INFORMATIONAL

  The Week of the Young Child will be observed across the
  nation from April 21-27, 1996.  Recently, Governor George
  Allen signed a proclamation acknowledging Virginia's
  participation in this observance.  A copy of the
  proclamation is enclosed for your reference.
  
  We hope that administrators in your school division will
  work with school personnel to plan activities to highlight
  the importance of the first eight years of development, the
  most critical period in the human life span.
  
  Week of the Young Child observances typically include
  activities and events to increase public awareness of the
  needs of young children and those conditions that support
  and promote young children's optimal development.  Suggested
  activities are:
  
     -      parent workshops on topics such as:  curriculum,
            quality early childhood education, communication,
            reading, discipline, drug abuse, violence
            prevention, and play;
  
     -      special community meetings featuring guest
            speakers on children's issues;
  
     -      parents and grandparents day in pre-kindergarten,
            kindergarten, first, second, third, and fourth
            grade classes;
  
     -      displays of children's work at local agencies or
            in the lobbies of the hospital, bank, or post
            office; and
  
     -      a "Children's Day" at elementary schools; i.e.,
            special provisions would be made to include
            children from local child care centers, or younger
            siblings of children enrolled in the primary
            grades.
  
                                                Supts. Memo. No.  79  
                                        Page 2
                                        April 12, 1996
  
  
  
  
  
  For additional information, you may wish to contact the
  coordinator of the 1995 Week of the Young Child in Virginia,
  Ms. Dianne Watkins, Richmond City Public Schools, 301 North
  Ninth Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, telephone:  (804)
  780-7866.
  
  
  WCBJr/pl
  
  Enclosure:   This memo and its attachment will be sent to
               the superintendent's office.