Book fund donations sought for classes
TO BE USED IN KINDERGARTEN

By Ashlee Picard, Spencer New Leader

September 27 , 2006

BROOKFIELD – Students are already reaping the educational benefits of a full-day kindergarten program that is currently in its second year at Brookfield Elementary School.
     “It has made a world of difference in how far the students are when they come into the first grade,” said Principal Kathleen Hosterman.  “…That’s very exciting.”
     A reading resource teacher has found that those who attended last year’s full-day kindergarten program have matriculated to the next grade with higher reading levels than students in the past.
     Prior to the 2005-2006 academic year, the elementary school only offered a half-day kindergarten program.
     Brookfield Elementary School currently has two kindergarten classes, which are both full-time, with a total of 37 students enrolled in the program.  A full-time teacher and teacher’s aide staff each classroom.  The program is not allowed to enroll more than 20 kindergarten students in each class.
     “It’s going great now,” Hosterman said.  “We have a larger number (of students) than we had last year.”
     When the school first made the switch to a full-day kindergarten program, it offered parents the option of enrolling their children in a half-day class, she said.  Because only two parents expressed interest, the school could not provide a separate class, but allowed the interested parents to pick up their children after a half-day.
     Before long, every child was attending the program for the full day, Hosterman said.
     In addition to improving literacy and pre-literacy skills, full-day kindergarten also allows teachers more time to delve into other subjects, such as science and social studies, the principal added.
     “Students were also able to enjoy more of the other types of core classes that they weren’t able to get to,” she said.
     Brookfield Elementary School is trying to get additional in-class materials, such as picture books and textbooks, for the kindergarten classes.  While some resources are available in the school’s library, Hosterman said, the students would benefit from having more books to work with in their actual classrooms.
     Teachers set aside a 15-minute quite reading time for students each day.  Even if they cannot read yet, they learn how to choose a book, flip through the pages, and tell themselves their own stories, Hosterman explained.
     “…It’s such a big part of their day now,” she said.  “We’re looking for as many new books we can get into the kindergarten program.”
     School Committee Chairman Stephen J. Comtois II raised $100 for books for the program at the PTO’s annual Family Fun Day in August on Lewis Field.  Using the family’s Frialator, Comtois and his mother sold fried dough at a booth during the event and donated 100 percent of the proceeds to the school. 
     “I made it a personal mission of mine to pursue any way of getting books,” said Comtois, who added that he has been a proponent of the full-day kindergarten program since he was appointed to the School Committee in March of 2005.
     Comtois also took a turn at manning a dunk booth for the Family Fun Day along with Maynard Baker and Patricia Sinko.  Participants lined up by the dozen for three tries at dunking the volunteers, with proceeds benefiting the general PTO fund.
     With the $100 donation, Hosterman said she would allow the kindergarten teachers to select books to purchase for their classrooms.  Because of the price of books, the school will likely be able to purchase only 12 paperback books with the funds.
     “We’ll have more than we have last year,” she said.  “…We’re hoping we’ll see that continue to increase.”
     The school will accept donations of money to purchase new books or donations of books that are kindergarten-appropriate and in good condition, Hosterman said.