Classroom Celebrations

POLICY:

Classroom celebrations can be a part of building a classroom community: a place where people help one another and consider themselves to be part of the group. Classroom celebrations will be consistent with providing an environment of acceptance that supports and respects gender, culture, language, ethnicity and family composition.

PROCEDURES:

1. Classroom celebrations will be consistent with agency nutritional guidelines.
2. Staff will review the Classroom Celebrations policy in the Family Handbook and Calendar during the initial visit.
3. Holidays
   1. NOCAC does not endorse or promote any particular holiday. Educational staff will not plan or implement classroom wide religious or holiday themed celebrations.
   2. Child initiated conversations, play, and activities related to holidays will be supported by educational staff.
   3. Individual family members may share their family holiday traditions as a classroom guest.
      1. Any classroom learning about holidays, planned in response to or as follow up from child or family initiations, will be consistent with Anti Bias goals (see Anti-Bias curriculum for additional information).
4. Celebrations related to children’s learning
   1. Guidance has been provided to the teaching staff by the Education Staff for Thankfulness and Friendship Celebrations. The two celebrations that are related to the children’s learning and development.
      1. Celebrations of learning can include but are not limited to: exhibits, parades, art/fashion shows, shared meals, festivals, or performances
   2. Special Events and Birthdays:
      1. Educational staff will develop a preliminary plan on how birthdays will be addressed in the classroom.
         1. The classroom plan may be further individualized for children or families as appropriate.
         2. The classroom plans will be consistent with agency nutritional guidelines.

Forms and Additional Guidance: