Kinder Express, a three-year-old supplementary kindergarten program, will offer a second site at Sibley Elementary, getting a step closer to its goal of offering a site in every elementary school in the district.

Friday, August 10, 2001

Kinder Express, a three-year-old supplementary kindergarten program, will offer a second site at Sibley Elementary, getting a step closer to its goal of offering a site in every elementary school in the district.

Coordinator Julie Dunn said the Albert Lea school district has been very cooperative in the effort to establish a permanent second site despite space limitations.

&uot;It takes a lot of coordination with finding room for us and busing issues. The district has been terrific – we really want to keep this second site going,&uot; she said.

Kinder Express is a program through the YMCA that offers an expanded-day enrichment program for kindergartners in the district. Many parents find it helpful to enroll in the program, giving their child a full-day experience.

&uot;The district offers half-day kindergarten, and we can offer the other half – both mornings and afternoons,&uot; Dunn said. &uot;We try to work with the kindergarten teachers to make sure we’re helping the students reach their classroom goals. It’s a good partnership.&uot;

While Kinder Express has a well-established all-day site at Hawthorne Elementary, the Sibley site will likely be a half-day site, unless enrollment exceeds expectations. But kids in every elementary school can participate in the program because of a unique busing arrangement.

&uot;We’ve worked really hard with the bus company to allow all kindergarten students to participate. That way, even kids at Lakeview and Halverson can sign up,&uot; Dunn said. &uot;We’ve got a good transportation system set up for them.&uot;

The Kinder Express classrooms are fully staffed with teachers and aides, Dunn said. Each child has the chance to work on their kindergarten lessons such as the alphabet, writing, tying shoes or whatever their challenges may be. Plus, students get a trip to the YMCA once a week for swimming and time in the gymnasium.

By working with the district, Dunn said, the YMCA and Albert Lea schools can offer the next-best thing to an all-day kindergarten experience until the state decides to fund it. In the meantime, Kinder Express kids are more prepared for the all-day experience of first grade.

&uot;That’s the major benefit of the program,&uot; Dunn said. &uot;We’ve heard it from first-grade teachers that Kinder Express kids are prepared for first grade because they’re used to the longer days.&uot;

Enrolling in Kinder Express costs $1,125 for the entire school year plus a $50 registration fee. The fees equal about $6 per day. But Dunn said there is help available for families that are worried about the expense such as interest-free loans.

&uot;We don’t want the fees to be an issue. We encourage all families to enroll, and we can figure out a way to help them, either through monthly payments or some kind of assistance,&uot; she said.

Kinder Express begins Sept. 5. For more information about enrolling in the program, call Dunn at 373-8228.