Jones Preschool Celebrates American Education Week

Parents and students alike listened intently as Carolan Sampson, the Early Childhood Consultant, read the story, The Runaway Dinner by Allan Ahlberg Monday afternoon. 

Sampson, who initiated the event to celebrate American Education Week, explained to the children that, “This is a special week to celebrate teachers all over the country.”

American Education Week dates back to 1921 when it was instituted in response to the staggering WWI draftees’ illiteracy rate of 25%.  In hopes of gaining public support for education the National Education Association (NEA) and American Legion co-sponsored the event that is still observed today. 

NEA describes National Education Week as, "...An educational week to be observed in all communities annually for the purpose of informing the public of the accomplishments and needs of the public schools and to secure the cooperation and support of the public in meeting those needs."

Public School Students from Mrs. Rose, Mrs. Velozo, Ms. Carter and classrooms gathered in the Jones Gymnasium prepared with lists of their favorite dinner foods. The group, as an accompaniment to the story, reviewed the lists (which clearly identified Pasta as the students’ favorite).

When reading aloud, Sampson engaged her audience with a “Magic Word Search” (the magic word, “ran”, appeared 13 times throughout the text).  Fran Bruttaniti who displayed visual cues, assisted Sampson in this inclusive teaching style. 

Amidst the humor of the story and silliness of the children’s “running hands”, (patting of their hands to their legs), Sampson continued to convey a more serious message.  A message of the importance that teachers’ play in their schools and in that schools play in children’s lives.

At the end of the event Sampson expressed her gratitude to the parents in the audience for “coming to celebrate this special week at our school.”