FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DCC JOINS NATIONAL CELEBRATION FOR WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD

DCC President Dr. B. Carlyle Ramsey conducts a tour for participants in the 2006 celebration of "Week of the Young Child.".

DANVILLE, VA, April 10, 2007 – Using the theme, “Building Better Futures for All Children,” Danville Community College is planning several events to celebrate “Week of the Young Child”, April 23 – 27.  The activities include a proclamation signing, children’s carnival, an interactive children’s dance production, ice cream social, and Open House at Families First Children’s Center on the DCC campus.
 

Martha Tucker, Assistant Professor of Early Childhood and Reading and Coordinator of the Early Childhood Department, says the celebration is part of a national observance to recognize the needs of young children and to thank educators and others involved in building better futures for all children.

“Early learning experiences are crucial to the growth and development of young children,” Tucker notes. “Week of the Young Child provides opportunities for all of us to recognize the importance of the early years. The DCC campus is so very fortunate to be able to provide quality child care for the children of students, faculty and the community through Families First Children’s Center. We see Week of the Young Child as an opportunity to give something back to the community.”

The schedule of events is as follows:

Monday, April 23: Children's carnival and signing of the official proclamation for WOYC on the DCC ball field, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. Reservations required. Please contact Martha Tucker at 434.797.6434.

Tuesday, April 24: Interactive dance production by the Carlisle Dancers in the Temple Building’s Oliver Hall, 10:00-10:45 a.m. Reservations required. Please contact Martha Tucker at 434.797.6434.

Wednesday, April 25: Ice cream social on the Families First playground, 4:00 p.m. Reservations required. Please contact Martha Tucker at 434.797.6434.

Thursday, April 26: Open House at Families First Child Development Center, located on DCC’s campus at the corner of South Main Street and Kemper Road, 3:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Friday, April 27: St. Jude's Trike-a-thon at Families First Child Development Center, 9:30-11:00 a.m. Reservations required. Please contact Martha Tucker at 434.797.6434.

Week of the Young Child, sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, is an opportunity for early childhood programs across the country to create awareness of the needs of young children. Young children and their families depend on quality education and care, which help children get a great start, and bring lasting benefits for our society as a whole.

DCC offers an Associate of Applied Science Degree program in Early Childhood Education and more than 120 students are currently enrolled. These students and their instructors are working together to improve public support for high-quality early childhood education programs.

For more information about the week-long events or DCC’s Early Childhood Development program, please contact Martha Tucker at 434.797.6434; toll free at 800.560.4291, ext. 8468; or click here.