FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 30, 2008

Freeholder McMorrow reads to preschoolers to help focus on the needs of young children and their families
Asbury Park youngsters thrilled with lively presentation

FREEHOLD – Freeholder Barbara J. McMorrow went back to school again, this time to the Alphabets Preschool Center in Asbury Park, where she read a story to a class of youngsters.

“I love opportunities to get back into the classroom, especially with young people,” said Freeholder McMorrow, who is a former teacher and high school principal. “They are so much fun to be around and the book they chose for me to read was a lot of fun, too.”

That’s because “Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?” solicits responses from children. The book, by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle, introduces preschoolers to zoo animals and the sounds they make. A roaring lion, a braying zebra, a trumpeting elephant and many more parade across the pages of the 32-page rhyming picture book, and children are encouraged to imitate the animals.

“I didn’t know a pink flamingo made a sound,” Freeholder McMorrow said. “I must admit, I had a little trouble with that one.”

April is the Month of the Young Child, and to help celebrate it 4-year-old Walter Duarte of   Alphabets Preschool wrote a letter to Freeholder McMorrow asking her to read a story to the class. “We would like you to see how much we are learning and growing every day,” Duarte wrote.

He also recommended that the freeholder call ahead to schedule a time because, “We eat early and then we take a nap to rest.” Freeholder McMorrow visited the school on Monday.

“This is an annual celebration of early childhood sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the world’s largest early childhood education association,” said Esther Piekarski, director at Alphabets Preschool. “The purpose is to focus on the needs of young children and their families, and to recognize the early childhood programs like ours that meet those needs.”

Alphabets Preschool is a high-quality early learning program serving children and families of Asbury Park. Stimulating and age-appropriate curriculum is used to enhance children’s growth. Family involvement and participation is an important part of the program, Piekarski said.

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Freeholder Barbara J. McMorrow accepts a certificate from 4-year-old Walter Duarte after she read a story to the class on Monday.