Young Uniondale students meet their teachers

New elementary school students had the chance to meet their teachers and peers at the Uniondale school district’s pre-k and kindergarten jamboree on Aug. 26.

All the elementary schools in the school district — California, Cornelius Court, Grand Avenue, Northern Parkway, Smith Street and Walnut Avenue — had staff representatives at tables across the lawn of Cornelius Court Elementary. Kids preparing to enter each school had the opportunity to meet teachers and learn more about their new school before their first day on Sept. 3.

There is a pre-k program in every elementary school in the district, and pre-k students entering Cornelius Court also had the opportunity to tour the school.

Other organizations set up tables with information at the event to educate parents and inform them of local resources, including PTAs for each school, Cornell University Cooperative Extension, and EPIC Long Island, a new social work project throughout the district. EPIC stands for Extraordinary People in Care.

Free book bags and school supplies were handed out, and kids picked from a variety of free books donated by the Book Fairies. Kids also got free popcorn and free face painting, with a long line of excited kids for nearly the whole two-hour event.

“Our goal, if nothing else, is a parent leaving excited, looking forward to a wonderful school year, and the children leaving connected to someone or something that makes them excited about the new school year starting,” Milerbin Genao-Burdier, director of early childhood education, said.