News

December 5, 2025

UnConference: Kindergarten Transition

Trying Together, in partnership with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, United Way of SWPA, and Hi5!, will host UnConference: Kindergarten Transition on Monday, February 16, 2026 from 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m. at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (475 E Waterfront Dr, Homestead, PA 15120).

UnConference: Kindergarten Transition will highlight multiple aspects of preparing early learners for Kindergarten, from early intervention practices and engaging parents to play-based learning and emotional regulation.

Register

Details

Monday, February 16, 2026
8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Allegheny Intermediate Unit (475 E Waterfront Dr, Homestead, PA 15120)
$25 (Registration is required)

Free parking will be available in the AIU parking lot, and overflow parking is available across the street.

A light breakfast with coffee and tea will be available and lunch will be provided as a part of the registration fee.

The UnConference will begin with a keynote presentation by Swati Adarkar (Former Deputy
Assistant Secretary, Policy and Early Learning, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education for the Department of Education under the Biden administration), followed by an insightful panel of experts aimed at supporting and improving on-time Kindergarten registration and Kindergarten readiness. Participants will attend two sessions led by local and national early childhood organizations- one in the morning and one after lunch. The day will end by 2:30 p.m.

Please note: 4.5 PQAS and Act 48 credit hours will be available.

Workshops

During registration, participants will be asked to make selections for two workshop time slots. Participants will select their first and second choices of preferred sessions for each of the afternoon session time slots. Download workshop descriptions..

Workshop Session Options

How Community Partnerships Strengthen Kindergarten Readiness Efforts
Amber Humbert, Kinder Care

The transition to Kindergarten is so much more than moving from preschool to “big school.” It’s an event that involves families, schools, and local organizations working together to support a child’s academic, emotional, and social readiness. During this session, we will explore how partnerships between early childhood programs, elementary schools, and community organizations can bridge gaps and improve
kindergarten readiness outcomes.

A K.I.N.D. Framework for Engaging Parents
Katelyn Collins, Educational Consultant and Facilitator
Brooke Klaus, Allegheny Intermediate Unit, Mental Health Coach

In this session, participants will explore a four-part approach to engaging families throughout the pre-Kindergarten year. K.I.N.D. stands for Kindness, Information, Navigation, and Decision-Making, four essential elements for building strong partnerships with parents. Together, we’ll unpack each component, equipping educators and professionals with practical strategies to support families and navigate challenges with confidence and connection as they move through the Kindergarten transition year.

Preparing for Kindergarten with Fred Rogers Productions
Mallory Mbalia, Fred Rogers Productions

Join Fred Rogers Productions for a session featuring its current television series and the strategies and skills that they model. In the “Neighborhood of Make Believe,” Daniel Tiger and his friends practice strategies for emotional regulation, navigating new situations, working, playing with friends, and more. In “Someplace Else,” Donkey Hodie and her pals’ resilience, persistence, and problem solving are featured. Alma’s Way models how to think things through and make responsible decisions. Participants will walk away with free resources and activities they can use right away to help young learners get ready for kindergarten!

Strengthening My Early Learner: A Parent’s Journey
Nancy Villarreal and Maria Rosales, Parent Organization Network

Parent Organization Network (PON) developed the 4ELS (For The Success Of English Learners), considering the needs, concerns, problems, and interests of their parents, to train and strengthen their commitment, empowerment, and roles as parents, leaders, and advocates for their children. PON strives to support families with young children who have not yet entered the school system. In this session, we
will share how to provide parents with information to make informed decisions about language development milestones, the importance of multilingualism, school readiness, the identification and reclassification process for English learners, and their options for ELD (English Language Development) and academic progress monitoring. This early knowledge empowers families to seek high-quality preschool programs, engage in enriching language activities at home, and build strong collaborations with educators. PON emphasizes early intervention to ensure English learners have a strong foundation for long-term academic success and equal access to opportunities.

The Power of Play
Ann Brandt, Supporting Kids in Play (SKIP)

Increasing academic demands have significantly diminished play opportunities in early childhood education, yet play remains essential for children’s development. This session examines the current landscape of play in early childhood and explores its critical role in supporting physical, social-
emotional, cognitive, and creative growth. Participants will analyze contemporary barriers limiting play while reviewing research demonstrating that play serves as a vital vehicle for learning and whole child development. The session presents an actionable case study showcasing successful integration of increased play opportunities in an early childhood setting, equipping attendees with practical implementation strategies and advocacy tools to champion play-based practices in their educational contexts.

About UnConference

The UnConference is an innovative, hands-on professional development training format in which a deeper experience is provided around a particular theme. Local and national speakers are invited to present and participants are encouraged to engage hands on in the workshops.

The day concludes with a roundtable discussion on how to apply these experiences and ideas in the early childhood environment and share ideas on how to partner with new colleagues.

Thank You To Our Sponsors and Partners

A huge thank you to our series sponsor PNC Grow Up Great and our workshop partners.

News

Registration Open for UnConference: Kindergarten Transition

Registration is now open for Trying Together’s UnConference: Kindergarten Transition scheduled for Monday, February 16 at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.

Learn More

The UnConference will highlight multiple aspects of preparing children for kindergarten, from early intervention practices and engaging parents to play-based learning and emotional regulation.

Attendees will hear from a keynote speaker as well as a panel of experts on kindergarten registration and readiness. Participants will also attend sessions in the morning and afternoon that are led by local and national early childhood organizations.

More Details

The UnConference will run from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, located at 475 E. Waterfront Drive in Homestead. The fee to attend is $25. Registration is required and now open.

Free parking will be available in the AIU parking lot, and overflow parking is available across the street. A light breakfast with coffee and tea will be available and lunch will be provided as part of the registration fee.

The event will begin with keynote speaker Swati Adarkar, the former deputy assistant secretary for policy and early learning at the U.S. Department of Education. Then, participants will listen to a panel of experts who will discuss how early intervention plays a critical role in supporting kindergarten transitions and how to support and improve on-time kindergarten registration and readiness.

A total of 4.5 PQAS and Act 48 credit hours will be available for attendees. Trying Together will host the event in partnership with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, United Way of SWPA, and Hi5!.

Workshops

Attendees will take part in two sessions – one in the morning and another in the afternoon – led by local and national early childhood organizations. During registration, participants will be asked to make selections for the two workshop time slots.

Workshops include:

How Community Partnerships Strengthen Kindergarten Readiness Efforts
A K.I.N.D. Framework for Engaging Parents
Preparing for Kindergarten with Fred Rogers Productions
Strengthening My Early Learner: A Parent’s Journey
The Power of Play

About UnConference

The day concludes with a roundtable discussion on how to apply these experiences and ideas in the early childhood environment and share ideas on how to partner with new colleagues.

News

October 7, 2025

Trying Together Calls for Presentation Proposals for February UnConference

Trying Together invites those interested in presenting at its February 16 UnConference, “Kindergarten Transition,” to submit proposals for presentation topics relating to that topic by Friday, October 31.

Learn More

Trying Together’s UnConference is an innovative, hands-on professional development training format where a deeper experience is provided around a particular theme related to early childhood education. Speakers are invited to present and participants are encouraged to engage hands-on in the workshops.

Trying Together’s upcoming event, UnConference: Kindergarten Transition, will be held on Monday, February 16 at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, located at 475 E. Waterfront Drive in Homestead. PQAS and Act 48 credits will be available for attendees.

Trying Together is seeking a focused range of topical presentations for the UnConference, which will focus on the topic of the transition to kindergarten. The audience for the UnConference will be early childhood educators, including employees of child care and early learning programs.

Those submitting proposals should design them to fit a 90-minute session.

To submit a proposal, download the submission form. Then, fill it out and submit to learning@tryingtogether.org with the subject line “February 2026 UnConference Proposal” no later than 11:59 p.m. on October 31.

News

November 11, 2024

All Children Are Ready to Learn

Educators of children, from birth to age 5, are invited to learn more about how to support children’s skill building across early childhood.

Learn More

All Children Are Ready to Learn will focus on strategies to support children and families in kindergarten transition. Those who attend will be able to earn two PQAS hour credits.

Reading Ready Pittsburgh will host the workshop with special guests, including Val Williams, Trying Together’s kindergarten transition program director.

The event will run from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 222 E. 8th Ave. in Homestead. Snacks and light refreshments will be provided.

News

June 3, 2024

Kindergarten Transition White Paper Highlights Regional Efforts

Trying Together has released a white paper titled “Kindergarten Transition” that includes research on transition activities, possible policy opportunities, and recommendations to support effective kindergarten transition.

Learn More

The transition from pre-k to kindergarten is a critical point in the lives of young children and their families. However, during the 2021-2022 school year, 78% of three-year-olds and 65% of four-year-olds in Pennsylvania did not have access to a pre-k program.

As a result, kindergarten was likely many families’ first entry into the school system as well as the first opportunity for some children to engage with classroom routines and socialization on a larger scale.

Recommendations were made for state elected officials and local school district administrators. Some of these recommendations included:

Requiring local transition teams
Providing guidance on how to leverage funds
Encouraging data sharing
Advocating for full-day kindergarten
Including parents and guardians in the transition process
Ensuring high-quality, developmentally appropriate kindergarten
Showing support for local pre-k and child care providers in providing pre-k
Strengthening relationships and collaboration between early childhood programs and elementary schools
Emphasizing culturally responsive practices
Rethinking the possibility of school readiness

Learn more about Trying Together’s mission of supporting equitable access to a strong kindergarten transition for all children across the region by reading the “Kindergarten Transition” white paper.

Trying Together has joined the Allegheny Intermediate Unit and the United Way of Southwestern PA in a partnership known as Hi5!, which focuses on engaging all 43 public school districts in Allegheny County to develop and implement kindergarten transition plans.

News

February 14, 2024

Hi5! Kindergarten Transition Info Session

Do you have questions about enrolling your child in kindergarten? We would love to answer them. Join Reading Ready Pittsburgh and Valerie Williams, Trying Together’s Kindergarten Transitions Program Director, for an informational session on how to prepare your child and family for the transition to kindergarten. A Steel Valley representative will be present to answer district-specific questions.

Event Details

Wednesday, 03/20 | 4 p.m.
B is for Books Bookstore, 222 E 8th Avenue, Homestead, PA 15236
RSVP Today!

Additional Details

Childcare and snacks will be provided.

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News

June 29, 2023

Kindergarten: Here I Come!

Visit the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh for one of their milestone events for early childhood education with “Kindergarten: Here I Come!”

The 17th annual kindergarten readiness celebration takes place on Saturday, August 12, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

At this event, children entering kindergarten in the fall can experience a day full of fun activities, resources and learning from Children’s Museum staff and our amazing partners from around the city.

There will be back-to-school giveaways, resources for parents and caregivers, and even a real school bus!

Kindergarten: Here I Come! is free for one rising kindergarten student and one accompanying adult.

Reserve Your Tickets

For questions or to learn more, visit the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh website.

News

August 1, 2022

Local Kindergarten Transition & Back to School Programming

Summer is almost coming to an end and children are getting ready to head back to school. To help with the transition, local community organizations and family centers are offering fun programming that makes this time special, informative, and exciting.

Local Events

Latino Community Center (LCC) Back to School Bash – Saturday, August 6 from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Each year, LCC hosts an annual Back-to-School Bash in partnership with the Pittsburgh Pirates for Latinx children and youth in Pittsburgh. This event serves over 200 students each year and features a day of fun, family-oriented activities at PNC Park designed to get our children and youth excited to start the upcoming school year. Backpacks filled with new school supplies are handed out to students during the day. Additionally, LCC’s extensive network of partner organizations come together to table at the event and talk to our families about their services – ensuring families have everything they need to support their children during the school year.

Plum Library Kindergarten Bootcamp – Monday, August 8 and Tuesday, August 9 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The Plum Borough Community Library will offer a wide range of fun activities for children entering kindergarten. They will review kindergarten concepts such as the alphabet, numbers, colors, and shapes while practicing social-emotional skills like sharing, lining up, transitioning, and group work. Each day will offer circle time, reading a book together, math activities, and learning stations based on various themes.

North Hills Community Outreach Back to School Supplies Distribution – Multiple Dates

Every summer, NHCO collects new backpacks and school supplies to distribute to hundreds of local children. NHCO will distribute supplies for students preschool through high school. If you would like to arrange a pickup, please contact: Vicki Burstynowicz

Locations:

Greenstone United Methodist Church, 939 California Ave, Pittsburgh, PA
- Monday, August 8 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
NHCO Millvale, 416 Lincoln Ave Millvale, PA
- Thursday, August 11 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
NHCO Headquarters, 1975 Ferguson Road Allison Park, PA
- Tuesday, August 16 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh: Kindergarten: Here I Come! – Saturday, August 13 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The Children’s Museum is bringing back their 16th annual kindergarten readiness celebration, Kindergarten: Here I Come! Children entering kindergarten in the fall can experience a day full of fun activities, resources and learning from Children’s Museum staff and partners from around the city featuring: a real school bus, back-to-school giveaways, resources for parents on topics such as vaccination, healthy nutrition and more. This event is free for one rising kindergarten student and one accompanying adult. Additional attendees can attend with $8 admission.

Carnegie Science Center: Kinder Kickoff Event – Friday, August 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Early learners entering Kindergarten are invited to Carnegie Science Center for their annual Kinder Kickoff Event to receive school supply bags, their very own Science Center lab coat, and other supplies to get them ready for the school year. In addition to the items, early learners and one adult will receive complimentary general admission (first come, first serve) to enjoy additional science demos and other programming.

Salvation Army Back to School Bash – Saturday, August 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Allegheny Valley Salvation Army is accepting reservations for the annual Back to School Bash at the Salvation Army Center located at 917 Brackenridge Ave, Brackenridge. Children must live in the following zip code areas to attend: 15006, 15014, 15030, 15032, 15049, 15065, 15075, 15076, 15084 and 15238 and must attend the event to receive a backpack.

Reservations are required. For reservations, call 724-224-6310, ext. 1 or stop in at the center. No reservations will be accepted the day of the event.

PAAR Back to School Wellness Event – Sunday, August 21 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The Child and Family Counseling Center (CFCC) and PAAR are partnering with local Pittsburgh businesses to provide students with what they need to start this school year feeling confident. Get school supplies while having fun by enjoying treats, giveaways, and activities that empower students to stay well throughout the school year. This event and all giveaways are all free.

For more information, please call PAAR at 412-431-5665.

Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) Back to School Event – Monday, August 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Every year, PPS welcomes thousands of families to an event designed to equip families with the resources necessary to achieve a healthy start to the 2022-2023 school year. Presented by PNC, #PittsburghForPPS is open to all current Pittsburgh Public School students and will take place in the North Shore at Gold Lot 1 (W. General Robinson Street) and Acrisure Stadium.

Families can participate in the event in three ways:

Drive Through: Family can drive through Gold Lot 1A to pick up stuffed bookbags, food, masks, hand sanitizer, books, and more!
In person: Pre-registration is required. Families who would like to receive a free haircut, hairstyle, and/or manicure are invited to park and visit the FedEx Great Hall at Acrisure Stadium for those amenities. Families are invited to up stuffed bookbags, food, masks, hand sanitizer, books after hair and nail care services.
Bus stop drop off: Beginning at noon, families can visit one of 15 bus stops across the city to pick up stuffed book bags while supplies last.

The Kingsley Association’s Back-to-School Summer Jam – Friday, August 26 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Kingsley Association has teamed up with a host of community partners to host their Back-to-School Summer Jam! They’ll be hosting backpack giveaways, activities, and raffles for youth and families alike. Join them at 100 Larimer Avenue for bounce houses, on-site barbers and hairdresseres, music, an arcade truck, and more!

News

March 21, 2022

Top 10 Skills for Children Entering Kindergarten

Hi5! — a kindergarten readiness and registration campaign coordinated by The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, and Trying Together — collaborated with a group of pre-k and kindergarten teachers to develop a list of academic, social, emotional, and physical skills for children entering kindergarten based on the PA Early Learning Standards.

Kindergarten Readiness List

A list of more than 30 skills was sent to educators in school districts, child care programs, and Head Start programs throughout the region—including Allegheny, Butler, Fayette, Greene, and Westmoreland counties. The purpose of this exercise was to develop a useful tool for parents/caregivers of children ages birth to five in the SWPA region by teachers in the SWPA region. Over 120 pre-k and kindergarten educators responded to share their expertise and insight.

The top skills include:

Following rules and routines
Following simple one- and two-step directions
Writing their own name
Recognizing some letters (8-12) from the alphabet (upper and lower case)
Interacting appropriately with peers during play, both in reciprocal play activities and communication
Expressing and communicating wants and needs
Asking for help from adults and peers, when needed
Responding to adults and peers appropriately in conversations
Recognizing written numbers to 10
Expressing feelings appropriately to a variety of situations

View the checklist (Spanish version PDF)

Kindergarten Registration

The purpose of this list of skills and resources is to support families and their young children as they prepare for kindergarten. When a child turns five and meets their district’s birthdate requirement, it is time to register whether or not a child has mastered every skill listed. View Trying Together’s Kindergarten Transition page to learn about Kindergarten registration in your area.

News

February 1, 2022

2022-23 Kindergarten Registration Open

Kindergarten registration has opened in Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Fayette, Greene, and Westmoreland counties for the 2022-2023 school year.

Registering Your Child

If your child is five, it’s time to register them for kindergarten.

View details about Kindergarten registration in the Pittsburgh Region and find your district’s information in the following documents:

Hi5! is a kindergarten readiness and registration campaign coordinated by The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, and Trying Together.

Early and on-time registration allows schools and districts to plan for classroom materials, resources, and staff as they prepare to welcome a new group of students. It also enables families to establish relationships with teachers and administrators that are so important for easing the stress and anxiety of children (and their families) as they begin elementary school.

More Information

For more information about the Hi5! project, transition teams, and activities, please email hi5@tryingtogether.org, or view the Hi5! overview (PDF) and the Kindergarten Transition Whitepaper (PDF). To receive the the Hi5! Kindergarten Transition newsletter, visit our sign up page!

For more information about helping your child make the move to Kindergarten, visit the Kindergarten Transition: A Guide for Families resource.