Early literacy initiatives earn statewide award

Derry Area SD’s literacy initiatives for young children received statewide recognition from the PA department of Education. According to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, The district was honored with a Keystone to Opportunity Innovation Incentive Award at the Pennsylvania Literacy Conference for their efforts to promote literacy among children from birth to age 5. Among the district’s early literacy efforts is a Welcome Baby Package which it makes available to all families in the district with newborns. The package contains information about the Derry Area’s early childhood and kindergarten readiness programs, a baby book and information on other resources. Families that join the Infant Book Club receive a new baby book every two months for the first two years of a child’s life. Teaching Tiny Trojans is the district’s free in-home kindergarten-readiness program, which serves children ages 2-5. In this program, early literacy instruction is provided in families’ homes and is tailored to the needs of each participating child. Derry Area SD also offers story times for young children in conjunction with local libraries and free book giveaways throughout the year.