Conference helps educators streamline transition from preschool to kindergarten

Superintendent Charles Dedrick introduces the keynote speaker, Helen Wheelock.

On Friday, Oct. 26, the Cohoes City School District co-sponsored the Preschool Kindergarten Consortium's Fall 2007 Conference at Hudson Valley Community College.

One hundred sixty educators from around the region came together to learn and discuss methods on helping students make a solid transition from preschool to the public school system in kindergarten.

"We are proud to be sponsors of such an important event," said Abram Lansing Principal Cliff Bird.

The district has been a co-sponsor of the conference for four years. This year, conference participants were given the opportunity to learn how art can be better incorporated into classroom lessons.

To start the morning off, attendees heard from Bird, Cohoes Superintendent of Schools Charles S. Dedrick and President of Hudson Valley Community College Drew Matonak.

Abram Lansing Principal Cliff Bird welcomes educators to the conference.

The keynote speaker for the event was Helen Wheelock, the Director of the CUNY/Creative ArtsTeam's (CAT) Early Learning Through the Arts (ELTA) program. Wheelock began her presentation using a fish puppet to introduce the concept of arts and education.

Helen Wheelock and her fish puppet energized the teachers gathered for the conference.

In the afternoon, the educators attended panels, including Books that Come Alive with Theater, presented by Maureen Aumond from the Capital Repertory Theater; Storytelling and Art Making, presented by Kristen Schweigard from the Albany Institute of History and Art; Dancing Language, presented by Maude Baum from eba; Engaging Early Learners with Music Fun, presented by the Center for Arts in Education; and Dream Plants of the Imagination, presented by Ginger Ertz from the Tang Teaching Museum.