Young 5s
Young Fives or Kindergarten?
Children enter kindergarten with a range of skills, including physical, cognitive, social, and emotional. Often, children who turn five years of age later than their peers will have a significantly different level of development than a child approaching their sixth birthday. For this reason, we offer a Young 5’s Program.
The program is designed for students who have a summer or fall birthdate. The focus of the program is to provide eligible children another year to learn and grow, helping to prevent them from experiencing the frustration of the high demands of kindergarten when they are not ready.
This program does not replace preschool or kindergarten; rather, our Young Fives Program offers an additional year as a gift of time. Enrollment in the Young Fives Program is a decision made in collaboration between parents, teachers, and administrators that begins with a screening process.
Students enrolled in the Young Fives Program have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of activities designed to bridge the gap between preschool and kindergarten. Students engage in activities that teach thinking, reasoning, and decision-making skills. They also develop their listening, social/emotional, and literacy skills.
The Program allows children to use a hands on approach to learning. The curriculum is similar to kindergarten but moves at a slower more manageable pace. This program provides a strong foundation that helps children become more successful students and ignites a love for learning that lasts a lifetime.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Is the Young Fives Program full day?
A: Yes, the children start and end school with all other K-5 students.
Q: Where will my child go after completing the Young Fives Program?
A: Your child will advance to kindergarten.
Q: Do students in the Young Fives program attend gym, art, music, media and technology?
A: Young Five students attend these classes as well as lunch with our Kindergarten students.
Q: How many students are in the Young Fives Program.
A: Enrollment is limited to 15 children in the Young Fives Program.
WHO IS A GREAT CANDIDATE FOR YOUNG FIVES?
The Young Five Program is intended to be a bridge between preschool and kindergarten
Ideal candidates include children who:
- Turn 5 years old between July 1st and December 1st.
- Live in the Allen Park Public Schools district
- Could benefit from an extra year of social and emotional growth.
- Have made significant progress in preschool, but are not yet ready for the demands of Kindergarten.
- Have attended preschool (not a mandatory requirement, but strongly encouraged)
- Have a basic understanding of academic concepts
- Able to identify several letters, letter sounds, shapes, and colors.
For more information, please contact Mary Kennedy at Kennedyma@appublicschools.com or 313-827-1154
WHAT OUR PARENTS ARE SAYING!
“As a parent you want the very best for your children. You want them to feel confident and prepared for any challenge. We are so fortunate that both of our girls were given the opportunity to go through the young 5s program. The smaller class size and slower pace allowed them to build confidence and feel more prepared for what is expected in kindergarten. It gave them the gift of an extra year of social, emotional and academic growth. Young 5s has been such a blessing. It has helped our oldest thrive in both kindergarten and 1st grade. Looking back, it is one of the best choices we could have made!”