Can I put my 4 year old in SK?

[Bronwen]

Hi guys,

So we have my daughter registered in JK but I recently found out the school near us is being converted to a French Immersion school from SK-8 this summer, so as of Sept 2014 this will be in effect.

I don't mean to sound arrogant, but my kids are really ahead of most kids their age. Their preschool teachers have mentioned it on more than one occasion and my daughter has already learned what they spend 2 years teaching kids in JK and SK. French Immersion schools for some reason don't offer JK.

I have called the principle of the school and left a message asking if I can put DD (age 4) in SK rather than keep her in JK at a non-FI school. I am waiting to hear back and figured why not ask my SC friends. Maybe someone knows how it works. I'm just learning since this is my first time registering anyone for school

[Shwa Girl]

Congrats on your smart kids. Congrats on your little one starting school. What an awesome milestone.

I may be wrong but they may restrict French immersion to SK, to have these little ones develop other skills -- other than academic -- by going through JK.

Repeat - I may be wrong.

JK helps these little ones develop social skills, interaction with the teacher and develop a routine, including time management. There may be some other little ones in your child`s class that may have a different home life and need the interaction with your little one. Your little one may be a catalyst that boosts the self esteem and boosts the learning potential of another little one lagging a little behind.

Just my thoughts...

[MrsSunshine]

I wouldn't see a problem with it.
If she's advanced in learning she'd probably fit in easily with the older group easily.
It would just be down the road when she's older than all the other kids. and maybe maturing faster. i know its WAY down the road but just a thought.
if you or her are not concerned over that. i say go for it.

[Peachykeen2007]

no clue as those don't exist here - kids here start going to kindergarten when they are 5yrs old

[Shwa Girl]

OP, just thought about something else.
University.
Yes, you said your little one is starting elementary school, not finishing high school.

University professors luv, just luv it when the students are older than 17. They are not just looking for the academics. They are looking for the extracurricular. Most importantly, they are looking for the life experiences and maturity. Some 17 year olds (not all) are very immature. Some have been propelled up the grades fast -- due to their academic achievements.

Bottom line. The final 2 years of high school and the maturity at that time is the key. The younger years -- the kids can be kids and the little ones can play a little longer before entering school.

Just my thought....

[Bronwen]

Thank you everyone for your inputs and thoughts.

Shwa Girl and MrsSunshine... I've thought too about how this would effect her down the road (being a year younger than her peers in high school and the fears that come with that)... I don't know what to do!! For now DH is telling me to take it one day at a time. I'm just going to wait to hear back from the principle from the French Immersion school for now. It may be a definite "no" anyway; so until I hear back there's no real move I can make here.

I just want the best for my kids; giving them a head start in life by allowing them the opportunity to know two languages seems like a good idea. However DD can always switch over from public school to FI in Sept 2015. (And I hear they will be introducing JK by then to so DS will be ok as far as I know for now)...

So many decisions and it's all so stressful. I wish I could be 40 and look back and know what decision would be best now I have made a lot of bad decisions in my life and I don't want to screw up any big ones involving my precious children

[Shwa Girl]

Thank you everyone for your inputs and thoughts.

For now DH is telling me to take it one day at a time.

I just want the best for my kids; giving them a head start in life by allowing them the opportunity to know two languages seems like a good idea.

Aaaaahhh. So now, we know the rest of the story.
You had the answer right in your own home. Your dear, dear, DH.

Of course. Yes. You want the best for your children. And, as a good Mom, you are searching out all the best learning opportunities. Good on ya!

Repeating:
Your DH -- your key to the puzzle. Your answer.

Done. And done.

[lizzie bargain]

In AB grade assignment is done strictly by date of birth-each jurisdiction here has an age a child must be by a certain date in order to enter that grade-not sure about where you live. It can also vary between public and private schools. Good luck with getting your daughter started in school.

[sunny3]

If your child is advanced in terms of intellect but you wouldn't want the child in university at 16... Have you looked into the qualifications and availability of a French school vs French immersion? I don't know what the requirements are these days but it might be different than when I was a wee one. Otherwise, there may be other activities your child could do to keep the mind going- other language classes (sign language, Spanish, activities at libraries...). I don't know what area you live in nor your cultural heritage but some aboriginal centres offer free language classes for people of all ages... Speaking two languages is a great thing. French is useful and there are other languages that are helpful too depending where you live.

[Shwa Girl]

I don't know what area you live in nor your cultural heritage but some aboriginal centres offer free language classes for people of all ages... Speaking two languages is a great thing. French is useful and there are other languages that are helpful too depending where you live.

Good point. I know of at least one Aboriginal Center that opens their community center to the surrounding municipality. They do this as an outreach program and it is popular.
Thanks.
Meegwetch.

[Bronwen]

Heard back from the principle this morning - she said no, they don't make exceptions so that is that. We are welcomed to register her for SK in Sept 2015 but for now it looks like she will be going to regular public school. I'm confused as to how parent's / teachers get kids to skip grades then, but maybe public school vs FI are different.

Thanks everyone for your responses

[erin9mmm]

I think in the long run the way it turned out for you (waiting the year) will be best. Aside from academics etc, there is the whole social aspect to skipping ahead a grade. Both my mom and husband did that as a kid and regretted it later for different reasons. My mom has always been very petite and so when she started highschool with kids a year older than her she looked and felt like a grade school kid...and hated it.
....another thing I just thought of, my oldest daughter never went to JK at all, and now as she approaches highschool she is a straight A student....and to think I worried about her, lol!

[Natalka]

Heard back from the principle this morning - she said no, they don't make exceptions so that is that. We are welcomed to register her for SK in Sept 2015 but for now it looks like she will be going to regular public school. I'm confused as to how parent's / teachers get kids to skip grades then, but maybe public school vs FI are different.

Thanks everyone for your responses

Most school divisions do formal testing in grade one - here they do, then next in grade three - so you will have a good idea of how your child is progressing.

Even though our son was reading before four (same with me and my husband, interestingly), before he began K, he was given enrichment in K and Grade One (a child can be 'smart' but still needs to master motor skills, social skills, etc.). Once we got his test results, and after discussions with the educational specialists, he was placed in an ELO (extended learning opportunities) program from Grades 3 to 8 - it was a pull-out program. We were also very lucky that he had awesome teachers, and we did tons of enrichment at home (I used to be a teacher).

He was attending a bilingual school (Ukrainian-English) and had done preschool in one as well. He was not a Ukrainian speaker before he began school, just a few words/phrases.

I think it's rare that kids skip grades any more - and that's a good thing! I agree with what erin said about it.

For myself, at the end of January when I was in Grade One, I was advanced to Grade Two and finished the year there so I did the two grades in one year. Awkward, let me tell you.
So from then on, my 'real' peer group was always the grade behind - and I felt that all the way through high school. I had no problems academically or socially, but I was always the young kid... (not by size, I was always tall!)

So enjoy your child at this age and stage - do lots of play to stimulate learning, activities to keep her busy and encourage every passion she has!