ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Wednesday marks one week until the first day of school for the Ashwaubenon School District.
At Valley View Elementary, each desk in this first grade classroom is set up for students. Only, they won’t be joining class all at once.
“Our number one priority is to build relationships, so what we really strive to do is make those little ones feel comfortable when they come in to first grade,” said teacher Carrie Corcoran.
When class is back in session next week for Ashwaubenon schools, kindergarten through eighth grade will be doing what is called a “soft start.”
Half of the students will come on Wednesday, while the other half will have their first day on Thursday — before everyone joins class on Friday.
The district does this to help ease the stress of both parents and students.
“Mental health is a concern for all of us that we deal with, and not even to the level of mental health, but just the anxiety and the anxiousness of starting school,” said Ashwaubenon School District Superintendent Kurt Weyers. “Especially even at the middle school level, where our kids are coming from the different elementary schools into one middle school.”
Teacher Matt Schreiterhas three kids in the district. As a parent, he’s seen firsthand how soft starts eased the pressure off his son when making the transition to middle school.
“You’ve got only half the students, you’ve got a lot of time with the staff to build the relationship, build rapport, answer questions in the moment and help ease that transition. It was hugely beneficial for my son,” said Schreiter.
Ashwaubenon’s soft start to school first began in 2021 as the district worked its way back into classrooms during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been in place ever since.
“If we can develop that strong relationship, that strong bond, with both parents and students, it certainly gives us an opportunity to start the year off on the right foot,” said Weyers.
The school year in Ashwaubenon is starting earlier than normal this year due to the district giving schools time off during the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay next spring.
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