FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DCC JOINS NATIONAL CELEBRATION FOR ‘WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD’

DANVILLE, VA, April 7, 2008 – Using the theme, “Bring Communities Together for Children,” Danville Community College is planning several events to celebrate “Week of the Young Child”, April 14 – 18.  The activities include a parade, concert, carnival, an interactive dance production 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 Education 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 and to work together to build better futures for all children. 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 14: Children’s parade on the DCC campus at 9:30 a.m. to kick off the celebration.

•  Monday, April 14: Children’s concert with the “P’s and Q’s”, held in Temple Building, Room 110 at 7:00 p.m. The public invited to attend this event.

• Tuesday, April 15: Concert by the “P’s and Q’s” for children from Families First Child Development Center and the Danville Head Start at 10 a.m. in Temple Building, Room 110.

• Wednesday, April 16: Children's carnival coordinated by DCC students will be held on the Families First Child Development Center playground, at 9:30 a.m.

• Thursday, April 17: Interactive dance production for children at Families First Center and the Grove Park Preschool by the Carlisle Dancers and storyteller Angela Harrison at Grove Park Preschool at 10 a.m.

• Thursday, April 17: Open House at Families First Child Development Center, located on DCC’s campus at the corner of South Main Street and Kemper Road, from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.

• Friday, April 18: Trike-a-thon to benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital will be held at 9:30 a.m. for the children attending Families First Child Development Center.

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. The 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.