Transition to Kindergarten Mini Grant Application
Brought to you by Partners for Children & Families
and the Moore County Transition to Kindergarten Initiative
Best practice in early childhood includes implementing plans to assist children in the transition
process from home or early childhood programs to local elementary schools. To support early
educators, elementary schools, and child care sites in implementing transition to kindergarten events
and strategies, Partners for Children & Families (PfCF) is offering a limited number of mini-grants for
educators working in Moore County.
Overview
Mini-grants will be awarded to applicants who create transition to kindergarten events and/or activities
that focus on one or more of these four key connections that research has found to support a smooth
transition to kindergarten.
1) Child-to-School Connections: It is essential that the transition to school occurs in such a way
that children and families have a positive view of the school and that children have a feeling of
confidence as learners. How to build child-to-school connections:
 Preschoolers interact with kindergarten teachers and future elementary school
 Preschoolers experience kindergarten rituals and activities before their transition
 Preschool teachers connect with former students after the beginning of kindergarten
 Kindergarten staff visit preschool children before the start of kindergarten
2) Family-to-School Connections: Transition to kindergarten activities are more effective when
they involve and engage families in the transition process, fostering positive attitudes toward
school and learning and helping families act as partners in their children’s learning. How to
build family-to-school connections:
 Provide a parent orientation before AND after kindergarten starts
 Encourage families to participate in home-learning activities and at their child’s school
 Encourage families to contact school staff about transition issues of their children
 Families and preschool teachers share information with kindergarten teachers about
students
3) School-to-School Connections: Transition is well supported when kindergarten and
preschools work together to identify needs and goals for children. How to build school-toschool connections:
 Preschoolers and kindergarten teachers work in collaboration to discuss transition and
classroom practices, including academic and behavioral expectations
 Preschools and kindergarten teachers work in collaboration to address concerns about
specific children
 Preschools and kindergarten teachers work in collaboration to build connections for
children and families with additional support through community agencies
Partners for Children & Families • 7720 NC Hwy 22 Carthage, NC 28327 • www.moore4kids.com • (910) 949-4045
4) Child-to-Child Connections: As children move from preschool into kindergarten, connections
between children and their peers help them feel more comfortable in their new environment.
How to build child-to-child connections:
 Encourage peers to make connections with other students attending their elementary
school in their preschool class
 Encourage peers to make connections with other students attenting their elementary
school outside of their preschool
 Encourage preschool students to make connections with kindergarten students
Sample Transition Activities
These are examples of transition to kindergarten activities. You may request a mini grant to help
implement these strategies or use your creativity to come up with your own innovative ideas. Not sure
where to start? We encourage you to talk with the families of children you serve – they may have
some great ideas on making the transition into kindergarten a smooth and fun process.












Summer Transition Mini-Camp: Schedule a mini summer camp for incoming Kindergarteners.
The camp should address kindergarten routines, procedures, and expectations.
Building “going to kindergarten” into the preschool curriculum: Create a “photo” album of the
new kindergarten. Photos might include the front entrance, the school bus (inside and out), the
block area, class pet, and teachers.
Spring/Summer Open Houses: Provide open houses that share key school information with
parents and child care professionals, allow parents to tour the school building, meet school
personnel, and have an opportunity to have questions answered.
Student Portfolios: Develop a portfolio of the child’s work to share with the new teacher and
include a “Passport to Kindergarten” of the student with a photo and two or three fun facts
about that student.
Kindergarten Classroom Visits: Organize a day/night/weekend visit that dedicates time for
incoming kindergartners and their families to visit a “typical” kindergarten classroom and meet
school staff.
Registration Events: To support families who may be challenged to register during the school
day, provide evening/weekend registration hours or provide an off-site registration event to
raise registration numbers.
Child Care/Pre-K Visits: Participate in a child care/preschool class trip to the elementary
school. Trip includes a brief tour, snack at the cafeteria, outdoor play on the playground, and
story time or other activity in a kindergarten classroom.
Letter from kindergarten teacher: Kindergarten teacher sends incoming kindergarteners a
welcoming letter.
Letter from child to teacher: Child sends a letter including things about him/herself or a picture.
Child Care/Pre-K Visits and Kindergarten teacher conferences: Plan face-to-face
communication between teachers about students.
Parent support transition groups: Organize a group of current and rising kindergarten parents
to discuss concerns about transition.
Invite incoming Kindergarteners to participate in school-based musicals, recitals, or special
programs.
Partners for Children & Families • 7720 NC Hwy 22 Carthage, NC 28327 • www.moore4kids.com • (910) 949-4045
Grant Requirements
o Eligible applicants: Child care teachers and directors, kindergarten teachers and school
principals, PTAs, and/or other organizations that serve rising kindergarteners.
o Applications must be received by Monday, November 23rd, 2015 at 5:00 pm. Late
applications will not be accepted. Mail or deliver a hard copy of your application to:
Partners for Children & Families
Attention: Brittney Mays
7720 NC Hwy 22
Carthage, NC 28327
o All applications must be typed or CLEARLY handwritten.
o All applications must identify a primary and secondary contact person who will be
responsible for the project in the event of a staffing change.
o Mini grant awards amounts may vary based on events/activities proposed. Grant requests
must be for at least $100. It is recommended that grant requests be for no more than $500.
o We will be available to answer your questions and discuss your ideas during an informal and
optional Mini Grant Question and Answer Session on October 15, 2015 at 6:30 pm at
Partners for Children & Families. Please call us to register for this free session. Attendance
is not required to apply for this grant. If you are unable to attend and have questions, please
call Brittney at PfCF at (910) 949-4045.
o Applicants will be notified by email of their award by the third week of December, 2015.
Grant checks will be distributed in January, 2016.
o It is the expectation of this grant that transition events will occur during the spring and summer
of 2016, prior to the start of the school year. All activities must be completed by August 25,
2016.
o Successful applicants must complete and submit a final report on funded projects to Partners
for Children & Families by October 3rd, 2016. A report on all funded activities will be compiled
and shared with the community at large.
o Grantees must obtain parent and/or educator feedback (if applicable) through a survey
provided by Partners for Children & Families. All completed surveys must be returned with the
Final Report Form.
o Checks will be made payable to the center or elementary school where the teacher, directors,
or principal is affiliated. In the case of a PTA, checks will be made payable directly to the PTA.
Mini Grant Timeline






October 15, 2015: Mini Grant Question & Answer Session at Partners for Children & Families
November 23, 2015: Applications due to Partners for Children & Families
Third week of December, 2015: Applicants notified by email of their award
Beginning of January: Grant checks distributed and grant implementation can begin
August 25, 2016: All transition to kindergarten grant strategies must be complete
October 3, 2016: Final report and participant surveys due to Partners for Children & Families
Partners for Children & Families • 7720 NC Hwy 22 Carthage, NC 28327 • www.moore4kids.com • (910) 949-4045
Transition to Kindergarten Mini-Grant Application
If you would prefer to type your responses, download an electronic application on our website at www.moore4kids.com
Applicant Information
All applications must be typed or CLEARLY handwritten.
Primary Contact’s Name and Email:
Secondary Contact’s Name and Email:
Phone Number:
Name of School, Child Care Center, or PTA:
Address:
Director or Principal’s Name and Email Address (if different from the one above):
I have read and understand the requirements regarding the receipt of the Transition to Kindergarten
mini-grant program.
Primary Contact’s Signature:
Director or Principal’s Signature:
Description of Activities
1. Write a short paragraph describing the activities and events you will host with the
Transition to Kindergarten mini grant.
2. What is the anticipated number of families and/or children that will be served by your
activities and events?
Partners for Children & Families • 7720 NC Hwy 22 Carthage, NC 28327 • www.moore4kids.com • (910) 949-4045
3. What types of connections for rising kindergarteners will be built by these activities?
(Check all that apply.) Describe how these connections will be built.
o Child-to-school connections
o Family-to-school connections
o School-to-school connections
o Child-to-child connections
4. Target date(s) and time(s) for event(s):
5. Location for event(s):
Partners for Children & Families • 7720 NC Hwy 22 Carthage, NC 28327 • www.moore4kids.com • (910) 949-4045
Budget
Budget Item
Purpose
Estimated Cost
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Total project estimated cost: __________________________________________
Grant check should be made out to: __________________________________________
(Fill in name of school, childcare center or PTA who will be administering funds.)
Partners for Children & Families • 7720 NC Hwy 22 Carthage, NC 28327 • www.moore4kids.com • (910) 949-4045
Grant Selection
Applicants will be selected based on the following considerations:




Application
o Is the proposal complete?
o Was the proposal received by the deadline?
Project Design
o Does the proposal present a clear and concise description of program elements to be
provided?
Connections
o Does the project proposal build a connection between the child and their new
elementary school? (Child-to-School)
o Does the project proposal build a connection between families of incoming
kindergarteners and their child’s new elementary school? (Family-to-School)
o Does the project proposal build a connection for the students between “sending” and
“receiving” schools? (School-to-School)
o Does the project proposal build a connection between the rising kindergarteners and
future classmates? (Child-to-Child)
Budget
o Is there a budget outlining how grant funds will be used?
o Is the amount requested justified and adequate?
Questions?
Contact Brittney Martin Mays at Partners for Children & Families at
(910) 949-4045 or bmays@pfcfmc.org.
Partners for Children & Families • 7720 NC Hwy 22 Carthage, NC 28327 • www.moore4kids.com • (910) 949-4045