Issue #4
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Special Edition: Parent Involvement Month Recap
| Each
October NJPIRC celebrates Parent Involvement Month with schools and
communities throughout NJ. This year NJPIRC kicked off the month with
the Northern NJ Parent Empowerment Summit held in Newark, NJ. We
distributed pledge cards and educational information to thousands of
parents throughout the month, and awarded 16 NJ schools with stipends to
help support a parent involvement activity in their schools. |
Northern NJ Parent Empowerment Summit September 25, 2010
On
September 25, 2010 NJPIRC hosted the 1st Annual Northern NJ Parent
Empowerment Summit. The event brought approximately 100 parents and
professionals from across the state and the US Department of Education
to participate in a series of workshops covering topics related to
inspiring parents to become actively engaged in their child's education.
The workshops provided parents with a forum to voice concerns, share experiences, and receive valuable resources to help their child succeed.
The day began and ended with a humorous, yet inspiring keynote presentation by national award-winning speaker Carol Ritter. Throughout the day, representatives from organizations across the state
were
on hand to provide guests with information about available services for
parents and children. Perhaps the highlight of the day was a lunch-time
presentation by Bryahna Shaw and Kenyela Horn, daughters of PCA-NJ Staff, who each pleased the crowd with a special song and poem.
Thank you to all who participated and volunteered at the event. Visit
www.NJPIRC.org to find out information about the upcoming Southern New Jersey Parent Empowerment Conference being held in March, 2011.
Public Service Announcement from NJPIRC
NJPIRC
has developed and released its second public service announcement to
help inform the public about the importance of parent involvement in
education. This four-minute video can be downloaded from our website at
www.NJPIRC.org. Click below to watch the video.
Stipends Awarded to NJ Schools
October
2010 marked the third annual Parent Involvement Month in New Jersey. To
celebrate the occasion, NJPIRC awarded 16 schools throughout NJ with
stipends to host an event designed to engage families in the school
community. Congratulations to all 16 schools who received awards! Scroll down to see how some of the schools used thier stipends.
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2010 NJPIRC Parent Involvement Month Stipend Awards
Atlantic County Institute of Technology, Mays Landing
Edith Griebling Elementary School, Farmingdale
George Washington School, Union City
Greater Newark Charter School, Newark
Jefferson Elementary School, Maplewood
Jefferson Elementary School, Plainfield
John Adams Elementary School, North Brunswick
John P. Faber Elementary School, Dunellen
Lawnside Public School, Lawnside
Lindenwold School Four, Lindenwold
New Brunswick High School,New Brunswick
North Brunswick High School, North Brunswick
Rancocas Valley Regional High School, Mt. Holly
Roxbury High, Succasunna
University Heights Charter School, Newark
Whitehall Elementary, Williamstown |
| NJPIRC Stipend Award Winner! |
Lawnside Public School: Pasta Dinner and Parent Involvement
Lawnside
Public School hosted a pasta dinner to celebrate Parent
Involvement in Education Month at their Open House night. Jazz
played in the background as approximately 200 parents, staff, and
students mingled and got to know one another. Before the meal it was
explained that the dinner was to honor the Lawnside
community/parents and school staff shared information about how a
parent's involvement in school activities can have a positive impact on
student achievement. Parents then reported to their children's
classrooms to meet their new teachers and were given an overview
of new grade level curriculum. Parents were also given the
opportunity to tour the building and visit various tables receive
information and sign up for Camden County library cards. Other tables
included school committees such as the School Leadership Team, Parent
Involvment Policy Development Committee, School-Parent Compact
Committee, and the Parent-Teacher Association. Lawnside Public School
was proud to announce that forty-seven (47) new PTA members signed up
the evening of Open House!
Staff
and parents alike stated that this was a wonderful way to kick-off
Parent Involvement in Education Month and that this activity helped to
strengthen the partnership that already exists between Lawnside
School staff, families and community members. School staff and families
enjoyed dinner, talked, laughed and spent the rest of the evening
together. Because Open House proved to be such a success, Lawnside
planned a second parent involvement activity – “Teacher for a Day” held
on November 19, 2010.
Parents and students at Lawnside Public School enjoy a fun and educational evening, together with teachers and staff.
| NJPIRC Stipend Award Winner! |
University Heights Charter School: Bingo for Books Night
At
University Heights Charter School over 200 people, including 76 parents
participated in Bingo for Books night. The event began with a reading
of the official Parent Involvement Month Proclamation and the signing of
parent pledge cards. Then, parents
and students participated in several rounds of bingo, receiving books as
prizes for their participation. In between rounds of bingo the school
staff worked to ensure they used the time to share important messages
with parents on health, safety and education. Some of these messages
included information about flu season, traffic safety, and supporting
learning at home. The highlight of the evening was a performance by the
school's afterschool dance troupe! As the evening ended, each child
received a book for their participation.
The
Bingo for Books event accomplished several parent involvement goals. It
got parents to spend time at the school and learn what is happening in
the school. It provided practical tips on how parents can support
child safety, health, and education (especially the importance of
reading with their children). Parents also developed a greater
understanding of how their efforts fit into a larger movement of parent
involvement, and how they can connect to that movement through NJPIRC.
The event also reinforced a joyful, positive relationship with the
school, which is especially important for parents of students who are
struggling and often get negative messages regarding their child’s
behavior or academic achievement.
Parents
and students at University Heights Charter School playing Bingo For
Books to celebrate Parent Involvement Month October 2010.
