Kindergarten roundup canceled for Newton CSD

Kindergarten Roundup is an important few days for young children beginning full-time school for the first time. Not having it this year will make teaching in the fall a little more challenging for kindergarten teachers, but it’s becoming a common theme because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our kindergarten teachers value the Roundup process as it gives us an opportunity to get to know our incoming kindergarten students and be ready to meet their needs when they start school in the fall,” Emerson Hough Elementary School Principal Jolene Gorzney-Comer said. “Our teachers at each elementary building have worked together to create a plan for students as they start with us in the fall, which will allow them to get to know and work with each student.”

Zoom meetings have been keeping teachers and students connected since school was called off in April. Gorzney-Comer said all elementary buildings will host a Zoom webinar at 6 p.m. Tuesday to be able to virtually meet with families to explain the kindergarten registration process.

“We’ll also briefly review our plan for students as they start school in the fall,” Gorzney-Comer said. “Parents will be able to ask any questions they may have. The webinars will be recorded and later posted on our district webpage so any family not able to attend can watch at their own leisure.”

Thomas Jefferson Elementary kindergarten teacher Jennifer Norvell will start her 27th year in the district this upcoming fall. This year’s cancellation of Kindergarten Roundup is the first time the event has not been held during her time in Newton.

The Newton Community School District has been monitoring the Department of Education, Iowa Department of Public Health, CDC and the governor’s guidance closely since March.

Newton CSD PK-12 Director of Teaching and Learning Bret Miller said the district has been collaborating with the building principals weekly and were hoping to have Kindergarten Roundup at a later time. That unfortunately can’t happen now as school buildings have been shut down and no one is sure when things will open up again.

“We know the value teachers and principals place on getting to know students and their needs and building relationships with families,” Miller said. “Despite the challenges and uncertainty of our current situations, the creativity and flexibility teachers and principals have shown in hosting virtual parent meetings and planning for next year have been wonderful, but not unexpected when they are faced with a challenge.”

This will be the first time starting a new school year in Newton without a Kindergarten Roundup. Norvell said teachers are planning multiple scenarios so they are ready no matter what circumstances come about.

“We are continuing to learn new ways of using technology to teach our students if that is what is needed,” Norvell said. “Teachers value the insight into their development that they gain about students during roundup. We are prepared to be flexible in home room assignments in the fall to accommodate for student needs.”

Miller and Gorzney-Comer both said having Kindergarten Roundup also helps the district determine which students would benefit from the Jump Start summer program. Unfortunately, the Jump Start program also has been canceled for the summer.

Gorzney-Comer and the other three elementary principals in the district have plenty of confidence in their teachers. They believe as a group, they will work through the unfortunate circumstances with positive results.

The teachers themselves will also give input and will be a part of the decision-making process.

“Our kindergarten teachers are amazing,” Gorzney-Comer said. “They dedicate themselves to teaching some of our youngest learners and have such passion and enthusiasm for their students. They will be directly involved in decision making as they have great insight into ways to best meet the needs of our students and families.”

Contact Troy Hyde at 641-792-3121 ext. 6536 or thyde@newtondailynews.com