Full-day kindergarten begins in East Meadow

After receiving a building tour, kindergartners enjoyed an episode of the popular children’s show, “Franklin.”

Susan Grieco/Herald

Patty Kelleher’s kindergarten class, with teachers and administrators at Barnum Woods Elementary School were excited (well, almost of them) to begin their first day of school.

David Weingrad/Herald

Intervention Assistant Jacqueline Hipp read to first graders.

Susan Grieco/Herald

Students enjoyed lunch on the first day back.

Susan Grieco/Herald

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Sept. 2 not only marked the first day of school in the East Meadow School District for the 2015-16 academic year, but it was also the first day of full-day kindergarten.

Approved by district residents in last May’s budget vote, full-day kindergarten is in effect for the first time in district history. More than a dozen administrators worked all summer to create a comprehensive curriculum for the new program, which will combine elements from its half-day program with other unique educational initiatives, including a partnership with the LIU Post in Brookville, allowing kindergartners to see three children’s performances a year at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts on the school’s campus.

At Barnum Woods Elementary School, the mood on the first day was of noticeable excitement, as kindergarteners received a building tour of the school, while their parents sat in the cafeteria for orientation.

“I said, 62 years in the making, we have full day kindergarten!” Principal Gregory Bottari recounted from his morning speech with parents. “And the place erupted. We need to thank the community because you voted this through.”

The kindergartners wore colorful crowns reading “My First Day of Kindergarten” on them as they traversed the building with a group of teachers. As it was orientation day, the students and their parents left after half a day — for the last time.

Patty Kelleher, the school’s longest tenured kindergarten teacher, said she was thrilled to get started on the full-day program. “It’s great we have the children all day long,” she said. “We can really delve deeper into the curriculum now.”

She raved about the new additions to the program, and said the extended time will allow her to go into greater depth on various subjects, including the four seasons and the meaning of holidays, and will also allow the students to engage in more hands-on activities.

“I love my summers,” said Kelleher, who has taught at Barnum Woods for 30 years. “But I just love kindergarten and being with the little ones. They’re like little sponges ready to soak everything up. And I have all day now to do that.”