Cinnaminson Half-Day Kindergarten? (Toms River, Bloomfield, Ridgewood: day care, house, transfer)

[cynnnabun]

I recently found out that Cinnaminson still has half-day kindergarten. I had just assumed Cinnaminson switched over when everyone else did. I think it's time Cinnaminson switched over too. My daughter will be in Kindergarten in 2 years, and full day is definitely more beneficial to the kids than going to school for half the day and sitting in SAC for the second half.

What can I do to try to persuade them to switch? Get a petition from other Cinnaminson parents? I can't imagine most people prefer half-day.

[EEEPNJ]

I don't know why the entire state has not gone to full day. It is SO foolish!

I think River Edge did not have a full day (that MAY have changed just this year.) I know the local Catholic School was FLOODED with kids for K that left in 1st grade as a result. IF you really need a full day, you may want to consider a similar option in your area. Either a Parochial school or many pre-schools have certified Kindergarten programs that are full day as well. You won't have much of a chance of your school district changing, especially if you need it soon.

Why will she be attending for 2 years if you don't mind my asking.

[tahiti]

i'm not sure there's much you can do - it's probably b/c of space and $$ contraints. we still have 1/2 day kindy here, i sent my guys to "private" all day K.

eeeeeeeeepppppppppppppp - she said her DD will be attending IN 2 yrs, not FOR 2 yrs, LOL.

[JC JC Mom]

I know Bloomfield still has half- day kindergarden
I cant imagine how hard that is for working parents having to leave
on thier lunch race to pick up their child then drop them off at school
just to head back to work.

[jenn76]

We have half a day in Old Bridge too. Another year I have to wait before looking for even part time work. Impossible to get much done when school is 12:30pm to 3:15 pm and that's it.
When moving from Brooklyn to NJ 2 years ago, I just assumed that K was full day like in NYC, didn't even bother to look into it.
Well, we know what happens when you assume things...

[hrjersey]

We still have 1/2 day in Toms River. There was a ballot earlier this year to finance a new building that would house all district kindergartners because they just didn't have enough space for full day. The bond failed so they were going back to the drawing board. It stinks. But since my daughters birthday is in Nov. and I'd have to pay for an additional year of day care I'm going to try to get her into Private Kindergarten next Sept. if she's ready and then transfer her to 1st grade the following fall when she would just be starting a 1/2 day of kindergarten.

[Shwa]

There seem to be a lot of towns that still have half day kindergarten. We just moved from one of those towns to a town with full day and.... what a difference! Note - we didn't move here just for the school but are very happy about the added "perk" as we do have a kindergartener. Good luck with getting full day kindergarten in your town. I have a friend who lives there, too... who would love to see full-day kindergarten there also.

[EEEPNJ]

Originally Posted by tahiti

i'm not sure there's much you can do - it's probably b/c of space and $$ contraints. we still have 1/2 day kindy here, i sent my guys to "private" all day K.

eeeeeeeeepppppppppppppp - she said her DD will be attending IN 2 yrs, not FOR 2 yrs, LOL.

I need to start drinking during the day! LOL!

[EEEPNJ]

It's really absurd that there's 1/2 day in todays day and age. Most kids have been in pre-schools that have days longer than 12:30-3:15... gees!

[ira]

Ridgewood is half-day too. It's so overcrowded they can't fit everyone into full day. Even half-day K is way overcrowded. I guess I should stop promoting Ridgewood so much