The Kindergarten Festivals were initiated in 2006 through collaboration between the Long Beach Unified School District and our Section, and are now entering their fifteenth year. These free "School Readiness" festivals are aimed at preparing children who will enter kindergarten the following fall and their parents. They provide information about the District, the expectations of kindergarten teachers, workshops about math, reading strategies for parents working with their children, and information about available community resources. In addition, the District offers dental screenings for the children who need one to enter Kindergarten in the fall.

 

Each pre-kindergarten student receives a backpack filled with

LBUSD-donated school items. The backpacks are funded by our Section’s Tikkun Olam donations and the Denise Berro Kindergarten Tribute Fund.

 

On the day of each Festival, NCJW volunteers register families on site, distribute backpacks, and provide support services as needed.