New kindergarten class is 'fabulous' for Salem students
Salem — Two weeks after Salem School added a third kindergarten class, students, parents and teachers alike are noticing an impact.
"It's been a great transition," Principal Joan Phillips said. She said several parents have come up to her to praise the new setup.
The school has had two kindergarten classes, with an average of 19 to 20 students each, since full-day kindergarten was introduced in 2012. The New England School Development Council (NESDEC) originally projected 29 kindergarteners starting the 2016-17 school year in Salem.
But when the board approved the third classroom at its Nov. 7 meeting, there were 46 kindergarteners in the two classes, and another student was enrolled before the third classroom was put in place Nov. 28.
In a presentation at the November meeting, Phillips explained that she and Assistant Principal Kim Fentress had tried everything from regular meetings with the two teachers and aides to dispatching extra staff and a daily substitute. Ultimately, she told Superintendent Joseph Onofrio II that they needed a third kindergarten class.
The board voted to re-allocate money within its own budget to fund a new teacher, a new instructional aide and supplies — about $78,000 to $91,000. The board will need to re-evaluate the need for a third teacher when drafting its 2017-18 budget.
Each classroom now has 15 or 16 students, compared with 23 and 24 before the third classroom was set up over the week of Thanksgiving. To make the transition easier, kindergarten teachers Carla Oscarson and Emily Alberghini spoke with their students about the shift, and Phillips called the parents of the students going to the new class.
New kindergarten teacher Maria Tomon said she also contacted parents and visited the school the Tuesday before Thanksgiving to introduce herself to her new students and have them bring down their supplies to the new classroom.
In a conference call Friday, the three teachers said having smaller classes allows them to have more time in small groups and one-on-one instruction for a more positive learning environment. They said the children readily adjusted to their new classes, though they re-unite with their former classmates for some classes and at lunch and recess.
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