Week of the Young Child observed in Long Branch
The Long Branch Public Schools celebrated the Week of the Young Child April 13-19. It is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the world's largest early-childhood education association, with nearly 100,000 members and a network of more than 300 local, state and regional affiliates.

Pictured are Long Branch students and teachers (l-r): Jordan Pellot, Anna Mercado, Kylie Ferrara, Kelly McOmber, Angelique Gathers and Edwin Suarez.

The purpose of the Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early-childhood programs and services that meet those needs.

For 2008, the theme was "Bring Communities Together for Children - Children Bring Communities Together." Long Branch Public Schools, which has a nationally recognized early-childhood learning program, participated in the celebration.

At the Amerigo A. Anastasia School Mrs. McOmber and Mrs. Crespo had an Authors' Celebration, which encouraged their students to write during the Week of the Young Child. Students wrote "Howto Books" and "All About Books." The students shared their writing with their classmates as well as with staff members.