STAMFORD, CT (Friday, May 1, 2009) – Children will be the focus of attention during Stamford’s Week of the Young Child Monday, May 11- Saturday, May 16 at events scheduled to celebrate families and discuss children’s needs.
“I believe strongly that all young children need and deserve a high-quality early childhood education,” Mayor Malloy said. “This is a week to recognize the importance of early learning for all young children, and to bring Stamford together to help give them a great start.”
Lots More Happening
A number of activities are scheduled during the week to help the City and its children celebrate Week of the Young Child. Families with young children are invited to The Ferguson Library’s Main Library downtown for a special Storytelling event happening on Thursday evening. Children are encouraged to wear their pajamas. In addition, children enrolled in family home daycares throughout Stamford will enjoy special musical performances by Jill Goldberg, APRN coordinated by Family Centers’ Care to Care Program. (For details on other events for the Week, see the Events Listing at bottom).
The week ends with a spectacular fair revolving around kids and families. On Saturday, May 16, Stamford families with young children are invited to Stamford’s Early Childhood Fair: Ready by 5! at Cove Island Park from 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM. The fair will include fun activities such as Touch a Truck, the Born Learning Trail, and Animal Embassy. The fair will also feature popular African drummer Henry Jones. The event is free of charge and is being sponsored by the Stamford School Readiness Council, Stamford Public Schools, and United Way of Western Connecticut. The fair celebrates young children and families by providing family-centered activities and valuable resources for parents and other caregivers to help children enter school ready to learn.
United Way of Western Connecticut will have tips and resources from its Born Learning Program available at the event. “Our Born Learning Program is a natural complement to Stamford's Week of the Young Child Celebration and its focus on the importance of early learning,” said Jennifer Hallissey, Director of Community Impact at United Way of Western Connecticut’s Stamford Office. “It provides parents with simple tips and educational tools that empower them to make everyday moments -- such as cooking a meal or doing laundry – a learning opportunity for their children. We are fortunate to have Pitney Bowes support of the Born Learning Program.”
Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the world’s largest early childhood education association. The purpose of the Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.
Stamford Week of the Young Child Events
Monday, May 11 – Saturday, May 16th
Thursday, May 14th
10:00 a.m.
The School Readiness Program at the William Pitt Child Development Center will host a parade at Stamford High School.
7:00 p.m.
Families with young children are invited to The Ferguson Library’s Main Library downtown for a special Storytelling event happening at 7:00 PM. Children are encouraged to wear their pajamas. For more information, please call the Ferguson Library at 964-1000.
Saturday, May 16th
Stamford’s Early Childhood Fair: Ready by 5! at Cove Island Park (9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
This will be great fun with lots of learning as children discover how police cars and fire engines work, explore and learn about the great outdoors through United Way’s Born Learning Trail, and engage in a number of fun and educational activities with community partners such as SoundWaters and Stepping Stones Museum.
The fair will also feature resources for parents and caregivers, including information on kindergarten registration with Stamford Public Schools. Representatives from quality preschool and child care providers, and Stamford Hospital will also be available to provide information and answer questions.
Featuring the following:
9:30 a.m. Touch-A-Truck
Stamford Fire and Police Departments
Stark & Stillmeadow Elementary School Performers
10:00 a.m. Animal Embassy
11:00 a.m. Henry Jones
renowned African drummer
PLUS!
Activities geared around family interaction and education:
United Way Born Learning Trail
Story Time by The Ferguson Library
SoundWaters
Stepping Stones Museum
Stamford Hospital
Meet quality Stamford preschool and child care providers
Stamford Public Schools Kindergarten registration information
# # #
Stamford’s Early Childhood Fair: Ready by 5! is sponsored by the Stamford School Readiness Council, Stamford Public Schools, and United Way of Western Connecticut.
About the Sponsors
STAMFORD SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM
The Stamford School Readiness Program is a State funded program that was established to provide three and four year olds at all economic levels with full-day or part-day early care and education programs. Childcare Learning Centers (CLC, Inc.) is the largest provider of School Readiness services and operates preschool at various locations throughout the City; the William Pitt Child Development Center building on Hillandale Avenue is CLC’s largest School Readiness site and serves more than 300 three and four year olds. Bright Horizons at High Ridge Park also serves School Readiness children. Stamford’s School Readiness Program is unique because it is a partnership between the City, the Stamford Public Schools and School Readiness providers. Stamford public school preschool teachers act as mentors for School Readiness teachers and oversee the curriculum, thereby greatly enhancing the quality of the learning experience for children.
The Stamford School Readiness Council is a volunteer community council charged with the task of overseeing programs receiving State School Readiness funding to ensure compliance to State regulations. In addition, the Council is responsible for advising the Mayor and Superintendent on issues relevant to early childhood education in the City. The School Readiness Council is chaired by a representative from the Mayor’s Office and includes a representative from Stamford Public Schools appointed by the Superintendent, as well as early childhood educators, an elementary school principal, a Head Start representative, parents, health providers, a representative of the state department of social services, private child care providers, a United Way representative, and a Family Resource Center representative.
STAMFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The Stamford Public School District is the fifth largest in Connecticut with 15,000 students. It is comprised of 20 schools, including several “magnets” which offer specialty themes focusing on the arts, science, and technology.
UNITED WAY OF WESTERN CONNECTICUT
United Way of Western Connecticut advances the common good, creating opportunities for a better life for all by focusing on the three key building blocks of education, income and health. United Way creates long lasting community change by addressing the underlying causes of problems that prevent progress in these areas. LIVE UNITED is a call to action for everyone to become part of the change.
The towns covered by United Way of Western Connecticut are Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Danbury, Kent, New Fairfield, Newtown, New Milford, Redding, Ridgefield, Roxbury, Sherman, Stamford, Warren and Washington. For more information about United Way of Western Connecticut, please visit: www.uwwesternct.org.
