Kindergarten Festival 2013 End of the Year Report

1. Kindergarten Festival 2013End of the Year Report The Long Beach Early Childhood Education Committee Kindergarten Festival Planning Committee Presented by Miriam Garcia, LBUSD, and Sarah Soriano, Young Horizons – Co-Chairs March 2013

2. The Formation of the Long Beach Early Childhood Education Committee (ECE) • The Early Care and Education Master Plan was initiated in 2001, building on strategic initiatives that began in 1987, including a city-wide child care policy • A collaborative effort formed from representatives of the City of Long Beach, Long Beach Unified School District, Long Beach City College, California State University of Long Beach, Early Childhood Educators from private agencies, private family child care centers, and the business community • In 2002, the Long Beach Early Childhood Education Committee was formed, an evolution from the Task Force that oversaw the Master Plan

3. What Research Says about Early Childhood “The first five years of a child's life are a time of tremendous physical, emotional, and cognitive growth. The amount of support children receive during these early years can be strongly connected to the level of success they achieve later in life. Children whose families involve them in activities that allow them to wonder and experiment often take pleasure in learning, which motivates them to learn more. For example, when children are provided with an environment rich in both written and oral language, they acquire essential skills for learning how to read. Children who enter school without these skills may risk falling behind their peers.” U.S Department of Education, 2008 “My Child’s Academic Success: Helping Your Preschool Child” Brochure

4. Purpose of Kindergarten Festivals • To increase parents’ comfort level with the formal school experience and lower anxiety levels • To support the home environment as the primary learning environment • To provide hands-on, teacher-modeled learning activities that can be replicated at home • To provide an opportunity for parents to gain district-related information such as kindergarten registration, uniforms, home school, school of choice, etc. • To provide an opportunity for families to receive [free] information regarding community resources that are accessible and beneficial such as the public libraries, ChildNet, before/after school child care, asthma assistance, etc. • To provide information regarding Transitional Kindergarten

5. How do the Kindergarten Festivals support School Readiness? • There are 5 sessions that parents have the opportunity to attend: • “How to help your child with Math skills” • “How to help your child with Literacy skills” • “Kindergarten Readiness Information ” • “Transitional Kindergarten” • “LBUSD Information” • With knowledge gained, parents can assist their child in getting ready for kindergarten by working with them at home. Additionally, math booklets filled with activities that can be done at home using everyday items are given to each family. • With information gained, parents now have additional resources that they can access to further support the health, safety, socio-emotional, and educational well-being of their child.

6. Transition to Kindergarten • The transition from preschool to kindergarten is one of the most difficult, critical, and yet exciting events in a young child’s life. • Providing a smooth transition for a preschooler from the home and/or preschool environment to the elementary school can make a significant difference in how well the child adjusts to a formal setting.

7. Kindergarten Festival Attendance2005 - 2013 • In 2005 – 2006, there were a total of 217 families • In 2006-2007, there were a total of 325 families • In 2007-2008, there were a total of 405 families • In 2008-2009, there were a total of 385 families • In 2009-2010, there were a total of 894 families • In 2010-2011, there were a total of 684 families • In 2011-2012, there were a total of 670 families • In 2012-2013, there were a total of 650 families

8. Kindergarten Festivals 2012-2013 • One new location: Alvarado Elementary School • December 1, 2012: Buffum Pre-K TLC 108 Families and 310 people in attendance • January 12, 2013: Dooley ES 184 Families and 607 people in attendance • February 2, 2013: Alvarado ES 175 Families and 495 people in attendance • March 2, 2013: International ES 184 Families and 585 people in attendance • Total Families Registered: 650 • Total People in Attendance: 1, 997

9. The Preschooler Participant • Each incoming kindergartner and their parent receives a “Passport” that is used to attend sessions and agency tables • After the Passport is filled out with a minimum of 4 stamps, it is turned in for a free backpack (donated by National Council of Jewish Women) • Each incoming kindergartner receives a child-sized backpack filled with school supplies and a book (donated by Long Beach Rotary) • Each sibling that accompanies the preschooler receives a free book as well

10. Sponsors of the Kindergarten Festivals – 2012-2013 • National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) • Verizon • Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP) • Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) • California Community Foundation • Long Beach Rotary • Molina Healthcare • Molina Helping Hands • St. Mary’s • Long Beach Police Department • Best Start – First 5 of Los Angeles

11. Parent Exit Surveys – Compiled Data 2012 1 = not helpful 2 = somewhat helpful 3 = helpful 4= very helpful *How helpful was the information provided by the community agencies (outside tables) represented at this festival? 1 2 3 4 Total# 9 responses 19 responses 136 responses 393 responses 557 responses 2% 3% 24% 71% *Which community agency provided you with the most useful information? Response: ALL of them - 24% Response: Police Fingerprinting - 7% Response: Dental Screening - 12% Response: St. Mary’s - 7% *Which workshop session did you attend and how helpful was it? Math Literacy Kdgn. Readiness LBUSD Information Transitional Kinder 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 9 3 31 305 3 11 54 246 6 10 62 248 6 9 43 181 1 3 26 139 *What did you like best about the Kindergarten Festival today? Everything – 87 responses Information presented – 136 responses Workshops – 46 responses *Is this a convenient location? YES 557 responses NO 19 responses If NO, what would be a more convenient location? *Is 9:00am – 12:00 noon a convenient time? YES 554 responses NO 17 responses If no, what would be a more convenient time? **Additional comments:

12. Compiled Parent Survey Data continued Are there any suggestions for improving the quality of this event for next year? Better organization of registration tables – 5 responses More Workshops – 7 responses More Time in each Session – 11 responses Refreshments for sale – 8 responses *What is your overall rating of this Kindergarten Festival? 1 2 3 4 9 4 105 435 *How did you hear about the Kindergarten Festival? • Press-Telegram Newspaper 11 responses - 1%LBUSD website 145 responses 35% • LBUSD Tell-a Parent Phone Message 115 responses4% • Flyer 362 responses 61% • Where did you receive the flyer?  CDC 21 responses 1% School 95 responses 5% • Headstart 147 responses 36% Other 76 59% Additional Comments: Keep up the good work. - Everything was excellent - Thank you, great festival! Everything was good! - Great experience/event – Parking was difficult Everything was of high quality - The teachers working with the students is great! Great job! Lots of answered questions - Very helpful Very organized - Loved it! Math session was more than excellent - Awesome, organized, informational, thank you! Thank you LBUSD for putting these on Wanted more information on school of choice I appreciate all of the great information

13. Kindergarten Festival Budget2011-2012 • Verizon Grant – No new money added this year • Carry-over from 2012 Budget - $6,381.00 • Total Operating Budget for 2012: $6,381.00 • Money encumbered $5,640.00 (does not include $2,000 contribution from NCJW) • Balance for 2013-2014

14. LBUSD IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONSTO DATE • For 2012-2013, LBUSD has provided: • Materials and supplies • Translators • Custodial staff • Graphic design • Duplication services • Tell-a-Parent services • School Loop services • District Home Webpage Flyer Announcement • Rental fees (chairs/tables) • District Truck transportation for pallets of K Fest supplies

15. Sponsor Contributions2011-2012 • Verizon – Carry-Over from 2011 - $6,381 • Long Beach Rotary - $3,000 for books (for 2 years) • Los Angeles Universal Preschool – 5,000 glossy Kindergarten Festival Flyers • National Council of Jewish Women - $2,000 for backpacks • Molina Healthcare – 300 of the Flu vaccine serums • Molina Helping Hands – 15-20 volunteers per festival • LBUSD – In Kind Contributions (already stated)

16. Additional Notes • Overall, approximately 290 incoming kindergartners received a free dental screening that aided in their kindergarten enrollment process • 646 backpacks were given to incoming kindergarteners • 458 sibling books were handed out • Dr. David Hillenger provided free dental screenings for the last 4 Kindergarten Festivals • The Long Beach Police Department were present at every festival to provide free fingerprinting

17. Recommendations for next year • Clerical Support to assist the Co-Chairs in: • Preparing the agendas • Taking meeting minutes • Preparing district paperwork (i.e. Buy-outs for equipment rentals, time cards for translators, duplication services, ordering supplies, etc.) • Taking inventory before and after each festival to determine on-going needs • Working with the community agencies and sending out the reservation forms • Sending meeting reminders, email confirmations to community agencies, confirming district staff that will present, picking up duplication, etc. • Preparing the pallets to be delivered to each K Festival site • Requesting Teleparent services and recording the messages • Delivering flyers to various community agencies such as the Long Beach Public Libraries • Filling the parent bags and backpacks with necessary information • ETC

18. Continued Recommendations • Grant Support: Assistance in finding appropriate grant opportunities in order to continue funding the festivals as well as assistance in the grant-writing process

19. Participating Community Agencies • LBUSD Head Start • LBUSD Child Development Centers • LBUSD Even Start • Young Horizons Child Development Centers • Los Angeles Universal Preschools • Un Mundo de Amigos Preschools • Long Beach Public Libraries • Long Beach Community Improvement League • St. Mary’s Hospital • ChildNet • Children’s Home Society • Asthma Alliance • Long Beach Day Nursery • Comprehensive Child Development Preschools • ….and MORE!!!!!

20. 2012-2013 Kindergarten Festival Planning Committee • Miriam Garcia, , Co-Chair and Program Administrator, LBUSD Special Education, Buffum TLC • Sarah Soriano, Co-Chair and Executive Director, Young Horizons Child Development Centers • Teresa Cooper, LBUSD Coach • Nancy Hayashida, LBUSD Coach • Barbara Wolfe, NCJW • Judy Leff, NCJW • Linda Fox, NCJW • Jeanne Halliday, NCJW • Luanne Mauro-Atkinson, Asst. Director, LBUSD, Headstart • Natasha Vaughn-Jackson, LBUSD, Headstart • Samin Yoak, Pacific Asian Counseling Services • Lindsay Gervacio, St. Mary’s Hospital, Dignity Health Program • Francisco Vargas, LB Public Library • Laura Sydney,

21. Closing Thought "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."Margaret Mead