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July 25, 2008

Derry getting ready for first kindergarten

By Julie Huss

DERRY — The foundation is set, and plans are moving along for the town's first kindergarten classes to begin in the fall.

The school board announced July 22 that things are progressing at a good rate for the first classes to open for the new school year, with kindergarten classrooms being planned, curriculum being organized, and new teachers meeting to get ready to welcome 5-year-olds to kindergarten.

Derry was one of 11 New Hampshire towns not offering public kindergarten. The district has announced an enrollment of approximately 275 children already registered.

Classes will be incorporated into existing school space, according to Derry superintendent Mary Ellen Hannon, with the exception of Grinnell Elementary, where a two-classroom modular addition is currently being built.

So far, Hannon said the site at Grinnell is moving along with the foundation set and the modular classrooms to arrive early next week for installation. Furniture and supplies have been ordered as well to equip the new classrooms.

Once the Grinnell classrooms are installed, work will begin on the hooking up sewer, water and electricity, Hannon said.

The exterior brick face comes next, and then finishing touches just in time for school to open.

The other kindergarten class locations needed minimal work to be ready, Hannon said, like new paint, wallpaper and bathroom upgrades.

District business administrator Jane Simard told board members supplies and furniture are ordered and the district received a good price on the items.

The state will pay 75 percent of the kindergarten costs, Hannon added.

For curriculum preparation, new kindergarten teachers met at Ernest P. Barka Elementary School last week. Assistant Superintendent Mary Ann Connors-Krikorian said everyone worked hard all week as a team and is ready to start kindergarten in the fall.

"They were there as a team, learning and growing with each other," Connors-Krikorian said. "It was a tremendous week, full of learning and teaching."

Hannon said excitement levels are high as kindergarten comes to Derry.

"This is the Class of 2021," she said. "It's an amazing thought."

Hannon said the entire kindergarten project is progressing successfully, and everyone should be very proud of what's being done to bring the 5-year-olds into the public system.

"I really feel like all our ducks are in a row and nobody will be disappointed when they walk into the classroom and see the wealth of resources their children will have," she said.

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