Incoming Kindergartners and Parents Get First Look at 'Big School'

In Room 416 at Park Lodge Elementary, there are several future police officers. A few firefighters, a doctor, an airplane pilot—even a McDonald’s employee.

Hanging from the ceiling are brightly colored papers revealing the career goals—complete with art—of Tracy Abdella’s kindergartners.

And sitting below those posters on Wednesday night was the next group of children to start down the path of learning come fall.

During Park Lodge’s kindergarten orientation, the kids snacked on cookies and milk, their parents asked important questions—and the staff beamed with anticipation.

“You get to meet the families and make the connections,” said principal Eric Richards. “This is often their first experience with organized education, and they are getting to cross the bridge and realize that there are some wonderful people here ready to help their children learn.”

Abdella agreed, adding that she enjoys seeing the children’s enthusiasm. Now in her 13^th year at Park Lodge, she sees former students excitedly bringing in their younger siblings and cousins for orientation.

“They think that once they come to meet us, they get to start next week,” she said. “That eagerness is great.”

Park Lodge’s orientation—on the third day in a two-week period of kindergarten registration events across the Clover Park School District—drew about 40 families, which Richards said was a great turnout. His school offers half-day kindergarten, which has resulted in a slight drop in enrollment as many families opt for the full-day programs at nine of the district’s schools.

Park Lodge is averaging about 20 students in each of its three kindergarten classes this year—one in the morning and two in the afternoon.

Still, Richards said, “There’s some flexibility in schedules, and half-day meets the needs for some families.”

Across town at Lakeview Hope Academy, which held its orientation for about 19 families on Tuesday morning, the full-day kindergarten is a huge draw. About a third of the incoming students are already enrolled in the school’s ECAAP program for preschool-aged children.

One of those students is Maria Atayan, 5, who attended orientation with her parents, Janet and Anel Atayan, who were happy that the school is within walking distance.

“She’s excited,” her mom said. “She wants to go to the big school.”

Principal Michael Auton said that Lakeview Hope averages about 22 students in each of its four kindergarten classes, which parents got the advantage of touring with their children while class was in session.  

Auton said that proximity of the Boys & Girls Club of South Puget Sound—it's next door—has played a role in an increased number of waiver requests submitted to Lakeview Hope. The Boys & Girls Club offers after-school programs, and many of the requests are coming from military families who live off-post and just outside the school’s boundaries.

Being a new school—Lakeview Hope opened in 2008—means that the staff doesn’t exactly have to sell it, Auton said.

“The teamwork of the staff is allowing and building a reputation that extends beyond the walls of the campus,” he said. “Folks are hearing good things about Lakeview.

“They’re hearing that their children are getting a quality education, and that the climate is as good as it gets.”  

In CPSD, a family can apply for a waiver for their child to attend a school outside of their attendance area, but it will only be approved if there is available space. Other factors include whether a kindergartener has siblings already enrolled in the school; if a student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch; and if all other students on a waiting list have been submitted to the school of choice.

The registration events give families the chance to fill out paperwork, meet the teachers and get guidelines for what their children will be learning—and should already know by the start of school.

At Park Lodge, Rita Redin sat at a little table, looking over paperwork as her 5-year-old daughter, Aundrea, polished off a chocolate-chip cookie.

“It’s exciting,” she said of her youngest child preparing to start kindergarten. “We already have two girls that go here so we have an advantage.”

That helped stave off any anxiety for Mom, but the same couldn’t be said for Aundrea’s father, Andre Grisham, who hovered behind the table, smiling nervously.

“She’s my firstborn,” he said.