feature story / 13 Parent Teacher Home Visits, their effec- tiveness has been researched over the years and lauded as a “fast, inexpensive and replicable strategy for engaging families, educators and students as a team.” For Frye, home visits accomplish two goals for the children. Knowing that incoming kindergartners – as well as their parents – are naturally ner- vous, meeting the principal ahead of time reduces first-day jitters. Secondly, by talking to the parents and children, Frye can get a head start on providing support for those who need it and a push forward for kids who are ahead. Meanwhile, parents are able to ask questions and receive an information package that includes contact infor- mation for other Seth Boyden parents, FAQs and a list of supplies needed for the new school year. On a recent visit, Frye stopped by the home of Catherine Cronin and Michael Cope. Their daughter Maeve was entering kindergarten and showed all the signs of an active 5-year-old. Curious but shy, she sat on the floor as Frye introduced himself and asked her what she’d been doing during the summer. Maeve’s little sister, running around the living room wearing a play stethoscope around her neck, paused to give the answers. Frye continued to make conversa- tion and asked Maeve whether she could read a book and if she knew how to write her name. Her answers were clues to help Frye determine the best class in which to place her. Tell- ing Maeve he had a present for her, he asked her to close her eyes and put out Maeve and her parents listen to Principal Frye talk about the first day of kindergarten. Alexander and Jonah get to know Principal Frye. WE SELL OUR HOMES FOR MORE MONEY THAN THE AVERAGE AGENT AND IN LESS THAN HALF THE AVERAGE TIME.* Mark Slade Homes Team o 973.762.5400 | c 917.797.5059 Sladehomes@gmail.com | sladeblog.com www.goodhomesforgoodpeople.com each office independently owned and operated *as calculated using stats pulled from the GSMLS South Orange Country Day School Montessori Education Since 1964 Preschool · Pre-R Rindergarten Full and Half Day Sessions Extended Day Hours Available School Year and Summer Camp Session · Largest Outdoor Play Space OPEN HOUSE Each Friday in October at 10 AM Visit seeds.com · Email learn@socds.com 461 Vose Avenue, South Orange, NJ 07079