Parent Invovement Project
continued middle school partnerships
again Examples of possible partnerships activities:
coordinate community conersations and input on helping students succeed
engage community partner organizations in the school
coordinate school volunteers
strengthen parent involvement
engage students in service learning and community service projects
involve elders in the school
Provide/organize after school tutoring or mentoring
promote sports, arts, subsistence skills and other meaningful
activities
coordinate peer education projects
track progress on project goals
This fall, serving as "partnership Liaisons" based at the middle school,
AmeriCorps Members will identify and implement ways to improve the student
success through community conversations and invovlement of parents,
teachers, students and community partners. Members serve as community
educators, school partnership organizers, volunteer leaders, student mentors
and role models.
The eight schools will be soon tracking their progress and sharing their
successful activities via Facebook and on the RurAl CAP website and I will
keep you updated here on our blog/website.
The AKPTA will help with parent engagement training and reaching out to
other parents of middle school children. This inbetween age child has
special challenges that it will take a village to build those supports that
will be seen in the way students are happy, engaged with their learning and
eager to increase their knowledge.
--
Paula Pawlowski, Director
Parent Engagement Program
Alaska PTA
PO Box 201496
Anchorage, AK 99520
907-279-9345 ph
907-223-0628 c
907-222-2401 f
parentprogram@alaskapta.org
www.alaskapta.org
coordinate community conersations and input on helping students succeed
engage community partner organizations in the school
coordinate school volunteers
strengthen parent involvement
engage students in service learning and community service projects
involve elders in the school
Provide/organize after school tutoring or mentoring
promote sports, arts, subsistence skills and other meaningful
activities
coordinate peer education projects
track progress on project goals
This fall, serving as "partnership Liaisons" based at the middle school,
AmeriCorps Members will identify and implement ways to improve the student
success through community conversations and invovlement of parents,
teachers, students and community partners. Members serve as community
educators, school partnership organizers, volunteer leaders, student mentors
and role models.
The eight schools will be soon tracking their progress and sharing their
successful activities via Facebook and on the RurAl CAP website and I will
keep you updated here on our blog/website.
The AKPTA will help with parent engagement training and reaching out to
other parents of middle school children. This inbetween age child has
special challenges that it will take a village to build those supports that
will be seen in the way students are happy, engaged with their learning and
eager to increase their knowledge.
--
Paula Pawlowski, Director
Parent Engagement Program
Alaska PTA
PO Box 201496
Anchorage, AK 99520
907-279-9345 ph
907-223-0628 c
907-222-2401 f
parentprogram@alaskapta.org
www.alaskapta.org
Middle School Partnership
When my first child went to Romig Middle School they were confused as to why
I would want to volunteer for the school. After all, it is only middle
school. After all, it is only two years. Whoa, I said, because of the poor
spacing on my part, they are spread across 9 years that means I will have a
child at Romig for the next 10 years. Basically that is longer than some
marriages!
Plus the research is clear, parent involvement at all ages and stages is a
critical component for success. It just looks different at every stage which
allows parents to take on different roles. Harvard's Family Inovlvement
Project is now defining Parent Involvement as from Cradle to Career! I
couldn't be happier with that definition because it clearly defines what I
do.
But Middle School is a special time in a child's life. Stretching that gap
between being a child and becoming a teenager. Remember what it was like?
Not an age I would like to repeat!
Good news for Middle Schools! The State of Alaska, Department of Education
and Early Development, RurAl CAP, AKPTA, AKPIRIC and additional partners is
a new initiative designed to increase middle school student sucess throught
community partnerships, volunteerism and engaging students in meaningful,
relationship and skill-building activities.
The state-wide Middle School Partnerhsip Project kickoff meeting was on
March 31st including state leaders, educators, parents, and community
members from Mountain Village, Hooper Bay, stebbins, St. Michael, Eagle
River, North Pole, Fairbanks, and Anchorage. Each of the eight schools will
engage in community partnership conversations (community cafes) to decide
their own strategies and actions that will improve student academic,
achievement, school attendance, sense of belonging and engagement.
Examples of possible partnership activities:
--
Paula Pawlowski, Director
Parent Engagement Program
Alaska PTA
PO Box 201496
Anchorage, AK 99520
907-279-9345 ph
907-223-0628 c
907-222-2401 f
parentprogram@alaskapta.org
www.alaskapta.org
I would want to volunteer for the school. After all, it is only middle
school. After all, it is only two years. Whoa, I said, because of the poor
spacing on my part, they are spread across 9 years that means I will have a
child at Romig for the next 10 years. Basically that is longer than some
marriages!
Plus the research is clear, parent involvement at all ages and stages is a
critical component for success. It just looks different at every stage which
allows parents to take on different roles. Harvard's Family Inovlvement
Project is now defining Parent Involvement as from Cradle to Career! I
couldn't be happier with that definition because it clearly defines what I
do.
But Middle School is a special time in a child's life. Stretching that gap
between being a child and becoming a teenager. Remember what it was like?
Not an age I would like to repeat!
Good news for Middle Schools! The State of Alaska, Department of Education
and Early Development, RurAl CAP, AKPTA, AKPIRIC and additional partners is
a new initiative designed to increase middle school student sucess throught
community partnerships, volunteerism and engaging students in meaningful,
relationship and skill-building activities.
The state-wide Middle School Partnerhsip Project kickoff meeting was on
March 31st including state leaders, educators, parents, and community
members from Mountain Village, Hooper Bay, stebbins, St. Michael, Eagle
River, North Pole, Fairbanks, and Anchorage. Each of the eight schools will
engage in community partnership conversations (community cafes) to decide
their own strategies and actions that will improve student academic,
achievement, school attendance, sense of belonging and engagement.
Examples of possible partnership activities:
--
Paula Pawlowski, Director
Parent Engagement Program
Alaska PTA
PO Box 201496
Anchorage, AK 99520
907-279-9345 ph
907-223-0628 c
907-222-2401 f
parentprogram@alaskapta.org
www.alaskapta.org
*** Email entry ***
Today I am still thinking about the comment on the late newscast of *schools
not making the grade* 'and some kids can't even tie their own shoes'! My
youngest son, who is turning 30 years old, couldn't tie his shoes when he
went to kindergarten and we had to resort to shoes with velcro! YAY Velcro!!
But no one said out loud, at least within my hearing capabilities, that
something was tragically wrong with that, also implying that my parenting
skills were poor because he couldn't tie his shoes. No, everyone I spoke to
said thank goodness for velcro! Tieing one's shoes is a complex small motor
skill and many kids are not ready yet at the age of 6! But the statement
'implied' that these children were deficient and the parents weren't good
parents because some children couldn't tie their shoes! when remarks are
made in a very public way, on tv, it hurts parents and children. And when
the public hears 'schools aren't making the grade' they automatically think
the teachers are bad! simply not true. either statement, simply not true.
One needs to dig deeper and look closer at the situation. As the story did
continue to say, these children are being raised in the language of their
culture, their culture, their heritage, their home place and you know what?
my children are not bi-lingual and that is a skill they could use in today's
world. Instead of hammering on 'they didn't make the grade' how about
focusing on their strengths? every child has strengths. every family has
strengths. let us start there.
--
Paula Pawlowski, Director
Parent Engagement Program
Alaska PTA
PO Box 201496
Anchorage, AK 99520
907-279-9345 ph
907-223-0628 c
907-222-2401 f
parentprogram@alaskapta.org
www.alaskapta.org
not making the grade* 'and some kids can't even tie their own shoes'! My
youngest son, who is turning 30 years old, couldn't tie his shoes when he
went to kindergarten and we had to resort to shoes with velcro! YAY Velcro!!
But no one said out loud, at least within my hearing capabilities, that
something was tragically wrong with that, also implying that my parenting
skills were poor because he couldn't tie his shoes. No, everyone I spoke to
said thank goodness for velcro! Tieing one's shoes is a complex small motor
skill and many kids are not ready yet at the age of 6! But the statement
'implied' that these children were deficient and the parents weren't good
parents because some children couldn't tie their shoes! when remarks are
made in a very public way, on tv, it hurts parents and children. And when
the public hears 'schools aren't making the grade' they automatically think
the teachers are bad! simply not true. either statement, simply not true.
One needs to dig deeper and look closer at the situation. As the story did
continue to say, these children are being raised in the language of their
culture, their culture, their heritage, their home place and you know what?
my children are not bi-lingual and that is a skill they could use in today's
world. Instead of hammering on 'they didn't make the grade' how about
focusing on their strengths? every child has strengths. every family has
strengths. let us start there.
--
Paula Pawlowski, Director
Parent Engagement Program
Alaska PTA
PO Box 201496
Anchorage, AK 99520
907-279-9345 ph
907-223-0628 c
907-222-2401 f
parentprogram@alaskapta.org
www.alaskapta.org
where to start
I am thinking this morning about how large the scope of this parent
engagement project really is and if we can make a difference in three short
years or not. We have the tools, implementation guides, definitions,
handouts etc but how will that connect the child and the parent? Watching
KTUU's program last night and the dismal scores in our village schools
demonstrate how critical the parent component really is in my mind. And yet
there seems to be even a bigger disconnect between home and school than in
some of the larger cities. Families have roles and responsibilities with
education and schools have responsibilities to parents and communities but
the roles are not clear nor are they consistent. What we are really doing
here is trying to help a parents dreams and vision for their child come
true. And a big part of their child's life is spent in a system called
education, we must know how to play and what the rules are. I don't have any
'throw away' children so I have to get it right the first time around. I
wish I could say I got smarter with each child after the first one but that
is not true. Each is so individualized that each was a true learning lesson
in progress. So where do we start? Harvard University is now defining parent
involvement as from *cradle to career*. I like that definition it fits my
idea of starting to finishing my job as a parent but as we move through the
different roles what does that look like and what is it that I need to know?
--
Paula Pawlowski, Director
Parent Engagement Program
Alaska PTA
PO Box 201496
Anchorage, AK 99520
907-279-9345 ph
907-223-0628 c
907-222-2401 f
parentprogram@alaskapta.org
www.alaskapta.org
engagement project really is and if we can make a difference in three short
years or not. We have the tools, implementation guides, definitions,
handouts etc but how will that connect the child and the parent? Watching
KTUU's program last night and the dismal scores in our village schools
demonstrate how critical the parent component really is in my mind. And yet
there seems to be even a bigger disconnect between home and school than in
some of the larger cities. Families have roles and responsibilities with
education and schools have responsibilities to parents and communities but
the roles are not clear nor are they consistent. What we are really doing
here is trying to help a parents dreams and vision for their child come
true. And a big part of their child's life is spent in a system called
education, we must know how to play and what the rules are. I don't have any
'throw away' children so I have to get it right the first time around. I
wish I could say I got smarter with each child after the first one but that
is not true. Each is so individualized that each was a true learning lesson
in progress. So where do we start? Harvard University is now defining parent
involvement as from *cradle to career*. I like that definition it fits my
idea of starting to finishing my job as a parent but as we move through the
different roles what does that look like and what is it that I need to know?
--
Paula Pawlowski, Director
Parent Engagement Program
Alaska PTA
PO Box 201496
Anchorage, AK 99520
907-279-9345 ph
907-223-0628 c
907-222-2401 f
parentprogram@alaskapta.org
www.alaskapta.org
Welcome
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