Kindergarten event breaks ice for incoming students and parents
Even though school doesn't start for a few more weeks, the action in Butler Catholic School's gymnasium resembled a regular gym class Wednesday evening.
The school hosted an icebreaker event for the incoming kindergarten class that also enabled parents to get to know one another.
Aaron and Sara Skwirut have a student going into kindergarten and were glad the school brought this event back.
“This is nice because he did not get to go to this last year,” Sara Skwirut said. “Maybe it would have helped him; he can be a little shy.”
Parents spent time outside the school “speed dating,” where they would introduce themselves to other parents and talk for a minute or two. Meanwhile in the gym, physical education teacher Fred Skrocki led the children through energizing activities that had them running around the room, bouncing balls to one another and hula hooping.Kathy Dudley, director of development at Butler Catholic, said the school started hosting the event a few years ago to increase bonds not only between incoming students, but also between parents prior to the school year.“We just find that it helps our families get in the spirit of school and form those bonds and friendships from the start,” Dudley said. “The rest of the year they feel like family. That's what we want.”Sister John Ann Mulhern, principal of the Butler Catholic School, said some children still show some trepidation at the icebreaker each year, but even that is preparing them for the school year.
“It starts them off without them having to be afraid,” she said. “It's that welcoming spirit that we try and give them.”Dudley pointed out that many students going into kindergarten attended preschool at Butler Catholic. Even so, the kindergarten event can introduce children and parents to new people.Bill and Kate Jordan had met Aaron and Sara Skwirut during the “speed dating” segment of the evening, and said they were glad to get the opportunity for an icebreaker event for themselves and their kindergartner.“It's nice knowing what we're sending them into,” Bill Jordan said. “It's just nice for our kids to have connections before they go the first day.”
