Transition to Kindergarten in Lancaster County

Summer, 2011 Success By 6 United Way of Lancaster County Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13

Kindergarten Transition Team of Lancaster County

United Way of Lancaster County Success By Six (SB6) and IU 13 collaborate with school and early childhood education representatives from all 16 school districts in Lancaster County by meeting each year to develop and improve kindergarten transition activities. On April 27, 2011,Success By 6 and IU 13 held the Kindergarten Transition Leadership meeting for all districts in Lancaster County through a webinar. Hedy Chang, Director of Attendance Works, provided an overview of her research and findings, which shows how chronic absence in Kindergarten affects future academic performance. The session also included presentations by the School District of Lancaster, Ephrata School District and Diamond Street Child Care Centerwho are successfully networking and sharing resources to support Kindergarten transition. Deb Wise, Transition Coordinator for the state, concluded the session by describing the most current Kindergarten state transition efforts. The Transition team will be planning the Spring 2012 Transition to Kindergarten Conference, which occurs bi-annually. If you would like to join the planning team or need additional information please contact: Judi Anderson, anderson@uwlanc.org.
Hedy Chang, Director, Attendance Works

Feedback from the K Transition Webinar:

This was my first time participating in a webinar and I was very much impressed and it seemed to be convenient for the participants. The sharing of information was valuable, but because my district's transition was unable to be together, I feel we lost sharing time. Thanks for the webinar to cut down on travel! It was unique, but I did miss seeing everyone in person as in years past. I think it went well for the first time.

Fall 2010 School District Survey Results

SB6 compiled the results of a recent survey from all 16 school districts in Lancaster County and here are some highlights: 87.5% of districts stated that they assess students upon entering kindergarten and 12.5% do not. Each school participates with child care centers, family or group child care homes, preschools, Head Start, and other early learning programs in different ways. Examples of how they partner include: trainings, individual child issues, sharing SB6 materials, transition activities, early learning exchange, committees, passing on wellness and legislative information, and meetings with preschool directors. 8 6 4 2 0 0 - 20% 21 40% 41 60% 61 80% 81 100%

Percentage of District Kindergarten Students Who Attended Pre-School

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Transition Plan Highlights

Below you will find highlights from many of the Lancaster County school districts kindergarten plans. These short descriptions are by no means comprehensive, but rather provide an overview of successful practices. By sharing these plans, we hope that other school districts can identify strategies which may be useful in their own district. If you are interested in more information, or would like to join a transition team in your area, please contact your local school districts transition team leader.

Cocalico School District

Summer Library and Pre-K Early Literacy Summer Experience; Pre-K Literacy Nights all year Families with children ages 3-4 will receive Books to Grow On parent education materials and ABC books Preschoolers transitioning to kindergarten will have the opportunity to visit a Cocalico Kindergarten with their teacher Principals read at Early Childhood Centers during the summer Team leader contacts: Denise Logue denise_logue@cocalico.org, Beth Haldeman, beth_haldeman@cocalico.org, Charlotte Brady, Cocalicocare@denverstjohns.org and Wendi Miller, Wendi_miller@cocalico.org

Our child was a foster child who had very few words but is now ready for kindergarten. -Parent of a child enrolled in Pre-K in Lancaster County

Columbia Borough School District

Current transition plan will continue which includes school visits and collaboration with early childcare professionals Team leader contacts: Dr. Diane Frey, dfrey@columbia.k12.pa.us, Debra Wallace, dwallace@columbia.k12.pa.us and Leslie Holzworth, lholzworth@caplanc.org

We all benefit from putting money into childrens education. The next generation should be better than the last. -Lancaster County Parent

Conestoga Valley School District

Kindergarten Expo in February Meetings with ECE directors and ECE site visits Sneak a Peek Night and Summer Pre-K Team leader contacts: Colleen Hovanec, colleen_hovanec@cvsd.k12.pa.us and Kelly Cartwright, kelly_cartwright@cvsd.k12.pa.us

Donegal School District

Moving Up Day Each kindergarten teacher is assigned one preschool to collaborate with in creating a smooth transition to kindergarten Kindergarten Orientation in August Team leader contacts: Dana Blair, dana.blair@donegal.k12.pa.us and Deb Gepher

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Eastern Lancaster County School District

Schedule a presentation for Head Start parents to share kindergarten dates and readiness activities Team leader contacts: Nadine Larkin, nadine_larkin@elanco.org

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Elizabethtown Area School District

Programs provide copies of end-of-year assessments to the district A Parent Night for all incoming kindergarten families is held in the winter. ECE programs partner with school principals concerning session placements Team leader contacts: Michele Balliet, mballiet@etownschools.org and Amy Hoffman, ahoffman@etownchildcare.org

We didnt even have to register for Kindergarten because were in this program the children move right into Kindergarten. -Parent of a child enrolled in a district Pre-K program

Ephrata School District

Monthly interactive educational workshops for parents and preschoolers prior to Kindergarten screening. Quarterly meetings of the Early Childhood Consortium for all EC programs Story and Craft Night and Parents and Pizza Night for incoming kindergarten students and parents at each elementary school. Team leader contacts: Enrica Gerhart, E_Gerhart@easdpa.org and Crystal Loose, c_loose@easdpa.org

Hempfield School District

Hempfield Kindergarten Literacy Information Night to educate parents about kindergarten expectations and standards Use of consistent alphabet charts across district and encouragement to ECE staff to use the same materials Establish meeting with kindergarten teachers and ECE staff Team leader contact: Cheryl Weyant, Cheryl-weyant@hempfieldsd.org

Many parents may not be aware that attendance in pre-K & K matters. -Hedy Chang, Director of Attendance Works

Lampeter-Strasburg School District

Preschools invited to visit kindergarten classrooms Open House/Room Visitation and School Bus Ride for entering kindergarten students Kindergarten Summer Playground Team leader contact: Brenda Malcolm, Brenda_malcolm@l-spioneers.org

Manheim Township School District

Early Learning Exchange Meetings providing staff development for preschool teachers and kindergarten teachers Preschool Story Times at least twice a year Bus Orientation, New Family Open House, and Kindergarten Open House Team leader contact: Mike Bromirski, bromirmi@mtwp.net

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Penn Manor School District

Establish Transition Team Meetings to discuss current topics regarding transition to Kindergarten. Act 48/PQAS credit provided. Created a Tiny Comets Club for birth age 5 Sharing of data between pre-schools and kindergarten through developmental checklist Team leader contacts: Jen Sugra, jen.sugra@pennmanor.net and Monica Kirchner, mkirchner@ywcalancaster.org

Participation in formal child care is associated with lower chronic absence in kindergarten.

Pequea Valley School District

Pre-K teachers observe kindergarten classrooms to see where transitioning students should be when entering kindergarten Pre-K students and kindergarten students will spend time together as reading partners Team leader contacts: Sharon Ray, Sharon_ray@pequeavalley.org, and Michele Mahoney, mmahoney@hildebrandtlc.com

- Hedy Chang, Director of

Attendance Works

School District of Lancaster

Kindergarten Readiness Professional Development Event for childcare staff Pilot kindergarten visitation between one early childhood program and one district elementary school. Kindergarten Kick Off in Summer 2012 hosted by Lancaster Recreation Center Team leader contacts: Karen Wynn, kewynn@lancaster.k12.pa.us, and Lucy Zimmerman, lzimmerman@lancasterrec.org

Solanco School District

Parent Literacy Packets for summer learning Count Down to Kindergarten Community Activities Early Literacy Benchmarks for 3- and 4-year olds mailed to district families Pre-K story hours at each elementary school Team leader contacts: Sandra Haines, sandra_haines@solanco.k12.pa.us and Sheri Johnson, Childrensoutreach@frontier.com

Warwick School District

Participate in One Book, Every Young Child week with district representatives reading at early learning centers, or principals reading via Skype or video Create video tour of each elementary school to post on district website Yearly meeting of Warwick School District and Child Care providers Team leader contacts: Melanie Calender, mcalendar@warwicksd.org and Chris Shebish, scdcstars@dejazzd.com

Funding for this Transition to Kindergarten in Lancaster County Newsletter comes from the 2011/2012 Local Education and Resource Network Grant from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Pennsylvania Departments of Education and Public Welfare.