QUALITYstarsNY

Huge congratulations to Marie Curie Elementary School for earning a 5-Star Rating! This is the highest rating a program can earn and indicates an exceptional level of quality. Keep up the great work! 💫

Big news for our youngest learners! Greater Amsterdam School District is proud to share that our UPK program at Marie Curie Elementary School has earned a 5-star rating through QUALITYstarsNY — the highest distinction possible. This recognition reflects the outstanding work happening in Mrs. Paquette's classroom and our district’s commitment to high-quality learning, engaging instruction and strong family partnerships. Congratulations to our dedicated staff for helping every child grow, learn and succeed. UPK registration is now open for the 2026-27 school year. Visit our website for details! ⭐️📚🎉

Wrapping up at the New York Association for the Education of Young Children - nyaeyc 2026 Annual Conference this afternoon. Thank you to everyone who attended our sessions these last few days and stopped by our table to say hello! It was great to connect and learn with ECE professionals from across the state, including our QUALITYstarsNY participants. We appreciate NYAEYC for hosting this productive and engaging professional development conference for New York's early childhood community and always exciting to be a part of it!

Yesterday at the New York Association for the Education of Young Children - nyaeyc Annual Conference, three QUALITYstarsNY participating program leaders were members of a panel for the session Make a Circle: Panel Discussion on the Future of Child Care in New York State.

Jade Lewis, Owner of Genesis Family Child Care; Yulander Wilson, Owner of Kinderpark Early Steps to Learning Childcare LLC; and Ann Marie Stephan, Executive Director of Rochester Childfirst Network made up the panel for the session facilitated by Cara Rager and Rachel Rosner of WXXI. The discussion centered on the importance of the child care workforce in shaping a sustainable and accessible child care system in New York State. The panelists explored current challenges, emerging opportunities, and collective strategies for moving the field forward.

It was a great discussion and we applaud these members of the QUALITYstarsNY community!

We had an awesome day 2 at the New York Association for the Education of Young Children - nyaeyc Annual Conference! It was full of engagement, learning and connection. We appreciate everyone who joined us for our sessions hosted by QUALITYstarsNY Quality Improvement Specialists.

Had a great afternoon session at the New York Association for the Education of Young Children - nyaeyc Annual Conference on helpful strategies to develop a strong enrollment plan to support children and families with the transition into care.

QUALITYstarsNY has arrived at the New York Association for the Education of Young Children - nyaeyc Annual Conference! Excited to connect with all the ECE professionals in attendance from around the state. You'll be able to find our Quality Improvement Specialists leading many sessions throughout the conference. Also, visit our table in the Exhibitor Hall at booth #34 to say hello to our team and learn more about QUALITYstarsNY! For our full list of QUALITYstarsNY led sessions, check out our blog: https://qualitystarsny.org/finding-qualitystarsny-at-the-2026-nyaeyc-annual-conference/

The 2026 New York Association for the Education of Young Children - nyaeyc Annual Conference is just two days away! We're so excited to see New York's early childhood community, including our partners and participants, in Verona. 🌟 QUALITYstarsNY will be leading several workshops throughout this year’s conference. Check out the schedule: https://qualitystarsny.org/finding-qualitystarsny-at-the-2026-nyaeyc-annual-conference/

Today is Family Friday! It's all about celebrating family members' role as a support system for our youngest learners beyond the classroom.

Check out The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)'s resources for supporting engaging families: https://www.naeyc.org/events/woyc/plan-your-event

Day 4 of NAEYC's is Artsy Thursday! Encouraging artistic expression in children helps them develop fine-motor skills and creativity.

Our Finger Lakes team partnered with Studio in a School to host a workshop focused on the power of creative expression. Read more about it with the 🔗in the comments!

For Work Together Wednesday, Creative Environment Day School in Fayetteville, NY, celebrated by offering a project and supplies for parents to work on with their children during drop-off and pick-up. One classroom made a fairy garden using a cardboard box, soil, and a variety of supplies! They also hosted their annual spring art show and book fair, where each student had artwork on display along with books for sale for families to enjoy! 📚

It's Work Together Wednesday! Today is all about collaboration and teamwork. We love working with our state partners to ensure that children and families across New York have access to high-quality child care. Executive Directors Erik Sweet from the New York State Education Department Office of Early Learning and Meredith Chimento from the Early Care & Learning Council shared some words in the spirit of partnership.

Widdle Ones Child Care Center in Schenectady, NY celebrated Tasty Tuesday yesterday with hands-on fun in every classroom!

The preschoolers spent the day exploring their senses. One classroom enjoyed Pizzeria role play, while smelling and tasting unique flavors, and the other "tasted the rainbow" with colorful fruits and vegetables. 🫐 The younger toddlers did a slice‑and‑stamp activity, where they tasted sweet, salty, and sour flavors, then used lemon slices to stamp art. 🍋 The babies had fun ripping up lettuce and snacking on watermelon. To top it all off, the school‑aged children explored different spices, smelling each one and documenting their observations. 🌿