Two Short Weeks!

     Two short weeks until I go back to school!  August always brings mixed emotions because I love my summer break but I'm *usually* ready to go back by the time it comes around.  Teachers come on August 19th and students begin the next day.
      In the past, the first full five days of school (for students 1-12), kindergarten used as their time for screening.  We would give our district and state assessments (about 15m each child), do a read aloud, observe them with play, etc.  We would then split the classes at the end of screening, which did not leave much time for labeling and such.  But there were some pros:

• Students were able to spend a short time meeting all the K teachers 
• We would remember students better when they came in for open house the night before their first day since we'd just met them
• Students who were registered later in the summer didn't miss out on screening

There were also some cons:

• Not much time for labeling, prepping for the first day
• K had open house by themselves- forcing some families to attend two open houses
• We lost five days of instruction with our kinders!

      This past spring, the decision was made that we would conduct screening and registration together, which many districts in my area already do it this way.  It really does make sense- I had to spend one day assessing little ones with two colleagues and the second day my other three team mates finished assessing the other half.  We also had about four other adults (administrators, small group instructors) assisting so it went quickly.  Families had appointments and they were in and out in 20-30 minutes.

       We just got "official word" last week that we will begin kindergarten with a staggered start, which I am super excited about!  About half my class will come Tuesday and Thursday and the other half will come Wednesday and Friday- they will all come and start all day, every day the following Monday.  Some huge pros to my district changing their screening process is that I will get to know my students in smaller groups and be able to establish routines a little easier (fingers crossed)!  We will also be "gaining" three days with our students that we previously did not have using the old method!

        How does your school start off the year?  Do any grade levels have different start days, or a staggered start schedule?  How do you like it?