Photos and Story By: Isabella Racine & Mantavius Lebron Presley

The Douglas County School System hosted Kinder Camps from July 13–16 at all Douglas County elementary schools, welcoming incoming kindergarten students as they prepared for their first year of school.

Starting kindergarten is a major milestone for both students and their families. To help make the transition easier, DCSS created Kinder Camp to give incoming students an opportunity to become familiar with their new school, meet teachers and classmates, and build confidence before the first day of class.

Each morning, students were dropped off by their parents and enjoyed a nutritious breakfast in the cafeteria, helping them become familiar with their daily routine. On the first day of camp, parents also attended a meeting with their school's principal to learn about school expectations, procedures, and the unique culture of each campus.

Throughout the week, students participated in a variety of engaging, hands-on activities designed to encourage creativity and learning. Children read books like “The Rainbow Fish” and created their own colorful rainbow fish crafts while learning about kindness and sharing. They also explored different books together, helping build excitement for reading while strengthening early literacy skills.

Students practiced using classroom materials, learned classroom routines, and developed important social skills by interacting with their new classmates and discussing how to treat one another with kindness and respect.

In addition to classroom activities, students enjoyed time playing outside on the playground and participating in games and activities in the school gym. These experiences allowed them to become familiar with different areas of their school.

Students also practiced going through the cafeteria lunch line, giving them a chance to become comfortable with another important part of the school day. By the end of the week, Kinder Camp had helped students feel more prepared, confident, and excited to begin their kindergarten journey.

“Kinder Camp gives our incoming kindergartners a head start not just academically, but socially and emotionally,” said Meghan Rathel, Principal of Winston Elementary School. “Watching them learn to share, follow routines, and build friendships has been incredible. The smiles say it all: these kids are walking into their first day of kindergarten already feeling confident and like they belong.