With the start of school, Garfield has had many new students enrolling in their kindergarten classes.  Garfield's kinder program consisted of four regular kinder classes and a "new" Transitional Kinder class.  Even with the increased class size of 30 students in each class and 20 students in the TK class, there were still not enough seats for all the new kinders.  Therefore, Garfield as opened another kinder class.

During the week of Back to School Night, these regular kinder classes will implement their "split-day" schedule.  The purpose of this instructional program is to provide differentiated, individualized instruction for their students for two hours of the day in smaller groups (approximately 15 students).  These young little ones have to learn so much during their kinder year. Not only do they need to learn to sit in one place, listen to their teacher but they also have to learn how to read, write, count as well as how to get along and share with others.  The life of a kinder is full of academic expectations as well as making sure that their first formal year in school is fun and nurturing.  Please work with and support your kinder child's teacher in their programs and make sure that your child is in school every day!

At Garfield most students have the opportunity to be serve two meals...breakfast and lunch.  If students arrive at school with plenty of time before the bell rings, they will be served breakfast.  Each family must fill out a lunch application or make arrangements with the cafeteria manager to add money on to their students account with the cafe. (More information about this can be found on the district site). All students enrolled at Garfield will be provided a lunch with supervision provided either by the school staff (inside the cafer) or by  parents (at the outside lunch benches).

District employees are the only adults that are allowed inside the cafeteria.  Teachers and recreation aides assist our young students in the procedures of getting and completing their meals.  During the first week of school, we do make an exception for our kindergarten parents and allow them to help for the first few days.  After that, we want our students to begin to build their independence and  responsibility  for feeding themselves, with assistance from staff when needed.

Please make sure parents that you wait outside the cafeteria, away from the doors, while your child(ren) are eating.  At Garfield, we have the huge job of  serving over 860 students in our cafeteria daily.  The procedures that are in place help us to get the students inside, allow them time to eat at a comfortable pace and try to keep the amount of time the students are waiting outside to a minimal.  Your help in following these procedures is appreciated.  If you have any questions about these procedures, please see the principal.