Wake
Up and Smell the Coffee
B.E.S.T. addresses
Kindergarten Readiness
Round Lake Area B.E.S.T. (Bringing Everyone’s Strengths
Together), a community coalition of individuals, organization, businesses
and local government hosted their first Kindergarten Readiness Committee
Event, “Wake Up and Smell the Coffee”. The event included community
members, elected officials, and local community leaders at a
Round-Table discussion including a coffee tasting by Intelligensia Coffee
and continental breakfast.
The committee chaired by B.E.S.T.
Vice President Judy Armstrong, organized the event that featured
a panel of eight local experts including District 116 Supt Dr. Connie
Collins and Avon Township Clerk Jeanne Kearby, who presented the
educational challenges in the Round Lake Area and then opened the format
to an interactive conversation and brainstorming event.
The challenge is that our
community has a resounding majority of kindergarten students starting
school already behind the learning curve. Nick Heckel,
Principal at the Round Lake Area Early Education Center and panel participant
shared that is this not unique to the Round Lake Area, the issues of children
showing up for kindergarten already behind the learning curve is
widespread nationally and globally.
In addition, Heckel shared an
estimate that out of 470 students enrolling at the
Early Education Center for kindergarten 350 of them have
not attended Pre-School. The speculation is that the family
economics has a lot to do with the lack of pre-school attendance.
There are not public (free) pre-schools in the Round Lake Area.
Panel
member Meredith Egan, United Way Lake County talked about
their “Success By Six” program has been implemented in the Round Lake
Area with growing success and then shared that they now have training and
stipends available for “Early Learning
Clubs" which will teach parents how reading to their toddles and
encouraging conversations about life’s moments actually form the building
blocks for learning in more formal ways. This program in
addition to “Success By Six” will help address the challenge of
kindergarten readiness.
During the breakout
session, State Senator Melinda Bush, Hainesville Mayor Linda Soto,
Trustees Georgeann Duberstein (Hainesville), Larry Mount (Round Lake Beach)
Cathy DeGroh and Chris Larson (Avon Township), Paula Rohrs (GRLFPD), Jim
DiDinato (Round Lake Library) and Carolina Duque (Mano a Mano) joined community
members in brainstorming solutions,
" This organic
partnership is a perfect example of the answers that can be found when
we bring everyone's strengths together" said Kindergarten Readiness
Chair Judy Armstrong. "It's what B.E.S.T. is all about."
Committee members will be
visiting local pediatrician offices in the coming weeks to
educate these providers about community resources and to encourage
them to help identify toddlers and parents who can us some extra support
in developing the fundamentals for life-long learning.
Armstrong declared that
the thirty-nine participants was more than expected for a first
event, and she was encouraged by the breakout session,
which produced great ideas and identified the many existing programs and
partnerships in our community. "We have a foundation to build upon
in the Round Lake Area that will lead to the success of our community and
children. ", said Armstrong.
The committee and sub-committee work
will continue during the next six months, engaging local pediatricians,
building public awareness, recruiting community partners and establishing Early
Learning Clubs.
On Thursday, Feb. 4th,
2014, B.E.S.T. and the Kindergarten Readiness Committee will invite all of
our partners and the public to a Second Cup Café to review progress and
plan next steps. Anyone wanting to join the committee is encouraged to
call Judy Armstrong at 847-691-6988.
Submitted by Wendy M. Warden
