This summer in Visalia Unified, students are doing more than just arts and crafts.
Nearly 200 kids are taking part in the first ever "TK Round-up."
It's a a four-week program giving students the building blocks for school and teaching parents how to prepare their children for Transitional Kindergarten.
Bianca Bitanga enrolled her daughter, Delilah, after seeing it advertised on the district's Facebook page.
"Everything that they described about the program just seems so enriching and exciting for kids to attend," Bitanga said.
Children practice working alongside other students, how to rotate to different work stations and how to take part in a structured day.
"We have a lot of students who participate in preschool programs, but a lot of students don't have that opportunity, so this gives them an opportunity to really get prepared before they actually go into a full day of TK," Dir. of Early Childhood Special Education Tina Shirley said.
Shirley says parents are also being taught.
"So we are providing professional learning on sleep hygiene, social emotional learning, early literacy and early numeracy and toileting and child development milestones," Shirley said.
This is the first year VUSD has offered TK Roundup.
Superintendent Kirk Shrum says it was created based on feedback from teachers.
Those teachers shared ideas of what parents can do at home to help set students up for success.
Shrum says it's also in line with the district's strategic plan, which aims to support students during key educational transitions, like starting school.
"I think the feedback from our teacher was so integral in this," Shrum said. "For teachers to say here's some things we need to see for our students, and then to equip the parents with how to do that, I think that's a great partnership."
Bitanga says she's already seen changes in Delilah, and she feels even more equipped to continue helping Delilah prepare for the fall.
"So it's helping me grasp onto what the teachers are doing with her so that I can do at home," Bitanga said.
Any parent who was unable to make it to the TK Roundup can access the virtual parent academy.
It's available on the Visalia Unified School District website. You can find it by clicking here.
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