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Multiples name of game at early learning center
(by Sue Hoffman - November 11, 2011)
Multiples name of game at early learning center
By SUE HOFFMAN
Starting kindergarten is often considered one of life's major transitions.
"It was a lot harder sending three at once," said Adriane Lioudis, whose triplets, Christian, Mia and Peter, are kindergarteners at Gardiner Early Learning Center in the Kenston School District.
"I wasn't really sure if they were ready to be spread apart," said Mrs. Lioudis, who has two other daughters, ages 7 and 4.
As it turned out, they didn't have to be separated, she learned at the end of the summer. All three are in Mary McCabe's afternoon class.
"Their teacher is amazing," Mrs. Lioudis said. While the children are in the same class, she said, Mrs. McCabe does a good job of dividing them among the four activity tables in the classroom.
"It's been a very happy year," she said. "They love going on the bus. They love their teacher and friends."
All three said they also love computer class.
The Lioudis triplets aren't the only multiples in the class. Joining them are quadruplets Emma, Hunter, Spencer "Boomer" and Tyler Brownfield, whose triplet sisters were together in kindergarten four years ago.
Since the school has only one afternoon kindergarten class, and the Lioudis and Brownfield families live in areas designated for the afternoon, the decision on where to place the triplets and quads was an easy one, Principal Marilyn Kahle said. Both families were fine with that, she said. The seven children make up one-third of the class.
Other multiples, including five sets of twins, abound in this year's kindergarten class at Gardiner. All the multiples together comprise 17 students -- just four fewer than the record 21 students in 2007.
Twins Ava and Griffin Marcoguisepe attend different morning kindergarten classes.
Their mother, Cher Brown, said she didn't have a preference but thought separate classes would have an advantage for them. "I thought it would be good for them to have their own space," she said. "They socialize well. They have always been independent and make friends easily."
Ms. Brown said her twins were already used to attending preschool and the transition to kindergarten went smoothly. "They were excited and I was excited for them."
Of the other twins at Gardiner, two sets attend the same all-day kindergarten classes and two sets attend different all-day classes.
"In deciding on class placement, Kenston doesn't have a policy to separate multiples," Mrs. Kahle said. "Our decision is based on conversations with parents. For some, it's important to keep them together, especially if coming into kindergarten is a huge transition. For others, it's good for them to come in as individuals."
Mrs. Kahle said research over the last 10 years has shown that starting kindergarten is one of life's major transitions. "It's important for the decision to be based on individual family situations."
Since Gardiner is only a kindergarten building, all of the students will have another transition to Timmons for first grade. "When they move into first grade, we do separate the vast majority of multiples," Mrs. Kahle said.
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