|
 Family
Resource Center
Programs
Family Education
Another important component of the Family
Resource Center Coordinator responsibilities are coordinating family
education workshops. These workshops are intended to assist families
in a supportive, non-judgmental environment, in dealing with a multitude of
family issues. These workshops are done in collaboration with EPIC,
the PTA, the School Social Worker, and/or School Psychologist. The
Family Resource Center Coordinator have held workshops covering the
following topics, “Helping Your Child Succeed In School”, “Communicating
with the Teacher”, “Literacy”, “Positive Discipline, just to name a few.
The workshops are always met with a
positive response from the parents. These workshops are confidential
and the parents are able to speak freely. These workshops give the
Family Resource Center Coordinator the opportunity to respond to the needs
of a parent, who may struggle to share, the same, information with the
Family Resource Center Coordinator. These workshops have also been a
benefit to the teaching staff. Administrators who have attended the
workshops have shared, only, the handouts with staff. These handouts
have assisted the staff in understanding concerns/issues of their parents.
"It feels good knowing I’m not the only
parent facing issues with their children.”
Hillcrest Intermediate Parent
Adult ESL
Our Grandview and Fleetwood Coordinators made great
strides reaching out to our immigrant community by implementing Adult ESL in
the district. Our intentions were to provide classes in the evening
for immigrant families that would combine learning English, parenting
techniques, and everyday skills that benefit both parents and children.
We held discussions with community organizations such as H.A.C.S.O., Konbit
Neg LaKay, HABLA, The Learning Center, B.O.C.E.S, East Ramapo staff and
parents to plan the curriculum. These meetings underlined the need for
childcare to accompany our classes. We also realized how important it
was to incorporate learning about the East Ramapo Central School District
into the curriculum. We offered question and answer sessions with the
School Psychologist, Social Worker, Department of Social Services Preventive
Worker, and the Family Resource Coordinator.
B.O.C.E.S. sponsors the program while the Spring Valley
Key Club and Rockland Girl Scouts volunteer their time to assist with
childcare. Due to the demand and success of the program, Fleetwood
offers the classes year round every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30 pm to
8:30 pm.
One parent described why it met her need: “Estoy muy
contento con el programa porque necesito aprender a escribir y hablar
inglės. Ahora que estamos en este programa, tengo tiempo para aprender
lo que quiero. Quisiėra seguir como estamos porque aprendo y les ensėo
a mis hijos a mejorar su educacion. Gracias.”
“I’m really happy with the program because I need to
learn how to write and speak English and now that we are in this program, I
have the time to learn what I want. It is why I would continue so I
can learn and teach my children, so they can have a better education.
Thank You.”
Family Events
Family involvement is a key focus for the Family Resource
Coordinator when planning family events. We know the benefits
associated with family involvement in the school include positive social
interactions, increased quality time with families in addition to the many
learning opportunities they can provide. Examples of typical events
run by the FRC are Reading, Math, Sports, International, Art, and Game
Nights. One such event, Express Yourself! Family Portrait Night
offered families the opportunity to take family portraits and create their
own picture frames. This opportunity brought out the creativity in all
with many families requesting similar nights in the future.
“ Family Art Night was very fun spending time with my
family.”
Grandview Parent
“I loved the photo workshop. It was a fun family
activity.”
Grandview Parent
“This is definitely an
incentive to come out on a school night.”
Grandview Parent
“Reading Night is a great way to encourage
a daily ritual. We enjoyed the story and the teachers are very
enthusiastic. Thanks for teaching us that reading is fun!”
Grandview Parent
"What a great idea! When are you
going to have another family night? It was fun seeing the teachers.”
Summit Park Parent
Early Childhood
All Family Resource Coordinators currently hold parent
child playgroups weekly. We provide activities that will enhance early
learning skills that will ease their transition into Kindergarten. We
develop these skills through literacy, social, fine, and gross motor
experiences utilizing the school library, gym, and playground. The
playgroups offer these experiences to both public and non-public families.
In addition to the playgroups, we assist in their
transition from nursery / Pre k to kindergarten. The Family Resource
Coordinators partake in all aspects of registration and orientation.
We also provide families with referrals to k-club and other childcare
services. This early childhood component offers families many
opportunities to participate in the school setting prior to their child’s
admission into Kindergarten creating an easier transition for both the
family and school.
"My daughter loves coming to the
playgroups. She was more upset about missing the playgroups than being
home sick.”
Summit Park Parent
Intermediate Schools
The roll of the Family Resource Coordinator
in the intermediate schools is still evolving. Parent involvement
tends to drop off when children enter this grade level. Our goal is to
offer them opportunities and programs to keep them interested in continued
participation. Programs that help parent’s transition from elementary
school to the intermediate level and again from the intermediate to
secondary are very important. Programs such as parenting workshops and
family nights are now being offered through the Family Resource Center.
One such event, Lime Kiln Elementary School Back to School BBQ, offered a
unique back to school celebration with a twist. More than 350 families
at Lime Kiln Elementary had one more reason to attend their Back to School.
They had the opportunity to receive information from various community
agencies as well as school personnel while they enjoyed a BBQ dinner.
The evening included booths and presentations from community agencies such
as Town of Ramapo Parks and Recreation, Affinity Health Plan, EPIC, Mad
Science, Community Action Program, DARE, Finkelstein Memorial Library,
Spring Valley Youth Bureau, Girl Scouts of Rockland, Lime Kiln PTA, and Lime
Kiln Family Resource Center. Families met in the cafeteria for a BBQ
and to meet with community representatives. Then parents met the
staff, PTA and had an opportunity to visit with their child’s teacher while
students participated in a Mad Science assembly.
|
