Catholic Charities preschools celebrate Read Across America Week

The hallways of Catholic Charities preschools echoed with the sounds of excited voices as students and teachers immersed themselves in the joy of reading. Catholic Charities preschools joined the nationwide celebration of Read Across America Week, fostering a love of reading and literacy among students. They celebrated with a variety of activities to highlight the importance of reading.

The YES Early Learning Center preschool kicked their week off by welcoming the Cat in the Hat and Thing 1 & Thing 2 for a special performance.

“Reading is fundamental to a child’s education and development,” said Kawanna Anderson, Center director of the YES Early Learning Center. “We are proud to celebrate Read Across America Week and inspire our students to discover the joy of reading.” Anderson dressed up as the Cat in the Hat while her teachers and assistance joined her as Thing 1 and Thing 2. The children enjoyed the performance very much, including songs, a reading of “Green Eggs & Ham” read by the Cat in the Hat and lots of fun and silliness caused by Thing 1 and Thing 2.

Throughout the rest of the week, the YES Early Learning Center had themed days such as Wacky Wednesday where the children were encouraged to dress up and enjoy colorful games and art. Preschoolers and teachers even had a day where they dressed up as their favorite Dr. Seuss characters.

Just a few blocks away, at another CCDOM preschool, Read Across America Week activities and fun took place in the YES Early Learning Center at St. Ladislaus. The St. Ladislaus Center was honored to host Mayor James M. Cahill of New Brunswick for this special occasion, reinforcing the importance of literacy while fostering a sense of community among students, teachers, and local leaders. “Moments like these help foster a sense of curiosity and community among our students, and your efforts made that possible” said Tara Mack, Center director. "We know that reading is fundamental to a child’s success, and events like Read Across America help spark a lifelong love for books.”

Mayor Cahill’s animated storytelling and discussion about “The Lorax” emphasized the importance of caring for the environment and making responsible choices lessons that resonated with students and educators alike. “It was wonderful that our students even had the opportunity to ask Mayor Cahill their own questions, making the experience even more engaging and memorable for them,” Mack said. One of the Pre-K4 students asked Mayor Cahill, “Do you like reading during the night or during the day?” Mayor Cahill smiled and replied, “Well, that’s two questions!” He went on to share that he loves reading and prefers to read during the daytime because he finds it refreshing. He added, “Whatever I read during the day seems to stay with me.”

A special thank you went to Family Worker Jahodd Rawls, who recently joined the Saint Ladislaus Center, for coordinating this wonderful visit from Mayor Cahill. His efforts and preparation in making this event a success for students and community were truly appreciated.

The YES Early Childhood Center at St. Ladislaus, also had more activities throughout the week, such as Cat in the Hat Day and Family Friday, where students embraced the fun and whimsy of Dr. Seuss by wearing their favorite red-and-white stripes. Family Friday offered a meaningful opportunity for parents, grandparents, and loved ones to join in the classroom for stories, activities, and quality time together reinforcing not only the joy of reading but also the strong sense of community within our school.

CCDOM offers free preschool for New Brunswick residents. Families must register with the New Brunswick School District in order to attend one of the preschools.
For more information about the YES Early Childhood Center at St. Ladislaus, please contact us 732-214-1475. You are also welcomed to visit them in person at 197 Somerset St., New Brunswick, NJ 08901.

For more information about the YES Early Childhood Center, located at Holy Family Parish, please contact them at 732-249-3881. They are located at 115 Paul Robeson Blvd., New Brunswick, NJ 08901.

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Tiffany Workman is the diocesan communications specialist in the Office of Communications and Public Relations.