First Steps Begins School Year with Music, ABCs and a Hungry Caterpillar

About 200 parents and children attended the First Steps/Primeros Pasos kickoff event for the new school year last week, which featured sing-along songs and staff members acting out Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.”

First Steps/Primeros Pasos is a privately funded organization that encourages literacy for children from birth to age 3. The program, which has served Ossining since 2002, is open to anyone in the community and is held on Fridays.

“It’s a really great program. Every Friday is something different,” said Beatrice Aiduenu-Murphy, a parent volunteer whose 2-1/2-year-old son, Emmanuel, is in First Steps. Her older sons, now 7 and 4, also went through First Steps.

On Sept. 25, First Steps/Primeros Pasos staff members brought the story of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” to life with a massive stuffed caterpillar and large posters of all the food it ate – from a lollipop to salami and chocolate cake. Jesus Chuquitaipe of Rimas y Ritmo (Rhymes and Rhythm) played guitar and sang songs in both English and Spanish, including “Ten Little Fingers.”

First Steps coordinator Synara Okyne-Aryee said the program emphasizes early literacy and also strives to help children prepare for school. Parents also gain confidence in interacting with their children and navigating services in the community. First Steps will be working with a nurse consultant and Open Door Family Medical Centers this year, she said.

“With the number of people attending, it shows the need in the community,” she said. “We want parents to be engaged. We want them to know that early literacy is important.”

The organization also offers a play group for 2-year-olds and a half-day nursery school program for 3-year-olds, which are based on financial need.

Hundreds of children have arrived in Ossining schools well-prepared and ready to learn thanks to First Steps/Primeros Pasos, Ossining Superintendent Raymond Sanchez said.

“Studies show that early education is critical in children’s development and serves them well both academically and socially for years to come,” he said. “We are grateful to First Steps/Primeros Pasos for providing such a valuable service to the community.”

Marci Dressler, children’s services coordinator at the Ossining Public Library, encouraged everyone to get a library card and to join the 1,000 Books Project. Children who read 1,000 books with their parents receive an award.

The Rev. Edward Byrne of the Church of St. Ann said it was great to see so many people at St. Ann’s School, which hosts First Steps/Primeros Pasos. “The Friday program is getting bigger and bigger. Maybe we need a bigger gym,” he told the parents and children. “I hope to see you learning a lot and enjoying a lot.”

Rosa Chuchuca, a mother of three, said she loves the program because children are together and they learn letters, numbers and other important skills. She first attended the program when her 14-year-old daughter was a year old. Her second-oldest child is 11. She now attends with Alonso, her 16-month-old son who started in First Steps last year.

“This program is beautiful,” she said.

Leah Robinson brought her 16-month-old daughter, Madelyn Robinson-Lapolla, to the kickoff event. Her nearly 4-year-old daughter, Sophia, went through First Steps and then the Little School nursery program for 3-year-olds.
“I’ve learned a lot. I’ve got four kids and I’ve learned a lot,” she said.

First Steps is funded by the John P. and Constance A. Curran Charitable Foundation, Rebecca and Arthur Samberg, David Swope and the Frog Rock Foundation.

For more information about the program, or to donate books and supplies, contact Synara Okyne-Aryee, the program coordinator, at 914-373-4882 or sokynearyee@ossining.k12.ny.us. Donations can be made through the Ossining School District. Contact Carrieann Sipos, the district’s director of elementary teaching and learning, at 914-941-7700, ext. 1331.