Young 5's Are Here and Thriving

Northville's New Young 5's Program is Thriving

Get an inside look at Northville Public Schools’ new Young 5’s program, which is thriving in its first year with 72 students enrolled! This free, full-day program launched this school year and is being offered at Winchester and Ridge Wood Elementary Schools. Providing our littlest learners, also known as Kinderstangs, an additional year to grow academically, socially, and emotionally before kindergarten. The Young 5’s program emphasizes foundational skills like fine and gross motor development, early literacy, and hands-on math activities. Hear from Alison Tomasaitis, Young 5’s teacher at Winchester, as she shares the daily structure, learning goals, and success stories from the classroom. Discover how Northville’s commitment to early education is setting up these students for lifelong success!

Show Transcript

Northville Public Schools launched its first-ever free, five-days-a-week Young 5's Program this school year, designed for students needing an extra year of development before Kindergarten. This groundbreaking initiative is already making a big impact on our littlest learners, also known as Kinderstangs. I was thrilled to be a part of the Kinderstangs program here in Northville, starting something new and working together with my team to, you know, develop the curriculum and work on things in the program together right from the start. Alison Tomasaitis, one of the dedicated Young 5's teachers at Winchester Elementary, explains one of the program's focus points. A big part of what we do here in Young 5's is focus on fine motor skills, gross motor skills. We have that built into our daily schedule every day to work on those things, and those skills will really help lay the foundation for their writing. The program offers a full day of learning, from purposeful play to social emotional development. So right now, we're really working on writing our names, our first names here in Kinderstangs. And then when they're finished, they can head off to their purposeful play stations we have. We set aside some morning bins for them to do, and usually like a building activity. Then we'll move into our morning meeting time on the carpet. We will practice our SEL skill for the day. Right now, we're talking about good listening behaviors, so we'll model that, we'll practice that, we'll listen to a story about that. The Young 5's program also includes engaging hands-on math activities, allowing students to explore concepts in a fun and interactive way. Right now, the kids are really having so much fun doing the Bridges hands-on math activities where the kids will rotate every day doing something new, always hands-on, using different math manipulatives. Right now, we're focusing on shapes. I am making numbers out of play-doh. The response from families has been overwhelmingly positive, with 72 students already enrolled in the program across Winchester and Ridge Wood Elementary Schools. I think parents are just so thankful that Northville has created this space for their children because it's exactly where they need to be. Giving them that gift of time, the time to grow and to really just be four and five-year-old little kids will just be so advantageous to them next year when they're entering Kindergarten. The Kinderstangs experience mirrors that of their Kindergarten peers. Students attend P.E., Music, Art, and even STEAM classes. So the Kinderstangs have all the same opportunities for growth and learning as all the other students here in Northville. As Northville's Young 5's program continues to thrive, these students are laying the foundation for a successful academic journey, ensuring that they are ready for Kindergarten and beyond. Go Kinderstangs!

The introduction of the Young 5’s program reflects the district's commitment to offering comprehensive educational experiences from the earliest stages of development. Targeting children who may benefit from an additional year of academic and social readiness before entering kindergarten, the program ensures that these littlest Mustangs have a strong foundation for success. The NPS team recognized the need to bridge the gap between pre-K and kindergarten, and the positive response from families has validated the decision.

Families opting to enroll their children at Northville, can have confidence knowing they will receive a world-class education tailored to each child's unique developmental needs. The program has not only attracted 72 new students but has also enhanced the district’s ability to foster an inclusive learning environment, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to achieve their highest potential. The program is held at Ridge Wood and Winchester Elementary Schools.

Dr. Sandra Brock, who led the creation of this program, shared, “The Young 5's program aims to introduce students to key content standards and foster their early reading and mathematics skills. Much of the instruction emphasizes nurturing the whole child and promoting a sense of community within the classroom. We believe that this approach will significantly contribute to our KinderSTANGS’ development and help establish a strong foundation for their K-12 educational journey.”

As part of the district’s broader strategic vision, the success of the Young 5’s program dovetails with ongoing efforts to ensure every student in the district is equipped to excel, regardless of where they begin their academic journey. Northville Public Schools' strategic work focuses on individualizing instruction and support, allowing students to grow and succeed at their own pace, while benefiting from the district’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence.

As the district celebrates the early achievements of the Young 5’s program, Northville Public Schools remains dedicated to providing innovative, inclusive, and forward-thinking educational opportunities for all students. From their first day in the classroom to their graduation, Northville students are being set up for success, ensuring the legacy of academic excellence for which the district is known.

The future looks bright for Northville’s littlest Mustangs, as they embark on a learning journey that will empower them to thrive, not only within the walls of the classroom but throughout their entire lives.