At the Feb. 24 regular school board meeting, the board approved a TESD collaboration with Active Playful Learning (APL) for a workshop in mid-May costing around $3,000. Through the workshop, the district will explore APL as a framework for its development of a full-day kindergarten program.

Temple University professor Dr. Kathy Hirsh Pasek created APL, an educational approach that focuses on interactive experiences such as hands-on activities for social and cognitive development. The district’s full-day kindergarten committee and elementary school principals will attend the workshop. Dr. Wendy Towle, director of curriculum, instruction, staff development and planning, is leading the development of the program.

“When developing the foundation for our full-day kindergarten program, the committee determined that a structure rooted in play-based learning will be the best way to meet the goals we have for the program and the best at supporting all of our youngest learners,” Towle said.

The district will pursue a play-based curriculum for its full-day kindergarten program but has not committed to using APL as framework. The district will not introduce the program until Bear Hill Elementary School opens for the fall 2027 school year.

John Jones, chair of the health and fitness department at Conestoga, has taught elementary school gym. He feels that play-based learning can help young students grow in several ways.

“Children learn how to make friends, compromise, follow rules, handle their emotions when they become frustrated and build their confidence, self-esteem and resilience (through exercise and play),” Jones said. “They learn to work with others toward a common goal, communication and problem-solving skills.”

Paige Vachris can be reached at [email protected].