Friday, October 16, 2026
The Elmont School District hosted this school year's first The Basics Elmont workshop — an early childhood learning initiative that promotes brain development and kindergarten preparedness — at the Elmont Public Library on Sept. 30.
Founded by Ron Ferguson, an economist and Harvard University faculty member, the program, targeting children from birth to age 5, aims to support their social-emotional, language, cognitive, early academic, relationship-building, and family-engagement skills. The initiative was first launched in 2022 by the school district during the 2022-23 school year.
This year, the event brought together families, students, and district staff for an engaging morning of learning and interactive activities. The initiative was organized by the district’s counseling team, led by Ozlem Artukmac, director of pupil personnel services and special education.
The first Basics workshop of 2026-27 drew about six to 10 families and received positive feedback, with families requesting additional sessions and resources.
Many teachers and staff members from the district's six elementary schools helped coordinate the workshop, including Karina Bruno, of Clara H. Carlson School; Nicole Castagnozzi and Rob Lennihan, of Stewart Manor School; Marjorie Cavalluzzo, of Dutch Broadway School; Amy Gamrat, of Alden Terrace School; Paola Molina, of Gotham Avenue School; and Alexandra Stone and Lymari Tattnall, of Covert Avenue School.
During the Sept. 30 workshop, Stone, a social worker, and Tattnall, a guidance counselor, explained the Elmont initiative to parents. They said the program is based on five principles, which are used in pre-K and kindergarten social-emotional lessons.
The principles are to maximize love and manage stress; talk, sing, and point; count, group, and compare; explore through movement and play; and read and discuss stories.
Stone emphasized that the program is not only academic, but also focuses on relationships among the community, schools, and families to support the whole child and family.
“The purpose is to help bridge the achievement gap by beginning early at birth, rather than waiting until children enter school,” Tattnall said. “... We also hope to increase school readiness and create a stronger foundation for future academic access.”
Tattnall said the program currently partners with Book Fairies, a nonprofit in Hicksville that collects books in good condition and redistributes them to communities in need across New York City and Long Island.
“As a mother myself, I did all of these things with my children, and my children have been academically strong their whole academic life," Tattnall said. "So … I can tell the parents from personal experience that this works. This connection with life, and that this connects life, everyday things to education, and this is the key to success.”
She added that the five principles will help children grow academically, build social and emotional strength, and develop their personality, character, and confidence.
Stone told the Herald that the program currently measures success through children’s participation and caregiver-child interactions during activities, even though no formal measurement method was identified.
This year’s workshop featured a variety of hands-on activity stations for young children and their families. Activities included a school bus craft, coloring, music and movement, and a book to take home.
Stone described the result of the first workshop of the 2026-27 school year as a “good turnout.” She added that the district wants to spread the word about this initiative and expressed hope to share the experience with other families.
In addition, Tattnall explained the program's unique aspect, which is based solely on the connection between the community and the school.
“I think the ability to speak to the caregivers and give them skills, real-life skills that they can use with their children or with their grandchildren to help them prepare for success when they start school,” Tattnall said.
According to Stone and Tattnall, children from Elmont are eligible for this program. The next two scheduled sessions will be held at the library, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., on Jan. 17 and March 31.
For more information, parents can visit the Elmont School District website, Elmont Public Library and social media.
Through initiatives such as The Basics Elmont, the district continues to strengthen partnerships with families and provide young children with the skills and support they need to thrive both in school and beyond, officials said. The next workshops will be on Jan. 17, 2027, 10 a.m.- 12 p.m., and Mar. 31, 2027, 10 a.m.- 12 p.m. at the Elmont Memorial Library.
