Celebrating the Week of the Young Child: Honoring Our Students and Staff

At Cambridge-Isanti Schools, we believe that engagement in lifelong learning begins at birth—a value we proudly upheld during our recent celebration of the Week of the Young Child (WOYC). This nationally recognized week, led by early childhood educators and families, honors our youngest learners, the educators who nurture them, and the families who support their growth.

WOYC highlights the importance of early learning experiences and the dedicated professionals who lay the foundation for every child’s future. This year, our early learning staff brought the week to life through hands-on, meaningful activities that sparked curiosity, creativity, and connection.

Celebrating Our Students

At the center of WOYC is our commitment to educate, empower, and inspire every student, every day. From our youngest learners in early childhood family education (ECFE) classes and preschool classrooms to our kindergartners, WOYC week  was all about recognizing their unique potential and celebrating the joy young minds and hearts bring to learning.

Each day focused on a theme that promoted exploration and togetherness: Music Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Work Together Wednesday, Artsy Thursday, and Family Friday. Activities included a birthday party to celebrate our community’s newest one-year-olds, reflecting our belief that learning and belonging begin at the very start of life.

Aligned with our Strategic Plan, we continue to prioritize access to high-quality early learning and school readiness opportunities. Initiatives such as strengthening literacy instruction, piloting evidence-based resources, and aligning early learning experiences with the early childhood indicators of progress and MN state kindergarten standards help ensure our youngest Bluejackets begin their educational journey with confidence.

Honoring Our Staff

Behind every engaged student is a team of passionate and skilled educators. We celebrate the ongoing dedication of our early childhood staff, who create welcoming, inclusive, and developmentally rich environments for our children. Their work reflects our Bluejacket character traits—honesty, respect, responsibility, self-discipline, and compassion—and lays the foundation for strong social-emotional and academic growth.

This year’s WOYC also featured inspiring community connections. Students made placemats for local nursing homes and participated in an event at The LeVande, engaging with our broader community and reinforcing the importance of kindness, creativity, and shared experience.

As part of our district’s strategic commitment to supporting the mental health and well-being of all students and staff, we also prioritize our educators. Through professional development, mental health partnerships, and collaborative planning, we invest in the people who shape the lives of our youngest learners.

Looking Ahead: Join Us Next Year

While the 2025 Week of the Young Child has wrapped up, its impact continues to shine. We are grateful to our families, staff, and community partners who helped make this celebration so special.

We invite you to join us next spring as we celebrate WOYC again—whether by visiting a classroom, participating in events, or sharing words of encouragement with our staff. Together, we’re building a brighter future, one child at a time.

Learn more about our early learning efforts and strategic priorities at c-ischools.org/strategic-plan.