By Rachel Zielinski, QUALITYstarsNY Quality Improvement Specialist, Finger Lakes

Kindergarten transitions can be especially difficult for children, as moving from a familiar setting to a new, often larger setting can bring on many emotions and feelings of uncertainty. Partnering with the local school district to host a kindergarten transition event can help children and families feel more prepared for this new experience. A thoughtful transition process supports children’s social-emotional well-being, builds family confidence, and strengthens partnerships between early childhood programs and elementary schools. Friendship Children’s Center of Rochester recently visited Rochester City School District School No. 45. Joi McMurtry, the Executive Director at Friendship Children’s Center, shared her reflection on this experience.

It has been tradition for many years that Friendship Children’s Center UPK students visit Mary McLeod Bethune School on Clifford Ave. This is a walking field trip as we are .5 miles from the school! We are always welcomed at No. 45 school! It is easily arranged with the Parent Advocate and the Principal. In May, we start to talk about kindergarten, but it is still pretty abstract to our 4 and 5-year-olds! The walk to school is done by “the lovely crossing guard” (the director). The best is when 36 students look up at the school and then walk inside. They are in awe! We discuss using quiet voices as big kids are studying but honestly, they are so excited it’s hard to stop them from talking! We visit the library, the cafeteria, the gym and the music room! We race with the big kids in the gym and often get to sing songs with the music teacher. Sometimes we get to eat in the cafeteria! This year we got to spend time reading books in the library!

The best part is when we walk into a kindergarten classroom. The teachers greet our children and invite them to sit with the kindergarten children. It’s amazing to see the two groups chatting amongst themselves! We are always greeted by our alumni students who take on an instant leadership role to show us around! I’ve never seen our children so attentive to all that is going on! So many smiles! This year we took 10 parents with us! They were as excited as their children! They asked questions and were greeted so nicely that a few may switch their kindergarten choice to No. 45!

It’s always the best first day ever!

– Joi McMurtry, Executive Director at Friendship Children’s Center of Rochester

QUALITYstarsNY supports kindergarten transitions with the center-based standard, T3, which requires that a program supports children and families transitioning out of the program, including when children transition to another educational setting. This standard’s intention states, “A program should follow procedures to help children and their families adjust to new routines. Careful implementation and clarity in written policies and procedures reduce the trauma and upset. When possible, families should be included in the planning for changes in their child’s routine or primary caregiver. Additionally, in the case of children going to kindergarten, programs should have resources to aid families in making this large transition to school.”

Classroom teachers can begin the process by talking about kindergarten throughout daily routines, such as reading books about kindergarten. Program leaders can share information about kindergarten registration and screening dates, even assisting families with the required paperwork and applications as needed. Creating a transition planning team that includes program staff as well as staff from local elementary schools has also proven to be very helpful. The Council on Children & Families has a planning tool to record important information.

Additional resources to help you prepare Kindergarten transition plans for your program: