Point Pleasant Boro Develops New Kindergarten Schedule Amid COVID

POINT PLEASANT BORO – Point Pleasant Boro schools have developed a plan to help transition kindergarten students back to a longer school day.

The plan for kindergarten students, both morning and afternoon sessions, would have them begin to follow the current regular half-day schedule for grades 1 through 5 in both elementary schools, according to Superintendent Vincent Smith.

The plan would begin on Monday, April 12 and, barring any unforeseen circumstances, kindergarten students will report to school as follows:

• Ocean Road: 8:10 a.m. to 12:25 p.m.
• Nellie Bennett 8:45 a.m. to 1:05 p.m.

Each building principal will be following up to provide details on how each schedule will be conducted.

Parents who wish to continue with full remote learning for their kindergarten students will be provided with information as well.

Smith said he's heard from parents over the course of the year who have wondered when the district is going to get kindergarten students back on the same schedule with the rest of the schools.

He noted that on Nov. 9th, the district went to five half-days. "We heard some feedback from parents: 'Are we going to see that for our kindergarten?' " he said.

"We think it is a good idea," Smith said.

Smith said if all students don't return to the appropriate schedules, it could be a tough transition for the kindergarten students as they move to 1st grade next year.

"If we don't get back to full-time this year at all, it's going to be a tough transition to go from 2 1/2 hours to a full school day next year," Smith said.

Smith said he wants to get information out to parents to say: "We looked at it, we considered and we want to move forward with it."