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. Share this flyer with your networks.
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.
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. Register online as space is limited. Children are asked to attend both days if registered. 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!
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.
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: Kindergarten Registration Information for the 2022-23 School Year: Allegheny County Kindergarten Registration Information for the 2022-23 School Year: Westmoreland, Fayette, Armstrong, Greene, and Butler Counties 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.
