Primary school welcoming back pre-kindergarten, kindergarten

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  • The new Snyder Primary School Tiger mascot will be named by students during the first few weeks of school. Pictured with the mascot are (l-r) Freda Malone, Dee Ann Jennings, Vicky Rowland, Kelly Anderson, Sherry Carroll, Sandra Luera, Gloria Ortegon and Amy Crist.
    The new Snyder Primary School Tiger mascot will be named by students during the first few weeks of school. Pictured with the mascot are (l-r) Freda Malone, Dee Ann Jennings, Vicky Rowland, Kelly Anderson, Sherry Carroll, Sandra Luera, Gloria Ortegon and Amy Crist.
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Snyder Primary School is beginning a new chapter in its history this year.
The school is welcoming back Snyder ISD’s pre-kindergarten and kindergarten program and the campus will no longer house fourth and fifth grades.
According to Principal Canita Rhodes, the changes, which also include the entire campus being known as Snyder Primary School and not Snyder Elementary School, will be good for the students and teachers.
“Everyone is excited about it,” Rhodes said of the changes. “Teachers from pre-kindergarten to third grade are glad to be under one roof.”
She said the school will have an enrollment of more than 1,100 students and there will be 118 staff members on campus.
The atmosphere among teachers is positive, according to Rhodes and she said grade level meetings have been productive.
“The second and third grade teachers are working together,” she said, adding the staff wants to make sure third grade students are prepared for the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness exams.
Training for the state-mandated tests will begin with students entering pre-kindergarten. Rhodes said preparing students at an early age will help them when it is time to take the test.
“Everyone is working on the common purpose of getting students ready for the test,” she said.
The school year will begin Monday for each grade level.
Rhodes said she hopes for a smooth transition for parents who had children attending school at Stanfield Elementary School.
“The PTO parents at Stanfield are involved in our campus,” she said. “I think the parents who had the most concerns I have met with a lot of them and talked about their needs.”
Rhodes said she will continue her open-door policy to talk to parents and guardians about any concerns.
“If I am on campus, I guarantee I will talk to you,” she said.
Three Snyder daycare centers are working with the district to watch pre-kindergarten students during the day.
The district will only offer a half-day pre-kindergarten program this year and will provide transportation to and from the school and daycare center.
Rhodes said parents may call the school to learn more about the transportation options.
The morning pre-kindergarten session is full, but room is still available during the afternoon. Students in the afternoon session will have the chance to participate in the Afterschool Centers for Educations programs.
No meet the teacher program is scheduled for the school, but Rhodes said teachers have been contacting their students to set up conference times prior to Monday.
If a parent has not heard from their teacher, they should call the school immediately.
“We feel that teachers will have a better conversation with parents during this one-on-one time,” Rhodes said.
Students will also have fun during the first few weeks of school because Rhodes purchased a kid-friendly Tiger mascot. A contest will be held to name the Tiger over the first few weeks.
The mascot will appear at school and community functions throughout the year.