The V.I. Department of Education’s St. Thomas- St. John District celebrates the Week of the Young Child (WOYC) fromApril 11-17. “The nationally celebrated event, an initiative of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), focuses public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to support the early childhood programs and services that meet their needs,” said District Primary Coordinator April Munroe-Phillips. “The early childhood years, birth through age eight, lay the foundation for children’s success in school and later in life.” This year the NAEYChas selectedthe theme of “Early Years Are Learning Years®”.
In conjunction withWOYC,the district also celebrates the national observances of School Library Media Month and Library Week and will host the annual Read on the Green activity to be held from 8:30-11 a.m. on Friday, April 16, at the UVI green/golf coursefor preschool to grade three (3) students enrolled in public, private and parochial schools.
“This year’s themeis ‘Communities Thrive @ Your Library.’ It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians, and to promote library use and support. In addition, for the third year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will join in our celebration of Earth Day with exhibits and activities of interest to our students,” Munroe-Phillips said.
“Dewey Comes Alive 2010:808.5 Storytelling,”will betheRead on the Green activity, featuring presentations, exhibits, hands-on activities and displays to help students understand the Dewey subject classifications. Many presentations demand student participation with a special focus on storytelling.
“We encourage parents to take advantage of the Parent School Participation Programand come out to support their children as they participate in this event,” Munroe-Phillips said. The Parent School Participation Program (established by Act 6124 approved Oct. 3, 1996 and amended by Act 6246 in 1998) entitles parents or legal guardians of students enrolled in the public, private or parochial schools in grades kindergarten through 12 to a maximum of two hours off from their jobs per month without loss of pay or any other benefit. The Act enables the employee/parent to visit with their children, teachers, counselors and other school officials.
