Students paraded out on to the stage at Dr. Walter F. Robinson School on April 7 wearing colored t-shirts that depicted each grade in a colorful display that spread through the auditorium and over the upturned faces of parents and students, part of the annual district celebration of the Week of the Young Child.
For over 20 years, the Bayonne School District has gathered in April to celebrate the accomplishments of the elementary schools, said Schools Superintendent Dr. Patricia McGeehan. Each year, the district celebrates at a different school, and this year, Robinson hosted the event.
“We are supporting the national theme, ‘Early years are the learning years,’” McGeehan said.
“We respect each other’s cultures.” — Maryann Connelly
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In promoting the events surrounding the Week of the Young Child, the association said that more is known today about the importance of children’s earliest years in shaping their learning and development. Yet, never before have the needs of young children and their families been more pressing. The Week of the Young Child is a time to recognize that children’s opportunities are the community’s responsibility, and to recommit everyone to ensuring that each and every child experiences the type of early environment – at home, at child care, at school, and in the community – that will promote their early learning.
Statistics released by the association show that a huge percentage of mothers with young children are working, leaving a significant burden on schools to provide early childhood programs to help these kids succeed later.
“Federal, state, and local government, communities, parents, and the private sector must share in the responsibility of ensuring the well-being of children and families,” the association said. “We can and must do more to create opportunities that help all children and families succeed. We can invest now in our children and families and enjoy long-term savings, with a more vibrant nation of healthy, achieving children and more stable families. The Week of the Young Child is an opportunity for programs, NAEYC affiliates, related organizations, communities, and states to focus on the needs of young children and their families.”
Organized this year at Robinson School by Principal Maryann Connelly and Vice Principal Alana Ryan, students from pre-k to second grade put on a show of songs and speeches that helped support the theme and also provided the audience of proud parents with more than a little entertainment.
“We respect each other’s cultures,” Connelly said from the stage when introducing the event, which included a slide presentation of “We Are The World,” a performance of students from the school. Many of the students waiting in the audience to go on the stage sang along with the presentation.
Pre-k students, in their time on stage, performed an “African Village Song,” while kindergarten students sang “True Colors.” The first grade sang “We All Laugh In The Same Language,” while the second grader sang “World of Difference.”
Students performed three shows during the course of the week, although the spectacular on April 7 saw distinguished visitors that included State Senator Sandra Cunningham, Assemblyman Jason O’Donnell, and Dr. McGeehan.
“This is something special,” O’Donnell said.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.