Passport to Kindergarten Kicks Off!
On September 23rd, Passport to Kindergarten school year programs started with a Kickoff attended by teachers and families. Passport to Kindergarten is a year-long professional development for teachers, the students in their classrooms and the families of those students. Passport is made possible by the PNC Grow Up Great Initiative.
This year, 19 classrooms with nearly 250 children and their teachers are participating in the program. The initiative focuses on dialogic reading in small groups, family engagement events centered on literacy, and classroom visits from external partners. These partners will also host events for participating families at their locations.
The Kickoff event allows students and their families to meet the community partners and get a preview of their plans for the year. In addition to partner fun PNC coordinated the inclusion of PNC Grow Up Great Mobile Learning Adventure a free, traveling hands-on exhibit designed to help children ages 2 to 5 and their families explore early childhood education through interactive play. The Mobile Learning Adventure was made available for library patrons on the afternoon before the library closed for the private kickoff event.
Community partners Muse Machine, Dayton Art Institute, Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Five Rivers Metro Parks, and Dayton Metro Library, have planned exciting and educational lesson plans for the year, as well as their own events to be held throughout the school year. We look forward to highlighting the events as they occur.
