WORCESTER – Tuesday, August 27, 2024 – Worcester Public Schools (WPS) hosted its annual Countdown to Kindergarten event on Monday evening, welcoming all district families with soon-to-be kindergarteners to Polar Park.
Countdown to Kindergarten is a free event designed for families with children entering kindergarten in WPS for the 2024-25 school year.
“Countdown to Kindergarten is a great example of family engagement and ensuring our caregivers and scholars alike are ready to start school,” said WPS Superintendent Rachel H. Monárrez, PhD. “It brings me so much joy to see our young children having fun and learning about school at the same time.”
“This is an event we look forward to every year,” said Director of Early Childhood Laurie Kuzcka. “Countdown to Kindergarten has been such an engaging opportunity to meet our new families, get everyone excited about kindergarten and introduce them into our WPS community.”
Throughout the evening, the district’s young scholars participated in developmental activities meant to familiarize them with what they will experience in their first year of school. Activities included a station to climb aboard a school bus, meet a crossing guard, play with building blocks and plenty of more family-friendly fun.
For parents and caregivers, the start-of-school event also serves as an opportunity to meet directly with WPS early childhood staff, ask any questions, and alleviate their own stresses before sending a child off to school for the first time.
Countdown to Kindergarten first began in WPS in 2017 at the EcoTarium. The event returned for the first time post-COVID in 2023. Monday marked the second year the event was held at Polar Park.