Birth to School Program

Welcome! Birth to School (BtS) is a CPCSC program designed to support caregivers and their children ages birth-5 who live in our school district. We hope you'll join us this year!

Two-Parts to our Program

All Birth to School programs are free. To sign up, please visit one of the program pages below.

Birth to School programs are available to all CPCSC families with children ages 0-5 years, prior to attending Kindergarten. We offer a variety of classes and events (with morning, afternoon, and evening times) for families to attend and participate in together. All lessons and activities are intentionally created to be hands-on and interactive, following Indiana’s Early Learning Foundations.

Enroll in the Birth to School Program

Our Kindergarten Readiness program is available to ANY family with a child who will enter Kindergarten next year and lives in the boundaries of any CPCSC elementary school.

ENROLL IN Kindergarten Readiness

Our Programs

Infants and Toddlers "Baby" (ages 0-2): A 45-minute class for children ages 0-2 along with their caregivers. Fun developmental activities are provided that encourage sensory exploration, music play and early learning in a safe environment. Prior registration for each class is required!
Preschoolers "Mini" (ages 3-5): A 75-minute class for children ages 3-5 along with their caregivers. This time includes story/circle time, various learning stations, music play, and art activities. Prior registration for each class is required!
Learn Through Play (previously "playgroup") (ages 0-5): An evening event for children ages 0-5 along with their caregivers. This extended-time (120-minutes) group allows families to “come when you can; leave when you need to” and participate in developmentally appropriate & thematic activity stations, which provide a variety of hands-on learning experiences through play. School-aged siblings welcome to attend, too! Prior registration for each event is required!
*NEW for 2022-2023* Imaginarium (ages 0-5): The Imaginarium will be open once per month from 9am-2pm and families can visit the Imaginarium at their leisure during those times. The Imaginarium will feature a variety of learning stations for discovery play and sensory exploration. Themes and activities will change monthly. NO prior registration is required for this event!
Caregiver Café (ages0-5): A 60-minute time for caregivers to unwind with a snack and chat with other caregivers; while the children have playtime with peers. This time will be provided to share resources others use within the community and to get information on a variety of child development topics. Prior registration for each class is required!
Kindergarten Readiness Series (ages 4-5): A 60-minute class for children entering kindergarten the following school year, alongside their caregivers. Each session includes fun learning activities in various subjects to help children and caregivers prepare for kindergarten and meet future classmates. Two classes, with two different lessons, are held monthly. Enrollment in the Kindergarten Readiness program and prior registration for each class is required!

FAQs

What is Birth to School?

CP Birth to School is a system of support for caregivers and children from birth-age 5 (and not yet enrolled in kindergarten) for families residing within the boundaries of the Crown Point Community School Corporation. We offer a variety of outreach opportunities, caregiver information, and online resources. Outreach will include playgroups, child development courses, early learning opportunities, developmental screenings, and other events.

What is the BtS mission?

I live outside CPCSC boundaries. Can my child participate?

How can I help the BtS program?

We will need volunteers for a variety of events to assist with childcare and activities.

We are also seeking community and business partners to work with us in the following ways: sponsoring events, providing food or giveaway donations and gift cards, sharing resources with families, and posting or distributing information about CP Birth to School in the community. If you are interested in supporting this growing program, please contact Jamie Kalk at jkalk@cps.k12.in.us.

Stay Connected!

Jamie Kalk, CP Birth to School Program Coordinator, jkalk@cps.k12.in.us
Nicole Yankauskas, CP Birth to School Liaison, nyankauskas@cps.k12.in.us
Jessica Bailey, CP Birth to School Liaison, jbailey@cps.k12.in.us
Shawnna Russell, CP Birth to School Liaison, srussell@cps.k12.in.us

Find us on Facebook! CPCSC Birth to School

All CPCSC families can connect with the CP Birth to School “class” on the Remind App with https://www.remind.com/join/cpbts; or text @cpbts to 81010 from your phone. If you already have the Remind App, you can join the CP BtS class with class code “cpbts”. Likewise, our Kindergarten Readiness program has a Remind class too! Join us at https://www.remind.com/join/cpbtskr; or text 81010 to @cpbtskr from your phone; or use class code "cpbtskr".

Community Resources

2-1-1 is a free and confidential service that helps Indiana residents find the local resources they need. Speak with a Community Navigator 24/7/365

Phone: Dial 2-1-1 or 1-866-211-9966 (available 24/7)

Text: Text your ZIP code to 898-211 (available Mon-Fri 8am-5pm)

Northwest Indiana Community Action provides an online directory of community resources. http://www.nwi211.com/

The goal of First Steps is to help Hoosier families make sure their infants and toddlers receive services now to help them in the future. Services through First Steps are designed to meet the developmental needs of the child; Except in limited circumstances, First Steps does not provide services to meet medical needs.

We understand it is not always easy to recognize if your child is reaching his or her milestones for their age group. Some children may appear to be behind with speech progression, physical movements, or their attention span. http://www.indianafirststeps.org/

All Mental Health America of Lake County home visiting programs use the evidence-based Parents as Teachers curriculum to deliver the latest development-centered parenting information. The program model embraces the assumption that the child’s home is the first and most influential learning model.

The earliest years of a child’s life are critical for optimal development and provide the foundation for success in school and life. Working with parents of very young children is an opportunity to promote children’s readiness for school and set children on the path for school and life success.

To connect with Parents as Teachers call Vickie at 219.736.4955 x118 or email info@mhalakecounty.org.

Healthy Families is a nationally-recognized, evidence-based home visiting program promoting positive parenting interactions and child development in vulnerable families with children age 0-3. It is the largest evidence-based home visitation program in Lake County and the United States. To learn more about this beneficial program visit our Healthy Families page.

To connect with Healthy Families call Amber at 219.736.4955 x206 or email info@mhalakecounty.org.

Mental Health America of Lake County’s Infant Safe Sleep program was introduced in 2007, in response to the increase in child fatalities due to positional asphyxiation throughout the state. The infant safety risk continues to plague our community, as one cause of infant mortality. Lake County has significantly higher rates of infant mortality than its neighboring counties, and Indiana ranks fifth nationally for infant mortality. MHA’s infant safe sleep program promotes safe sleep practices to vulnerable families to reduce the incidence of SIDS. Participants complete safe sleep educational training and receive a portable pack ‘n play, with infant insert, for baby to sleep in until the age of one.

To find out if you qualify or to refer someone to the infant safe sleep program call Carol at 219.736.4955 x108 or email info@mhalakecounty.org.

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