Contact: Gerri Weagraff, Vice President of Marketing
302-479-1675
For Immediate Release: March 29, 2004
WRITING CONTEST ELICITS CHILDREN'S IDEAS ON PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP
(March 29, 2004) - - Providers of school-age care throughout Delaware will gather at the University of Delaware’s Clayton Hall on Saturday, April 3 to explore issues related to teaching tolerance. They’ll be attending the Tenth Annual School-Age Care Conference, sponsored by The Family & Workplace Connection (FWC). To mark the tenth anniversary, FWC held a writing contest for children grades K–8 who attend before- and after-school programs in the state. The contest winners will present their entry at the beginning of the conference.
“We wanted to do something special for our tenth year,” said FWC Provider Services Director Evelyn Keating. “The contest was a way to involve the children while focusing on the importance of writing and literacy,” she added.
This year’s conference theme is Teaching Tolerance Today to Practice Peace Tomorrow. Contest participants were asked to submit a poem or essay on one of two topics: what it means to be a good friend, or what it means to live in a peaceful world. Forty entries from programs in all three counties were submitted. A committee comprised of FWC and school-age program representatives selected one winner from each of the four categories: K–1 st grades, 2 nd–3 rd grades, 4 th–5 th grades, and 6 th–8 th grades. All of the children participating will receive prizes, with the winners receiving additional recognition.
“As a result of the writing contest, our staff and parents learned so much about the depth of the thoughts of our children, as well as their individuality. Being able to express their feelings in writing was a positive endeavor for the children,” said Lynn Portlock, Director of Kids World at Salem Village, a school-age program in Newark.
The April 3 conference, expected to draw some 300 school-age professionals, will examine differences, acceptance, and patience. Workshops will include strategies to create peaceful programs, understand the components of tolerance, and identify ways to become positive role models for youth. Keynote speaker will be Guy Rice Doud, a former National Teacher of the Year who has published five award-winning books and videos, including “Molder of Dreams.”
The conference features more than 30 workshops covering a variety of topics. They include activity-oriented sessions focusing on music, art, and games, as well as workshops on topics such as creating a peaceful classroom, helping children handle bullies effectively, and healthy dating relationships.
Approximately 75% of school-age children have working parents. Job responsibilities make it difficult or impossible for parents to be with their children after school, during school vacations, and all the other times when school and work schedules are in conflict. Some of these youngsters are in school-age programs. Others receive care before and after school by a parent working non-conventional hours, or by another relative. It is estimated that 44% of children with working parents do not have regular after-school care. As part of the Delaware Child Care Capacity-Building Program, The Family & Workplace Connection seeks to improve the supply and quality of school-age programs in Delaware. The annual School-Age Conference is also held as part of the Capacity-Building Program, which FWC manages through a contract with Delaware Health and Social Services’ Division of Social Services.
School-age care can be provided in schools, community centers, parks and recreation departments, youth service agencies, child care centers, religious institutions, and family child care homes. Quality programs allow the child to unwind, relax, explore and have fun in a safe, supervised setting. They offer a variety of activities and help school-age youngsters develop relationships with others. Good programs work collaboratively to see that children still have access to other community activities such as Scouts and sports practices.
The Family & Workplace Connection is a nonprofit regional dependent care resource and referral organization that provides programs and services that help people balance work and family.
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Media are welcome to attend the conference Saturday, April 3 at Clayton Hall. The agenda is as follows:
7:30–8:30 am Registration
8:30–8:45 am Welcome
Writing contest winners will present their entries at this time
8:45–9:45 am Keynote Speaker (Guy Rice Doud)
10:00–11:30 am Session 1 Workshops
11:30 am–12:30 pm Lunch
12:45–2:15 pm Session 2 Workshops
2:30–4:00 pm Session 3 Workshops
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The following are excerpts from the writing contest submissions:
TO LIVE IN A PEACEFUL WORLD:
“…we need trust, no hate, and no violence.”
“…would be like your mom or dad hugging and hugging and hugging you with all the love in their hearts…”
“…the sun on a beautiful day would be brighter than bright, the stars frozen in the sky would be gleaming at night…”
“Peace - The fighting needs to cease - Send all the solders, home again…”
“With peace in our minds - Our community can soar - With a friendly greeting - On every corner - We all deserve this from each other…”
TO BE A GOOD FRIEND:
“…A good friend will not be mean. They will share their toys.”
“…Sometimes you could walk your dogs together if you have one.”
“…To get good friends you have to be a good friend…”
“…if they're sick you can make them happy. When they're scared you could comfort them…”
“A friend is someone to cherish - To love - To hold onto forever…”
“A friend loves you no matter what even if you are white, black, brown, or Chinese.”
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