We are pleased to announce the 11 child care sites and elementary schools that will receive transition to kindergarten mini-grants through our collaborative Transition to Kindergarten (TTK) Initiative. The grant amounts total $6,030 to support early educators, elementary schools and child care sites in designing and implementing transition events for their specific student and parent populations. This is the second year the Partnership has offered mini-grants for TTK projects. Funds for these mini-grants were made available through a generous gift from Wells Fargo. The Morgan Creek Foundation also supports the TTK Initiative. 

The TTK Initiative is a collaborative project of the Partnership and Durham Public Schools that provides specific experiences that prepare children for successful entrance into kindergarten and that prepare schools to receive children and their families.

Best practices in the early childhood field include assisting children and parents in the transition process from formal pre-school programs or home settings into local elementary schools. Parent involvement is the strongest predictor of how well young children will do in kindergarten.

“We know that prepared children and families are more successful at facing the enormous transition of entering school,” said Laura Benson, Executive Director of the Partnership. “Rising kindergartners and their families will be present, ready, and engaged if they know what to expect, and research clearly shows that being present on the first day of school matters. Children who are in attendance on the first day of kindergarten miss, on average, 9 days less throughout the school year than children who are absent on the first day.”

This year’s mini-grants include activities such as summer transition camps, neighborhood parties, field trips to kindergarten classrooms, and full day kindergarten experiences. These projects are collaborations between an elementary school and a child care center, and many of the activities will be implemented in the spring months.

Mini-grant recipients include:
Bethesda Elementary and Victorious Praise Day Care
Early Explorers Playschool and Creekside Elementary
Easley Elementary and Aldersgate Weekday School
Fayetteville Street Elementary and Scarborough Nursery School
Holt Elementary and Childcare Network #57
Mangum Elementary and Master's Garden Preschool
Merrick-Moore Elementary and Steps & Ladders Child Care Center/Everything New Child Care
Burton Elementary and Russell Memorial Child Development Center
Oak Grove Elementary and A Brilliant Beginning Day Care
Parkwood Elementary and Learning Tots Academy
Toddlers Academy, Inc. and Pearsontown Elementary

“As these projects unfold in the community, we directly address the needs of transitioning young learners in Durham County,” said Benson. “Promoting school readiness and helping to shape the future success of our youngest students is priority.”

In addition to the mini-grants, rising kindergartners and their families benefit from other TTK activities such as Steps to School Family Nights, Steps to School Newsletters, Teachers Talk Forums, and the annual Countdown to Kindergarten event held each August at the Museum of Life and Science. 

For a second year, the Partnership is offering competitive mini-grants to support planning and implementing transition activities targeted to families with children who will be heading to kindergarten. The goal of these grants is to foster collaboration between elementary school and early educators around transition to kindergarten, thus all mini grant applications must be a joint application for a joint project between a local elementary school and child care site.  Mini grant award amounts may vary based on events/activities proposed.  The average size of grants last year ranged from $300 to $500.
 
Sample transition activities might include:

• Summer Transition Camp
• Spring/Summer Open Houses
• Creating introductions for rising kindergartners
• Build “going to kindergarten” into the pre-school curriculum
• Kindergarten Classroom Visits
• Registration Events
• Child Care/Pre-k Visits

The application process for these mini-grants is underway and applications must be received by Friday, February 22nd at 5 pm.  Eligible applicants include kindergarten teachers, elementary school principals, PTAs, and child care teachers and directors. Click here to download the Transition Mini-Grant now.

For questions, please contact Pat Harris at (919) 403-6960, Extension 224 or email pat@dpfc.net. To learn more about our Transition to Kindergarten Initiative, click here.

Durham’s Partnership for Children received funding from Wells Fargo and Morgan Creek Foundation to support rising kindergartners across Durham County through Transition Mini-Grants and additional Transition to Kindergarten activities.

Does your child qualify for NC Pre-K?
Your child might qualify to participate in 2013-2014 Durham County NC Pre-K if:

• Your child is not currently enrolled in a preschool program
• Your child turns 4 years by Aug. 31, 2013
• Your child has health concerns or special needs
• Your family qualifies for financial assistance
• English is your child's second language

How to Apply
Beginning January 28, 2013, you may call 919-314-6820 to set an appointment time between February 4 and April 11, 2013.  You may also visit one of the following Durham County Head Start offices beginning February 4, 2013, where a family counselor will assist parents in filling out the application.

• 215 Seminary St. (across from McDonald’s and the YMCA)
• 1313 Halley St. (Lyon Park)
• 908 Liberty St.  (Leathers Meacham)

» Click here to download the NC Pre-K flyer for more information. En Español

For more information about financial assistance for child care, contact Child Care Services Association at (919) 403-6950 or contact Durham County Social Services at (919) 560-8360.

Durham County’s NC Pre-K program is working to provide high-quality early educational experiences for 4-year-olds who are not attending preschool for various reasons. The program is community-based, voluntary, and designed to prepare 4-year-olds for kindergarten. The NC Pre-K program operates in private class rooms, Durham Public Schools, and Head Start.

Wednesday morning was an exciting time for Partnership staff as we had the rare opportunity of facilitating a focus group with 4-year-old children (and some of their parents) at Brown’s Day Care Center. A unique audience for this approach to research, a classroom full of pre-kindergarten children just happens to be the most important target in our Transition to Kindergarten work.

Entering kindergarten is one of the biggest changes a young child will encounter.  The Transition to Kindergarten Initiative is a collaborative effort between Durham Public Schools (DPS) and Durham’s Partnership for Children to help prepare families for the move to kindergarten.  Currently, the Partnership and our Transition to Kindergarten Advisory Committee is brainstorming ways to rebrand “Transition to Kindergarten” so that both DPS and Partnership efforts better align.  We want future Durham kindergartners and their families to receive a singular, more clearly integrated message about transitioning their child to kindergarten. 

As part of the rebranding process, we are bringing to life a Transition to Kindergarten mascot; this character will be the new face of transition to kindergarten and will help children feel more comfortable with this major step in their lives.  Throughout the planning process we have been strategic and thoughtful.  But many questions remain – questions best answered by the engaged and willing 4-year-old children at Brown’s.

During our half-hour focus group, the children were asked their thoughts on starting school and their opinions on our mock-up transition mascot, a baby bull. 

“How do you think the bull feels?  What items might he take with him to kindergarten?  What might he wear to kindergarten?  What should his name be?”

These brilliant young minds offered plenty of valuable insight.  He’s a soft, brown, excited and happy bull and he could wear pajamas or Sketchers.  Or perhaps his finest dress suit or boots.  Some children shared that he could carry his blanket, stuffed bear, homework, or a snack.  Then the children offered up their favorite names for the Transition to Kindergarten bull – Ricky, Otis, Freddy, Hoperoo, Manchita, and Rock Star, just to name a few.

Partnership staff walked away from the experience eager to put the preschoolers’ thoughts into action.  We are hopeful that our bull has found a comfortable new home in the Transition to Kindergarten Initiative, and that rising kindergartners across Durham will welcome him with open arms.

Stay tuned as the process unfolds!


The Transition to Kindergarten Initiative is supported through funding from the Morgan Creek Foundation and the Wells Fargo Foundation.

When thinking about school readiness and young children, we focus on a child’s earliest experiences and the environments that influence their development. We support evidence-based programs that foster healthy physical, social, emotional, language, and cognitive development and that build a solid foundation. Through our Transition to Kindergarten Initiative, the Partnership and Durham Public Schools collaboratively create activities and learning experiences that pave the way for a smooth entrance into kindergarten. This foundation-building, preparatory focus during the first five years of a child’s life is what we know works.

Much attention is concentrated on engaging families on the front end, before children enter school – as it should be.  But research also tells us that parent involvement throughout their child’s educational career can do so much for a child’s overall success in school. 

Often, as children enter the school system, parents step back and defer to teachers to take over the educational process.  However, ongoing parent involvement is equally important to a child’s success. A parent’s role in their child’s education should continue as they strive to create a partnership between teacher, school and parent.

Students with involved parents are more likely to:
• Earn higher grades and test scores, and enroll in higher-level programs;
• Be promoted, pass their classes, and earn credits;
• Attend school regularly;
• Have better social skills, show improved behavior, and adapt well to school; and
• Graduate and go on to postsecondary education (Henderson & Mapp, 2002).

The winter 2013 issue of Steps to School, a Transition to Kindergarten newsletter, explains the value of the involved parent and offers concrete tips for involvement before and after a child enters school. The newsletter also alerts parents of transitioning kindergartners to some important dates.

Kindergarten Welcome Sessions – Come learn about kindergarten in Durham Public Schools!
Date: January 17 or February 5, 2013    Time: 6 to 7:30 PM
Location: DPS Staff Development Center, 2107 Hillandale Road, Durham, NC 27705

Steps to School Night –Get great information on how you can prepare your child for kindergarten.
Date: March 7, 2013    Time: 6 to 7:30 PM
Location: DPS Staff Development Center, 2107 Hillandale Road, Durham, NC 27705
 
The Durham Public Schools Magnet Fair will be on Saturday, January 12th from 10 am -1 pm at Southern High School. Learn more about your school options in Durham Public Schools.

Applications for the Year Round and Magnet Schools will be available in February 1st on Durham Public Schools’ Web site or by calling Student Assignment at 560-2059. All applications must be submitted by February 20th at 5pm. 

This past April, the Partnership awarded Transition to Kindergarten Mini-Grants to support the planning and implementation of transition activities targeted at families with children entering kindergarten this fall.  In total, nine grants were awarded to elementary schools and preschools across Durham.  Read about the recipients here.

Funds from the awarded grants allowed schools to plan activities like ice cream socials, school open houses, playground picnics, and kindergarten camps; ultimately, the goal of these transition activities was to foster collaboration between elementary school and early childhood educators around transition to kindergarten.  

Little River Elementary School, which partnered with Greystone Preschool to bridge the gap between kindergarten and pre-k education, offered a range of transition activities over the course of the summer that culminated in one final event, Technology Tuesday.

Technology Tuesday was one-of-a-kind in that it was structured around preparing rising kindergartners to be 21st century learners through the use of iPods, digital media and computers.

“With the transition mini-grant we were able to coordinate multiple student and family events as well as purchase three additional iPod Touches, fulfilling our technology center that stays in the classroom where it most benefits the children,” explained Kimberly Hayes, the kindergarten teacher who co-created the project and applied for the grant.  “Now that we have the technology permanently in the classroom, this has truly become the grant that just keeps on giving.”

The event introduced children to the use of iPod technology, allowed them to produce an iPod video, and spend time exploring computer-based literacy activities.  Parent involvement in the transition event helped to create a support system for the kindergartners that links learning from school to home environments.

The Partnership wishes to congratulate our grant recipients on implementing successful, innovative projects that engaged children and their families in the kindergarten experience.
 

Laura Fogle, Technology Facilitator at Little River Elementary School, welcomes parents and kindergartners at Technology Tuesday, an event hosted through a Transition Mini-Grant awarded by Durham’s Partnership for Children.

Following instruction from their teacher, two Little River Elementary students produce a video using iPod technology during Technology Tuesday.  As one student reads the story “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” aloud, the other student records.

Kindergarten teacher Kimberly Hayes watches a video on an iPod Touch during Technology Tuesday.  The video was created by the two kindergarten students during the transition event. 

Two Little River Elementary kindergartners learn how to use iPod Touch technology during Technology Tuesday.  Teachers instructed on how to use the equipment and how to play with educational apps.

Durham’s Partnership for Children received funding from Wells Fargo and Morgan Creek Foundation to support rising kindergarteners through Transition mini-grants and additional Transition to Kindergarten activities. To learn more about the Transition to Kindergarten Initiative, click here.

The annual Countdown to Kindergarten event at the Museum of Life & Science saw another year of success this past Friday, August 3rd.  A crowd of more than 600 people attended the event.  Organizations from across Durham participated in Countdown to Kindergarten, dedicated to providing valuable resources for rising kindergartners and their families.

The Partnership experienced outstanding participation in our “The ABC’s of My Child” activity by both parents and children.  Parents displayed an enthusiasm to be involved in their child’s academic success through participation in this important transition to kindergarten activity.  Filling out the “The ABC’s of My Child” form helps teachers get to know their new students with information directly from the parent.

See below for some of our favorite photos from the Countdown event.  Check out the Partnership's Facebook page for more photos.

>> If you would like a copy of “The ABC’s of My Child” activity, access it here in [English] or [Spanish] and give it to your child’s teacher.

>> Visit our Transition to Kindergarten Resources page for more information.


The Transition to Kindergarten Initiative is supported through funding from the Morgan Creek Foundation and the Wells Fargo Foundation.

This annual event is held on Friday, August 3rd from 5:30 to 8 pm at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham.  Free to all rising kindergartners and their families, tomorrow's event helps children transition into the 2012-2013 school year smoothly.  Participants will have the opportunity to ride a school bus, learn about bus safety, learn about school lunch programs and meet UNC-TV characters and Dottie (the DPS kindergarten mascot).

What to do when you first arrive
Parents will be asked to sign-in at tables in front of the Museum.  Then you will be free to enter the Museum and move around to different groups and exhibits.

Visit the Partnership Booth
The Partnership and our Transition to Kindergarten Initiative will have a booth at the event where we will be sharing important information and resources for rising kindergartners and their families including "The ABC's of My Child" activity.  This activity provides parents an opportunity to introduce important information to their child’s new teacher by providing answers to statements like, "My child could use help with..." and "I think my child is good at...".  These pieces of information are key in helping teachers get to know your child. 

We will be asking parents to complete The ABC's of My Child form and fill in your child’s assigned school.  We will ask children to draw a picture of themselves or their family to attach to the parents’ form. The picture and form will be delivered to your child's kindergarten teacher.  You can also download the activity here if you are unable to make it to the Countdown event.
>> Click here to download [English] [Spanish].

Partnership Raffle
The Partnership will be raffling off a backpack with books and other school supplies inside!  Visit our booth to fill out a raffle ticket.  We will draw the winning ticket at 7:20 pm (No need to be present to win. Winner will need to come to the partnership to pick up the backpack if not present at time of drawing).

>> Visit our Transition to Kindergarten Resources page for more information.


The Transition to Kindergarten Initiative is supported through funding from the Morgan Creek Foundation and the Wells Fargo Foundation.

Entering kindergarten is one of the biggest changes a young child will encounter.  The Partnership and Durham Public Schools want to support you and your child to make sure this milestone in your child’s life is easy and rewarding.  By providing informational newsletters, activity kits, and hosting special events throughout the year, our collaborative Transition to Kindergarten Initiative prepares children and their families for success.

 
We encourage you to participate in the transition by:

1. Visit the Partnership’s Web site and the Durham Public Schools Web site to stay informed.
2. Attend our Countdown to Kindergarten event.  Held on Friday, August 3rd from 5:45 to 8 pm at the Museum of Life and Science, this event is free for rising kindergartners and their families to get off to a smooth start for 2012-13.  Participants will have the opportunity to ride a school bus, learn about bus safety, learn about school lunch programs and meet UNC-TV characters and Dottie (the DPS kindergarten mascot).  Parents will be able to complete lunch, bus and other applications, learn about before- and after-school care programs, obtain school calendars, sign up for a library card and learn about more free resources.
3. Join the Transition to Kindergarten Mailing List and receive a Blast-Off to Kindergarten Activity Kit and additional resources to help you and your child make a smooth transition into kindergarten. The kits encourage positive parent and child interaction around school readiness by providing hands-on activities and materials that children should have experience using before the first day of school: a story book, crayons, a pencil, child safety scissors, colorful, geometric stacking shapes, and a feelings chart with directions for fun learning games that parents and children can play together. To join, contact Pat Harris at (919) 403-6960 ext 224.
4. Complete “The ABC’s of My Child” activity before the first day of school. Parents know their child best. This worksheet helps parents introduce important information to their child’s new teacher. Download it from our Resources page or click here [English] [Spanish].

The Transition to Kindergarten Initiative is supported through funding from the Morgan Creek Foundation and the Wells Fargo Foundation.

Nancy Wykle, director of DSS Volunteer Programs with the Volunteer Center of Durham, said it best in the Herald-Sun guest column “Backpacks for Kids provides crucial help to students” when describing children who receive school supplies from the Backpacks for Kids program:

“We owe it to these kids and to ourselves to help level the playing field. Every child deserves to walk through the school door on the first day feeling like they have the basic tools to succeed in the coming school year.”

This year, more than 400 DPS and charter school students have been referred to the Backpacks for Kids program, meaning their families face significant obstacles to equipping them with basic learning tools – things like pens, pencils, notebooks and a backpack.

That is 100 more children than were identified during last year’s Back to School Supply Drive.

The Backpacks for Kids program provides school supplies and backpacks for about $20 per student to these children, but because of growing needs, will only be able to meet that demand with private donations from the community.

This is a unique opportunity to reach out to children in need and benefit the entire community.  Research shows that children who grow up in poverty are more likely as adults to have low earnings, engage in criminal activity, and develop chronic health problems later in life.

If you wish to contribute to this program, visit www.thevolunteercenter.org or call (919) 681-1835 to make a donation or for additional information.  Donations need to be made soon.  Backpacks and school supplies must be ordered by July 25th.

» 
Check out the Backpacks for Kids page here.