While it was an opportunity to hear ideas from expert panelists and parents, attendees at Monday's Kindergarten Transition Summit were most excited to make connections with other early educators--for example, with a Head Start program in their community (see photos). After the official end of the Summit, groups stayed behind to chat with each other and discuss newfound possibilities for easing the transition from Pre-K to K for children and their families.

Speakers at the October 7 Summit, held at the Eastern Suffolk BOCES Sequoya Conference Center in Holtsville, included a team from Middle Country Public Schools; Michelle Pepey, Director of Special Education and PPS from East Moriches Public Schools; Karen Peterson from Long Island Head Start; parents Colleen Farrell and Sally Brody; and Rebecca Sanin, President of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island. 

Sanin reminded participants of their key role: "Every day you're working to change the trajectory of children's lives. You are so powerful."

A second Summit will be held tomorrow, Friday, October 11, at the Western Suffolk BOCES Conference Center in Wyandanch.

Do you want to try something new next year for Kindergarten Transition? Apply for one of these mini-grants

"Pre-K alone cannot make up for inadequate instruction and poor school climate in the early elementary grades," wrote policy analysts in 2016. They were commenting on the much-reported study of Tennessee's Voluntary Prekindergarten Program (TN-VPK), which showed children made gains in Pre-K but that progress was loss by third grade. (That program is for low-income and disadvantaged children.)

Now a new report, released in July by Vanderbilt University, bears out the analysts' opinion. The good news, says an article on newamerica.org, "students who attended TN-VPK and had exposure to excellent teachers and high-quality schools between kindergarten and third grade had a 'sustained advantage' in math and ELA that lasted through at least third grade." The bad news: most of the TN-VPK students didn't have this kind of elementary experience--only 12%.

The researchers recommend increased investment in attracting high-quality staff to "under-resourced" schools. Writes Martha Schull for New America: "Quality pre-k is an important foundation for student success in kindergarten through third grade....However, neither pre-k nor the subsequent early elementary years can be viewed in a vacuum." Read more.

Date: Monday, October 28, 2019

Place: CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Ave., New York City

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Debbie Leekeenan and Iris Chin Ponte will present a keynote address and lead breakout sessions for current or aspiring directors. They're the authors of From Survive to Thrive: A Director's Guide for Leading an Early Childhood Program.

Presented by: The Leadership Initiative of The New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute Leadership Initiative

Click here for more information and to register for this free event.

Pixels and Play!

Date: Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Presenter: Dr. Claire Rubman, Suffolk Community College

The Importance of Social and Emotional Development

Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Presenter: Dr. Vanessa Rodriguez, NYU School of Medicine/NYU Langone Health

Modifying Mindsets for Youth Mental Health

Date: Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Presenter: Dr. Jessica Schleider, Stony Brook University

All sessions are from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Registration for all three seminars is $60; or $25 per seminar.

Click here for more information and to register.

For the Long Island Head Start positions listed below

Email resume to humanresources@liheadstart or fax 631-758-2953

Full-Time Teacher

Full-Time Teacher Assistant

Full-Time Teacher Aide

Full-Time Teacher I (Infant/Toddler)

Full-Time Teacher II (Infant/Toddler)

Full-Time Family Educator/Home Visitor--Bilingual

Full-Time Cook Assistant

Full-Time Food Transporter

Long Island Head Start, various locations

Speech Consultant

EHS-CCP RN/Health Consultant

EHS-CCP Disabilities Services Consultant (Birth to 2)

Long Island Head Start, Central Administration, Patchogue

• Your name
• Your position
• Your e-mail and phone number

• The name of your school and the town it's located in. You can include your web address, if you have one.
• A very brief description of the position or positions you want to fill. (For example: "Part-time Teacher Assistant" or "Full-time Pre-K Teacher."
• Information about how potential applicants should contact your for details or to apply. (For example: "Call Jane Smith at 631-xxx-xxxx" or "Send e-mail to jane.smith@schoolname.org")