and a school backpack filled with classroom supplies and activity packets to keep them busy for the remainder of the summer.

Dawn Decker, Kyrock teacher, helps campers with computer skills.

SEES Principal Jamie Woosley speaks to campers and parents.

“We had 66 total participants this year and will hopefully have even more next year," said Caudill. "This project was the result of great team effort by our district staff and our community partner, The Edmonson Voice."

He also noted that Jamie Carnes, Director of State and Federal Programs, Carol Stice Supervisor of Instruction, and Family Resource Center Coordinator Lisa Sanders, all helped organize the first year event.

All campers received an Edmonson Voice Camp Kindergarten T-shirt.

He said that Superintendent Patrick Waddell and all members of the Board of Education were supportive with resources and money to help fund this event as well.

"We also want to send a special thank you to the kindergarten staff at SEES and Kyrock and the extra help from our Youth Service Center and Family Resource Center who also helped us with this event. I am especially excited about all the parents, grandparents and guardians who took the time to make sure their child was able to attend. Parent feedback was very positive about this event and we look forward to making this an annual event and hopefully expanding the program even further in the future."