Beech Tree, Glen Forest, and Parklawn Elementary Schools collaborated with parents and community members to host a 5k race for their Young Men in Motion and Girls on the Go after school running clubs. Parent and community volunteers acted as buddy runners for over 100 students. Other volunteers were stationed along the race route through the Glasgow Middle School neighborhood to cheer on runners. Coaches worked with local businesses to purchase snacks and water for race participants. It was a wonderful example of family, school, and community partnerships.

Parents and their little ones volunteered in the Brookfield Elementary School Parent Center, filling up beach balls for a school wide Math activity. What a fun way to support your school community!

Bailey’s Elementary conducted an 8 week course titled “Act Against Violence: Parents Raising Safe Kids.” During this course, parents learned how to create environments that protect children from violence, to teach children how to control anger, and how to resolve conflicts in positive ways. This program is developed by the American Psychological Association.

Lynbrook Elementary School parent volunteers prepared a delicious breakfast reception to show their appreciation during Administrative Support Team Week. Parent volunteers met in the Family Learning Center to plan this wonderful event and to create special messages for each of the front office staff members.

Glen Forest Elementary held their first "Parents, Pancakes, and iPads" workshop on March 14, 2013. Parents came to the school-based family center to learn about how iPads are being used to support student learning. The principal and assistant principals treated parents to a pancake breakfast while they watched a video of students using iPads in the classroom.  Afterward, parents were able to use the iPads and play with the educational apps (applications) and they left with internet safety and mobile apps resources to support learning at home.

Bailey’s Elementary conducted a "Child Wellness" parent coffee presentation with the support of representatives from Amerigroup, a local health care organization. Families learned about the importance of healthy living, ways to be a positive role model for children, and potential health concerns to be aware of, including lead poisoning.

During the 2012-13 school year, male relatives of students attending Bren Mar Park Elementary established a “Men of Bren Mar Park” committee to increase collaboration with school staff members and families. Recently, the Men of Bren Mar Park met to discuss upcoming events, resources, ideas for supporting student success, concerns they may have, and potential solutions.

Sleepy Hollow Elementary held their first virtual PTA meeting on March 5, 2013. Nearly 20 parents and school staff members participated online through the use of Blackboard Collaborate. To ensure access for parents, Sleepy Hollow partnered with the Wilston Community Center, where parents were invited to participate and the necessary technology was provided. Sleepy Hollow looks forward to using these resources in the future.

On February 28th, Rose Hill Elementary hosted its first and very well attended Partners-In-Print event for preschool through 1st grade students and their families. PTA volunteers served dinner provided by local businesses and students received free books to take home at the end of the evening. Rose Hill’s Spanish Immersion teachers conducted hands on sessions in Spanish, while other classroom teachers held sessions in English. Families were excited to have such a special evening with their children.

Each year the National PTA selects a week in February to celebrate “Take Your Family to School Week.” To mark the occasion this year, Groveton Elementary hosted a variety of events and programs to encourage family and school partnerships. Events included daily classroom visits for parents, invitations for parents to join their student for lunch, coffee with the administrators, and a volunteer orientation in the family center.

Woodlawn Elementary has created its very own app for families to access and communicate important information with ease. Parents can send messages, report an absence or tardy, view the calendar of upcoming events and visit school and PTA Facebook pages. Parents are also able to view Twitter announcements, photos, and YouTube videos of events taking place at Woodlawn.

On February 26, Woodlawn, Westlawn, and Graham Road Elementary Schools attended Family Science Night at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in downtown D.C. Families visited galleries, listened to a presentation from a NASA scientist, and watched a 3D movie. Parents, students, and staff members had a wonderful experience and making connections to what is being taught in the classroom.

On February 14, 2013, Forestdale Elementary held a parent coffee to introduce families to the upcoming Science Fair. Parents learned what would take place in the next two months, as students across grade levels prepared and completed science fair experiments. Both the upper and primary grades’ lead science teachers hosted the event and shared with parents various ways they can support their students during this process. Information and resources were provided in both English and Spanish, ensuring access for families.

During each semester, Glen Forest Elementary hosts a computer class for adults. Parents enthusiastically learn mouse skills, create e-mail accounts, use “Google translate”, communicate directly with their teachers, run job searches and discover online educational resources for grades K-5. In addition, they learn how to create a document with MSWord 2010. At the end of the course, parents create their own resume, and they all e-mail Principal Cindi Choate expressing their appreciation. The course is held by parent liaison, Eugenia Garris, and supported by community volunteers. Mrs. Garris also incorporates articles about parenting, topics including “how to make a balance between work and home” and “Exploring ways to be involved in their child school."

Bailey’s Elementary School held a Positive Discipline workshop for parents this month. Parents and children participated in a variety of activities that helped provide positive discipline strategies to implement at home. Interpretation was made available by the Bailey’s parent liaisons, in both Arabic and Spanish.
Parents were so appreciative of the information and support that they are looking forward to additional parenting workshops provided at the Woodrow Wilson library, located next to the elementary school.

Parklawn Elementary held a successful Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI) Family Night on January 24th.  Teachers shared ways to support and promote both reading and writing at home. Families received a bookmark with sample questions to help start conversations about books, learned how to access MyOn books at home and used the computers to listen to some books online.  The children were able to pick 3 books to take home and spent time reading and writing with their families.

On January 14th the District Advisory Council (DAC) session, parent representatives from each school receiving Title I funding met to discuss digital citizenship and cyberbullying. Representatives…

• identified similarities between citizenship and digital citizenship skills, as well as bullying and cyberbullying.
• reviewed and discussed quotes from a recent parent-teacher chat on Twitter on the same topic.
• and participated in a digital footprint activity.

DAC representatives also received a variety of resources to continue the discussion at home and in school. During the upcoming March 4th session, DAC will further explore this subject as well as discuss how schools are using technology to engage families. For more information, please visit the DAC websites:

• http://www.fcps.edu/is/titlei/dac.shtml
• http://fcpsdac.wikispaces.com/

Forestdale Elementary held a successful Literacy Night for grades K-6 on Wednesday, January 9th.
Teachers demonstrated comprehension strategies and led a “Make it and Take it” activity. Families were then given the opportunity to practice these new strategies. Pizza was served and childcare was provided.
Families took home new books and ideas to help them continue to strengthen reading skills at home.

District Advisory Council implemented the use of Blackboard Collaborate to provide parent representatives the opportunity to participate online. Eighteen parents attended the session in person and an additional six parent representatives joined the session online from the comfort of their own homes.

During the December DAC session, parent representatives discussed 21st century learning skills. Representatives split into smaller groups to view videos, images, and websites demonstrating how these skills are being incorporated into every day classroom activities and lessons.

Beech Tree Elementary located at the heart of Falls Church, is serving families from over fifty nations worldwide.  Each year both schools’ parent liaisons Ana Scavuzzo and MyHanh Burr organize the International Night which included a traditional costume parade, an international dinner, music and good conversation.

Herndon Elementary hosted a Partners in Print (PIP) evening event on October 24 for families of students in grades K-2.  Participants in our Family Literacy class joined the event.  Topics included “Introducing a New Book” to young readers and “Asking Questions as You Read.”  Families enjoyed snacks and a new book thanks to the FCPS Title I team.  Herndon Elementary looks forward to hosting families for another PIP event in the spring.

Annandale Terrace ES held its annual Community Resource Fair on October 18, 2012. Representatives from a variety of community based organizations each took turns briefly describing what services were offered. After the presentation wrapped up, families were then able to stop by each organizations table to discuss areas of need and to complete any necessary documents.

The FCPS Title I team hosted a booth during the FCPS Education Summit on October 20, 2012 at Woodson High School. Title I team members celebrated the many ways in which Title I schools support family literacy. Highlighted programs included Partners in Print, Early Literacy Program, Parents as Educational Partners, Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) and the Pre-Kindergarten Literacy Program. 

Additional information is available online: http://www.fcps.edu/cco/fam/families.shtml.

Braddock Elementary school staff members met their new parent liaison, My-Hanh Burr during a Parent Center open house on September 17, 2012. Parent liaisons welcomed staff members with a variety of breakfast treats to help them start their day. The event was a wonderful way for Ms. Burr to get to know the Braddock Elementary staff.

Forestdale Elementary welcomed families to their new Family Center space on Thursday September 27, 2012. Principal, Cheryl Toth, held a parent coffee to discuss understanding SOL test results, as well as the revised Elementary Progress and Interim Reports.

Families can view additional information about the new progress reports online: http://www.fcps.edu/is/elemprogreport/index.shtml

The Beech Tree Elementary Family Center has opened a Clothing Closet this September. Families are invited once a month to choose from a variety of clothing for both children and adults. Clothes are donated by various members of the school community.

Bailey’s Elementary receives donations of kid friendly, non-perishable food which is provided to students participating in their Weekends Include Nutrition (WiN) program. Students eligible receive free or reduced lunch during the school day and are selected based upon need. The WiN program encourages the importance of healthy nutrition throughout the weekend.

Family literacy event leaders participated in a workshop to discuss research, how to assess their family engagement efforts, and how to integrate technology into family literacy activities.

Here teachers are using iPads to scan QR codes. The QR codes then brought them to useful websites and examples of family literacy activities that include the use of technology.

Glen Forest Elementary School participated in a “Community Bus Ride Meet and Greet” on Tuesday August 28, 2012. 

Staff members went to Skyline towers and The Jefferson apartment buildings for the first Glen Forest Community Bus Ride.  The families and school staff members  had a wonderful time meeting each other and are even more excited to kickoff the school year!