District Launches 'Mount Vernon Basics'

MOUNT VERNON, NY — The Mount Vernon City School District launched its Mount Vernon Basics campaign with a kickoff event on Monday at Friendship For Tots – Early Child Learning Center.

“Research has found that 80 percent of a child’s brain development occurs during the first three years of life,” said Dr. Kenneth R. Hamilton, Mount Vernon City School District Superintendent, in a press release. “The goal of the Mount Vernon Basics initiative is to help the District’s youngest scholars by providing parents and caregivers with the resources to best support their infants’ and toddlers’ early education. And to close the opportunity gap."

In addition to brain development, it is during the first 36 months of a child’s life when skill gaps between socio-economic, racial, and ethnic groups become clearly apparent, as discovered by Dr. Ronald Ferguson, creator of The Basics initiative. The Mount Vernon Basics program seeks to close the achievement gap by educating parents and caregivers on how to use everyday interactions to prepare their children for a successful start in life.

The Mount Vernon Basics program highlights five evidence-based parenting and caregiving principles that support the early development of infants and toddlers ages 0-3.

The 90-minute kickoff event included an overview of The Basics program from its founder as well as presentations from professionals and Mount Vernon parent liaisons explaining each of the program’s five principles. The event concluded with interactive sessions that provided opportunities for every parent to better understand the ways in which everyday activities, such as playing and reading with their children, can support their children’s brain development and kindergarten readiness.

The five “Basic” principles are:

• Maximize Love, Manage Stress
• Talk, Sing, and Point
• Count, Group, and Compare
• Explore through Movement and Play
• Read and Discuss Stories

“We know that parents are playing and interacting with their children, but this program will emphasize just how influential those interactions can be for their child’s academic future,” said Sandra O’Connor, a parent liaison for the Mount Vernon City School District. “The Mount Vernon Basics initiative will help close the achievement gap faced by students in the District.”

Through a series of videos and ongoing workshops, parents in the Mount Vernon City School District will have the opportunity to learn more about the program’s initiatives, as well as ways to use everyday interactions to best support their children’s education and future success in life.

GRAPHIC/ Mount Vernon School District