Happy Holidays

No matter which holiday you celebrate this season, it is a special time for children. Family celebrations and time off from work and school provide opportunities to build connections and create memories. Consider doing something as simple as walking through your neighborhood after dark to look at the festive lights, cooking a special treat together, or sharing holiday memories from when you were a child.

From all of us at the Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington, we wish you a healthy and happy holiday season.

Kindergarten Planning

As reported in our November Newsletter, the State of CT has changed the enrollment age for kindergarten students attending public school, a child now needs to be age 5 by September 1st.

On December 7th, the District held a meeting for parents of PreK children who have fall birthdays. Superintendent Steve Madancy explained the change to the law and how different districts are approaching this differently. Southington's response "is to embrace the spirit of the legislation in providing students in need with the gift of time while reducing the impact and financial burden on families."

He recognized these assumptions:

Some families will not apply for a waiver and send their children when they are five
Childcare/preschool seats in the community may be harder to come by given the larger cohort size of students not yet age-eligible for K entry
The added expense will place a burden on families
There will be a smaller cohort of K students for the 24-25 school year leading to possible attrition of sections (i.e. the number of K classes) and district staff
Any screening done must be considerate of bias/equity

Superintendent Madancy presented a 5 point plan which included selecting a screening tool to determine if PreK4 children with fall birthdays will be allowed an exception and scheduling the screenings. Once the evaluations are complete, they will review the number of projected students in the 24-25 Kindergarten cohort and the number of students provided with a recommendation to wait until age 5. The district will seek staff and a location through attrition for a PreK 5 program and, depending on size and funding, adopt a PK 5 model (either half-day or full-day, five days per week). The hope is to offer a PreK 5 program for 2 years, to address the needs of the families already in the preschool system. They do not intend to offer it beyond the two years.

The Southington Public Schools announced this week they will host screening sessions for families seeking a waiver for any child who wishes to enter Kindergarten next fall and will NOT be five years of age by September 1, 2024.

Per state law, students five years of age by September 1, 2024, are automatically eligible and, therefore, do not need a waiver or screener administered.
The district has only reserved enough slots for 4-year-olds seeking a waiver; please do not sign up if your child meets the eligibility criteria above.

Sessions will occur on the following Saturdays: January 13th, 20th, and 27th, from 9:00-3:00 at the Calendar House at 388 Pleasant Street. (Directly across the street from DePaolo Middle School.)

They are using SignUp to organize the upcoming Kindergarten Screener Appointments. The time to administer an assessment can range from 20-40 minutes, so they have reserved 45-minute slots.

Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:
1) Click this link to see the District's SignUp: https://signup.com/go/LCuFeNo
2) Review the options listed and choose the spot that works best for your family.
3) You will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on SignUp.
Note: SignUp does not share your email address with anyone.
If you have any questions about the screening or requesting an exception, please contact the SPS central office at 860-628-3204.

The date for the Kindergarten Registration Information Session, for parents of children who will be attending Kindergarten in fall 2024, has not yet been announced, but will be held after the screenings are complete. This annual presentation covers the registration process, a typical Kindergarten day and other details about starting school. Once that date is scheduled the ECCS will promote it.

Developmental Screenings

Parents who want a better understanding of their child's development can use the free Sparkler mobile app to do their own evaluation. This tool could be helpful in determining kindergarten readiness.

Gredy

Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQs) provide reliable, accurate developmental and social-emotional screening for children between 1 month and age 6. Drawing on parents’ expert knowledge, ASQ has been specifically designed to pinpoint developmental progress and catch delays in young children — paving the way for meaningful next steps in learning, intervention, or monitoring. ASQ can be key in early intervention by helping educators, doctors, and families understand children’s strengths, set goals, and access support.

Both ASQ-3 and ASQ:SE-2 can be found on the free Sparkler app which is available to use in English or Spanish, iOS or Android, smartphone or tablet.

The ASQ-3 measures 5 domains of development: Communication, Gross and Fine Motor, Problem-Solving, and Personal-Social over 21 Questionnaire intervals: 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60 months.

ASQ:SE-2 Measures 7 Core Social-Emotional Behavioral Areas: Self-regulation, Compliance, Adaptive Functioning, Autonomy, Affect, Social-Communication and Interaction over 9 Questionnaire intervals: 2, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 48, 60 months.

Details about how to use Sparkler and the access code needed when you set up a new account are on the Sparkler Mobile App page of the Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington website.

The Importance of Play

Play is not just a fun activity for young children but also a crucial part of their early childhood development. Play helps children learn about their environment, develop their social skills, and build the foundation for future learning while also aiding in the development of physical, cognitive, and emotional abilities. As parents and caregivers, it is essential to encourage play and provide children with a safe and stimulating environment in which to do so.

There are a number of benefits of play. It encourages children to explore and experiment with the world around them and allows them to test out new ideas, take risks, and see the consequences of their actions. Through play, children can learn about cause and effect, problem-solving, critical thinking, and exercise their creativity and imagination. Through play, children learn to interact with others, share, take turns, and work cooperatively. They develop important social skills such as empathy, communication, and negotiation. Play also helps children to develop their self-esteem and confidence by providing opportunities to practice new skills and receive positive feedback.

Play is also an integral part of developing their motor skills. Running, jumping, climbing, and playing games build gross motor skills and coordination. Fine motor skills can be developed through activities such as drawing, painting, and playing with small objects. Physical play also provides children with an outlet for their energy and helps them to develop a healthy body image.

Learn more about the benefits of play:

The Power of Play: How Fun and Games Help Children Thrive

The Magic of Play: How It Inspires & Aids Early Development

Need a little help sparking learning with fun, off-screen activities to play together? Download the free Sparkler App to get started!

Events

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and saw us over the last month at Santa's Jolly Holiday, the Bright Lights Christmas Festival downtown, Southington Community Services' Holiday Gift distribution event, or our office hours at the Southington Public Library. Families who attended the Library's Bears and Woodland Friends Storytime and Craft program received a new furry friend and some Sparkler Play activities as part of the ECCS's Sparkler outreach.

table

Upcoming Events

Join the ECCS at any of these events next month.

Loads and Laughs Playdate

January 4, 2024, 10:30 am - noon

Super Suds Laundromat, 166 Main St

Bring your laundry and little ones and Super Suds will provide snacks, drinks and the fun!

ECCS Office Hours at Southington Public Library

January 8, 2024 from 9 to 11:30

January 19, 2024, 9:30 am to noon.

Stop by the Southington Public Library and see the ECCS Executive Director, Joanne Kelleher. She can answer your questions about raising children here in town or help you get set up in the Sparkler mobile app. Look for the ECCS table near the Children’s Department.

Ways You Can Support ECCS

1) Follow us on your favorite social media platforms and then like, comment, or share so your friends see our posts too!

2) Forward this email to a friend or colleague.

3) Volunteer your time as a board member or advocate.

4) Help with one-time or periodic donations.

About Us

The Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington is a group of committed educators, parents, grandparents, healthcare and childcare providers, business owners, civic organizations, and members of the community who are deeply invested in the growth, development, and academic success of young children in Southington.

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