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By Jeanna Baxter White

Word Master Media Group

ADVANCE – “Be kind to yourself, be kind to others, and be kind to our classroom.”

The 16 rising kindergarteners were carefully mimicking their teacher as she makes hand motions and sings about the days of the week and months of the year.

Shady Grove’s Kinder Camp is a sneak peek at what kindergarten mornings will be like in just a few weeks.

“Kinder Camp provides students with the soft start needed to begin kindergarten successfully. By experiencing the structure and routines of an elementary school, they start the year with confidence. This confidence is vital in reducing the beginning of school jitters and allowing students to see they are kindergarteners,” said Shady Grove Principal Sarah Burns.

Funded by a $25,000 grant from the Mebane Foundation, Kinder Camp is offered at all six Davie elementary schools. The program runs half a day for four days, and around 177 students are participating this summer.

Shady Grove Elementary School offered three weeks of camp, with more than half of the school’s 75 incoming kindergarteners taking advantage of the opportunity.

Initially designed for students without preschool or daycare experience, Kinder Camp helps children adjust to group settings, classroom routines, and essential social skills. Today, the camp welcomes all parents to sign up their children for the orientation to the school environment, including the classroom, centers, cafeteria, and playground.

“Kinder Camp highlights all of the excitement and fun of kindergarten without the stress of the academics,” said Sharon Godbey, who has taught kindergarten at Shady Grove for 24 years and the camp for 17. “It helps students eliminate the nerves that can come with the first day of school. They already have a little practice and insight into what kindergarten will be like, and they get a chance to make friends with some of the students who will be in their class. Seeing a familiar face is always helpful. Kinder Camp also comforts parents as they adjust to sending their baby off to be cared for by someone else.”

She loves Kinder Camp and doesn’t know what she’d do with herself over the summer without it.

“I love coming and playing with the kids, and meeting many of my students in advance is certainly an advantage. The hardest thing is not getting to keep them all during the school year.”

Susan Massey is starting her fifth year as an instructional assistant at Shady Grove. Previously a daycare director in Macon, Ga., she moved to Davie County to be near her grandchildren and jumped at the chance to work at their school. She has wanted to be a part of camp since her first year and was excited to have the opportunity this year. “I wanted to meet the students who will be in my class.”

Kinder Camp benefits teachers by familiarizing them with their incoming pupils and allowing them to assess students’ personalities and academic skills, which aids in optimizing classroom placement.

“It’s helpful to learn which students have personality conflicts or may need a little extra help so that we can spread them out across all of the classrooms,” Godbey said.

During the four-day program, she and Massey introduced the students to kindergarten expectations, such as walking in a line, sitting quietly, keeping their hands to themselves, and using kind words.

Each day offered basic academic activities, like writing their names, cutting with scissors, recognizing letters, shapes, and colors, and listening to read-aloud stories, as well as plenty of opportunities to learn to play appropriately with other students in centers and on the playground.

From cutting shapes in Play-Doh to building with Legos and drawing and writing in the art center, they’re enjoying every moment. Little do they know, they’re also honing their fine motor skills, learning to follow directions, and mastering the art of cooperation. It’s a fun-filled journey preparing them for the exciting world of kindergarten.

Godbey is always amazed at how much students grow from the first day to the last and strongly encourages parents with a child entering kindergarten next fall to consider Kinder Camp.

“Kinder Camp is an awesome opportunity for students, families, and teachers. We are so grateful to the Mebane Foundation for funding this opportunity. It makes such a big impact.”

Kinder Camp parents are equally thrilled. Their comments about their child’s experience sum it up best.

Based on her son’s experience, Desiree Hecht thinks every school system should offer the opportunity.

“Kinder Camp is an amazing opportunity for children to prepare for kindergarten. Kindergarten is a major change for young children, and having the opportunity to spend a few days in the classroom with peers really helped reduce some of the anxiety my son was feeling toward starting school. Thank you to everyone who made Kinder Camp possible,” she said.

Ashley Bonasso said:  “My daughter loved Kinder Camp. It was a great way for her to experience the classroom in a more relaxed environment before the school year starts. She came home asking if she could go ahead and start kindergarten.”

“Owen had the best time at Kinder Camp, and he is so excited for school to start. Thank you for making this transition so special and fun,” said Elizabeth Moroz.

Expressing gratitude, Ashley Fain said: “Kinder Camp was an absolute game changer for our little one. He has been nervous about starting a new big school, but Kinder Camp set his mind at ease. He asks now every day when the first day of school starts so he can “see his new friends and learn to read. Thank you.”