Building Bridges
Spanning PreK to Kindergarten
Kindergarten entry is a milestone, and we are proud of the success our children have when they reach this next step!
Each year we hear from kindergarten teachers about how well the children from PIC are prepared for school. This includes their ability to recognize letters and sounds, as well as being curious and engaged learners who can work with others and resolve conflicts.
PIC participates in the Philadelphia School District-wide Building Bridges program, which supports the transition of children from preschool to kindergarten.
Each year, PIC's preschool-age teachers meet with their kindergarten counterparts at the neighboring Penn Alexander School (PAS) to discuss school readiness and the skills that are helpful for kindergarten success.
In addition to the teacher visits, we again hosted a Kindergarten-Preschool Sing-Along with children from PAS. Grasshopper teacher Brooks Wilson led over 150 combined children in rousing song, followed by play on our Nature Playground.
The last "building bridges" activity is for our rising kindergarteners to visit the kindergarten classrooms at PAS, explore the school environment, and meet the teachers. While not every child will be attending PAS, it is a wonderful opportunity for all of our children to see elementary school classrooms with their current teachers and classmates.
Finally, this is the time of year that we often see PIC "alums" visit their old preschool classrooms to see former teachers and share with peers about their exciting experiences in kindergarten.
We value these opportunities to ease the entry to kindergarten for our children and our families. We continue to look for additional ways to work with area elementary schools and to build bridges in as many ways possible.