BRIDGEPORT — Preschool and kindergarten programs build a strong foundation for a child’s entire education, and residents of the Bridgeport Exempted Village School District can register their children to participate this month.
The district announced that kindergarten registration for the 2023-24 school year will take place from 8 am to 2 pm Feb. 28 for children who will be 5 years old by Aug. 1. Educators also talk about the importance of kindergarten and preschool education for young learners.
Superintendent Brent Ripley said preschoolers are exposed to the district’s learning strategies including reading, developmental and behavioral skills, along with technology integration.
“To parents, we just want to stress that preschool is so very important to the future success of their children,” Ripley said.
Brooke Syrylo, preschool director and teacher, said there are 14 children in the 3-year-old range in the preschool and the capacity is 20.
The classroom for 4-year-olds also has a capacity of 20.
“We have two groups per day. We have a morning session and we have an afternoon session. Usually around 20 students is our goal for each classroom,” Syrylo said.
She said the word is spreading among parents about the benefits of early social and academic preparation.
“We’re getting calls about registration, people are interested in coming in, and we have an opportunity for students to attend two years of preschool, which is a great opportunity to get them ready. We focus on social skills. They’re learning to be in a group that’s not in their home with their family. They’re adjusting to listening to other adults and interacting with other children. Those focuses are there, as well as the academics of preparing them for kindergarten.”
She added the district offers a five-star Step-up-to-Quality rated program through the Ohio Department of Education.
“We recently had our licensing visit. Everything went very well,” she said.
Leslie Kosanovic, curriculum director, also spoke about the advantages of early education, including familiarizing children with technology to enhance education.
“Some of the things you’re seeing in here today are obviously rotating through groups, sharing things that you would see in a typical preschool, but also the true integration of technology is very important here in Bridgeport,” she said. “Using technology as a tool to showcase their learning. So, anytime that we can integrate technology, the main purpose is whether it’s a preschooler or a high-schooler to give them the tools to visualize their learning, to make their learning visible, to allow them to have student voice and student ownership of their learning. learning.”
Kosanovic said the school is working with Apple Professional Development to integrate tools into classroom learning.
“It’s bringing that integration to the students and giving them the kind of what they need in real time, and there’s so many, so many great things you can do with iPads,” she said. “We are actually talking with our Apple senior specialist from the Apple company and she is working with our teachers.”
She also commented on interrupted childhood development due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kosanovic said the district is adaptable.
“We just kind of meet the students where they are. We have a wonderful, wonderful preschool program,” she said. “We have an amazing team of people. Students are assessed when they come in. We see what they need. Everybody has strengths, everybody has opportunities for improvement.”
Syrylo said there are strategies to cope with interference in development caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re definitely seeing that there is an effect from that, but having these kids here every day, we have an opportunity five days a week, so they get into that routine and schedule, and we also work very closely with family. Families are involved in our classroom and with us in our activities, and we try to offer them support as well. If they’re experiencing challenges with their children at home or because of the lack of social skills and the lack of social situations, we provide support. It is definitely a partnership with our parents and to help them with their children.
“At this point in the year, the kids have made so much growth in working in the classroom, listening to the teacher, working with the other children in the classroom. We’re seeing some good things happening now,” she said.
Syrylo said the district also offers support, such as providing transportation for parents.
The elementary school can be reached at 740-635-0853, ext. 1800. The website is bridgeportschools.net. The school is located at 55707 Industrial Drive.