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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Kindergartners, parents celebrate achievements


Blake Marmon smiles as he and his mother Maria Marmon, seated, are greeted by his kindergarten teacher, Sharlene Symons, at Kindercenter during parent-teacher conferences at the school in Post Falls. 
 (Kathy Plonka / The Spokesman-Review)
Meghann M. Cuniff Meghann Cuniff

Post Falls kindergartners showed their parents around their classrooms last month in a pint-sized version of parent-teacher conferences.

“We call it the ‘celebration of learning,’ ” said Sharlene Symons, a teacher at the Post Falls Kindercenter, where all kindergartners attend class. “They get to do everything and go through everything … It’s a great opportunity for parents to see what they do every day. We get to celebrate everything they’ve learned so far.”

Parents joined their kindergartners in the classroom, following their child around as he or she showed them the classroom ropes.

“You wanna show me how you write your name,” Kim Roman asked her daughter Juliana. The girl smiled and wrote her name.

“So what are the school rules, or the classroom rules?” Roman asked.

“We listen and follow directions. We speak quietly to each other. We work quietly,” 6-year-old Juliana replied.

The kindergartners showed off their journals, a collection of writings and drawings they’ve done in class since the beginning of the year. The progress each student made was evidenced in their journal.

“The standards for kindergarten in our state have really just skyrocketed,” Symons explained. “The things I used to teach in first grade, I’m now teaching to my kindergarten students.”

Parent-teacher conferences are no longer just formal sit-down meetings between a student’s parents and his or her teacher.

Over the years, schools have revamped how the conferences are run. Many schools offer student-led conferences similar to the “celebration of learning” at the kindergarten.

McTeacher’s Night

Teachers from John Brown Elementary will be slinging burgers and peddling fries next week at the Rathdrum McDonald’s. “McTeacher’s Night” next Thursday will feature John Brown Principal John Asher and several teachers working behind the counter. They’ll be greeting customers, working the registers and possibly helping prepare some food themselves from 4:30 until 7:30 p.m.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the school.

“It’s historically been 20 percent or a little bit higher,” said store owner Tim Skubitz.

The school will donate the proceeds to the Ronald McDonald House, as Garwood Elementary School did with the $600 it received after holding its own McTeacher’s night.