Happy Hollow School Kindergarten Admission Age Philosophy and Process

Most public school systems in Massachusetts have a kindergarten age cut off policy that prevents many children born between August and December from attending public kindergarten in their fifth year. In many cases, this is a sound decision. For most children, kindergarten represents their first step into formalized education - a process that will last for more than a decade at a minimum. Making this first step an experience that encourages and motivates a child to take many more is absolutely necessary. Proceeding with caution and erring on the side of a policy that will help many children while hindering a few is a sound and appropriate strategy when considering what is best for an entire population of children.

However, Happy Hollow School is not limited by these broad-based municipal policies because Happy Hollow School is small enough and has the resources to evaluate each child on their own developmental progress and overall readiness for kindergarten, which includes social, emotional, and academic readiness. Given the large numbers of children any given school system must accommodate, this individual approach is simply not possible in the public school systems. However, we do firmly believe that kindergarten is an essential transitional period in a child's development and academic experience that must be successful, rewarding, supportive and inspiring. In turn, we recognize the large and growing body of evidence that indicates that many children who turn five between August and December greatly benefit from the full kindergarten experience and that some children who are held back flounder without the appropriate academic and social stimulus kindergarten offers. Another year in a pre-k program may not provide the challenges and subsequently the "successes" that a kindergarten program can offer.

The Kindergarten at Happy Hollow School is fully licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and accredited the National Association for the Education of Young Children as a complete and comprehensive kindergarten curriculum. The Kindergarten at Happy Hollow School is not a "transitional kindergarten" or an otherwise scaled down version of a kindergarten curriculum. Happy Hollow School kindergarten graduates are fully capable of and prepared to join the first grade in both public and private schools. While there is no guarantee that your child's age will not be considered in admissions decisions for first grade, the majority of children graduating from accredited kindergartens are accepted into and excel in first grade programs.

With this in mind, we take a unique and individualized approach to kindergarten admissions.

If your child turns five between August and December:

1. Visit the Kindergarten at Happy Hollow School with your child.
2. During the visit we will causually engage your child while showing you and your child our school.
3. During this process, we will evaluate, with your help, your child's readiness for kindergarten.
• We will not "quiz" your child or otherwise stress your child.
• Your child will probably really enjoy the experience - in some cases your child may join in on a fun kindergarten activity.
• It is unnecessary and not helpful to "prepare" for the discussion. It tends to just create stress where it is not needed.
4. If necessary, we will ask your permission to reach out to your child's preschool teachers.
5. Within two days of receiving all the information necessary - we will let you know - this is not a long admissions process.

We take these extra steps because insuring that your child is indeed ready for kindergarten is critical to assuring that he or she thrive in kindergarten and beyond. Our ultimate goal is to give each child a "successful" year. If your child turns five after January, please consider the body of evidence that strongly suggests, with some exceptions, that your child will indeed be better off waiting for the next year's class. We will be happy to discuss alternatives and appropriate programs that we and others offer to help your child stay engaged, challenged and thrilled with school during this transitional year.

Read more about the Kindergarten at Happy Hollow School