Oak Park is getting ready to celebrate all the kiddos making the move from preschool to kindergarten with the return of “Blast Off to Kindergarten” this May.
The event will take place Sunday, May 19 at Rehm Park on Scoville Avenue, starting at 10 a.m. It is open to all children and families who will be starting kindergarten in any Oak Park school this fall.
Now in its second year, “Blast Off to Kindergarten” was designed to not only celebrate the upcoming kindergarten class, but also create connections between parents, caregivers and parent organizations to provide the “solar system of support” to help ensure a smooth transition.
“Oak Park is at its very best when we all work together,” said Village President Vicki Scaman. “Blast Off to Kindergarten is a perfect example of a productive and positive collaboration across organizations to connect with families at this exciting time of transition so they feel supported and confident for that first day of school.”
The event will feature information on a variety of early learning programs, after-school programs, parent-teacher organizations, and local PTO’s. School administrators and staff from local private kindergarten programs will also be in attendance.
D97 Supt. Ushma Shah said the event serves as a “shining example” of the community’s commitment to supporting students and families “at every stage of their educational journey.”
Homing in on the space theme, families will be directed to make the “Collaboration Space Station” their first stop of the day to receive a map of the event along with an explorer card for their future kindergarten students. A special souvenir can also be picked up at the space station before families leave the event.
The event will also feature a “Galactic Foam Galaxy” by the Park District, the Oak Park Public Library’s Book Bike, and a postcard station where the littles can decorate a “thank-you” postcard to their early learning programs, which will be mailed in the “intergalactic mailbox.”
There will also be a “Planetary Photo” courtesy of Byline Bank.
“So much of a child’s development happens before kindergarten and there are so many people who have played a part in preparing our children for this special moment,” said Mary Reynolds, executive director of the Collaboration for Early Childhood. “We here at the Collaboration for Early Childhood are delighted to bring our community together to acknowledge and highlight how far our little ones have come in a super fun, positive way.”
The event is a collaboration between Oak Park Elementary School District 97, the Park District of Oak Park, the Collaboration for Early Childhood, the Village of Oak Park, and the Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200.
The event is weather permitting. Registration is not required to attend but highly encouraged.