Celebrations Policy
See Celebrations Policy
Below
AGENCY
CELEBRATIONS
Schoharie County Child Development Council,
Inc. has adopted the Creative Curriculum for use in all its
classrooms. This curriculum, in conjunction with Head Start
Performance Standards and early childhood education research-based
theory, embraces diversity in the classroom setting. Clear
guidelines for curriculum development aimed at fostering an anti-biased
environment have been established in the curriculum and agency
policies. Classroom activities, materials and supplies should be
reflective of all children and families in the classroom or group as
well as introduce unfamiliar cultures and traditions.
SCCDC does wish to recognize the special days in
the lives of children in our program. We desire to support their
cultural identities and to strengthen the connection of school to their
home and family rituals. The families in the program are the best
resources for gathering meaningful information. Additionally, a
wide variety of resources, including those developed by the National
Association for the Education of Young Children, are available at each
site. These resources should be used to research information about
cultural diversity, best practice and anti-bias.
In keeping with best practices, holiday
celebrations should not dominate the curriculum, but should be planned
and facilitated within the context of a richly diverse classroom
environment. Events planned and facilitated should be kept within
the guidelines of good early childhood practice and each child should
feel comfortable and accepted in every activity that takes place in the
classroom. In an effort to avoid over-simplifying the culture of
the children in the group or inadvertently promoting cultural
stereotypes, staff should plan group activities, including celebrations
that are carefully researched.
All celebrations will be held
in an age appropriate manner and will involve the culture and traditions
of each classroom. Individual family values which may include
their beliefs, religions or traditions, are encouraged in each
classroom. Celebrations my also include beliefs or customs that
are not present in a particular classroom.
SCCDC will continue to welcome all families,
their philosophies and their participation in the program. At the
same time, SCCDC will not endorse any religious holidays but will remain
open to parent initiated activities that focus upon their personal
beliefs and practices. Family of the Week is an ideal place to
present their family traditions, which also includes family religious
traditions.
BIRTHDAYS
Birthdays will be simple and meaningful to the
child. Many families do not celebrate birthdays or choose to keep
birthdays simple. Elaborate celebrations in the classroom are not
appropriate. All children must be recognized in the same manner as
their peers. Birthdays may include:
- Inviting parents to visit the classroom and make
healthy snacks with the children. Plan classroom nutrition
activities around the parents who decide to participate in making
snacks.
- Holding monthly birthday parties that are celebrated with all
birthday children in the month at one time.
- Parents may bring in store
bought baked goods. If parents do not bring in a store bought
snack for their child, staff must recognize the birthday child in a
meaningful way. It is important to remember that some parents
cannot afford the expense of store bought baked goods.
Call SCCDC
Main
Office: 114 Lark Street
Cobleskill, New York
12043
518-234-7521 - phone
518-234-4320
- fax
Call 518-234-7521 and ask for the main
office if you would like to have an event published.
The
information provided on this web site is for information purposes only
and does not provide any particular recommendations. Be sure to
see your community health/mental health provider or other
professionals as needed
