'Back to School U': Kindergarten jitters

SEATTLE -- There's only week of summer break left until it’s back to school time for most students in our area.

The first day of school can be fun and scary, especially for those kids who are going to school for the first time. Thanks to a program called Jump Start Kindergarten, it doesn’t have to a frightening experience for kids. This year, 32 Seattle schools are offering the program. In the program, kids learn how to properly line-up, how to get the teacher’s attention, where the bathroom is and how to play. It helps them be more comfortable on the first day of school, officials said.

“They get a jump start on kindergarten and really get a taste of what it`s like to be in school,” Claudia Conroy, a teacher at Dearborn Park Elementary, said.

The teachers get hands-on time with each student, gauging where they are academically and that puts them ahead of the game.

“The start of the first day is not just a blank slate. We have an idea and tailor our lessons to that," Conroy said.

Jump Start is not mandatory, but it is suggested parents enroll their children in the program. Parents also get the opportunity to meet with school teachers and principals, so they feel more comfortable on the first day.