Don't kick or kiss.  Don't be shy.  Don't worry, you'll learn how to read—it's gonna be a good year.

These words of wisdom, collected from current kindergarteners, were shared with parents of incoming kindergarteners at panel discussions hosted in each elementary school in the Katonah Lewisboro school district last week.  The sessions were designed to promote the registration process now underway, and to help parents prepare their youngsters for a major milestone.

What's interesting is the perception of "kindergarten readiness," which differs whether you're a parent or a teacher. 

"According to a recent Time poll, parents cite 'definable achievements,' such as knowing shapes and colors," said Lewisboro Elementary principal Cristy Harris.  For teachers, social skills are far more important in ensuring a child's success in their first year of grade school, she said.

"If you can set up playdates and teach them how to zip their pants, it's really helpful," she laughed, addressing the crowd of about 50 parents in the LES cafeteria.  Harris described a typical day in the life of a kindergartener, noting that the ability to cooperate and take turns help move things along in their jam-packed half-day.

Details on the kindergarten curriculum are available here.

Each parent at LES was given a packet with student registration forms, checklists for helping your child get ready for kindergarten, information on speech and language development, health, and services available to students in school such as remedial reading and occupational therapy.  A list of books for parents and kids was also included. 

Similar packets were distributed at all four schools. 

Harris was joined by Assistant Principal Monica Bermiss, who described the "Be Your Best" character education program, in which the school encourages the development of good character through assemblies and special programs.  Special Education teacher Marie Calo and Andrea Kantor, Reading Specialist, were also on-hand to answer questions about curriculum and special services. 

The best thing you can do to prepare your child for school?  "Read, read, read," said Kantor.

Over at Katonah Elementary school, Principal Jonathan Kaplan and Assistant Principal Terry Costin, both of whom had children attend KES, presented the registration process to almost 60 parents gathered there.  They introduced PTO President Sara Beame and SEPTA President Laura Lovejoy, who introduced the opportunities for parental involvement in the KES community.

No teachers were present at the orientation, which did not go unnoticed.  KES parent Tony Roth asked if the union had told the teachers not to come, but Costin would only say that there were contractual issues he couldn't discuss.

Roth and others at the meeting speculated the teachers' absence was due to fallout from the teacher's union's rejection of a salary freeze proposed during this year's school budget process. 

(At LES, no teachers were present either; Kantor and Calo participated as part of their administrative internships.  When asked why teachers were absent, Harris replied that they "were not available for the program.")

Lack of teacher participation was the only negative during an otherwise upbeat evening program held throughout the district. 

Families are encouraged to register their children by April 9 in order to assist schools with determining final enrollment numbers, transportation routes and the number of sections for each school.  Notification of AM or PM kindergarten placement is expected to be mailed out late June.