Center Elementary’s staff hosted its first-ever Back-to-School-Bash this school year for all parents and students. Center’s Parent Engagement Coordinator Aimee Mancil along with Instructional Coach Susie Tison planned a night of learning and fun to allow parents the opportunity to see how their child was progressing after the first four weeks of school had started. Center’s grade level teachers each planned an informational meeting for parents focusing on the standards their students would be learning this year and how their child could reach mastery with all stakeholders involved in the education of their child. Every parent and child was treated to dinner with a welcome by school principal Mr. Tyler A. Bennett. In his welcome, Bennett stated, “We at Center want to inform you of what is expected of our students and how you as a parent can help reinforce the learning taking place in our classrooms on a daily basis. More importantly though, we want to spend time tonight building relationships with all of you so that we can all see our students be successful this year!”
After a time for dinner and fellowship, Mrs. Susie Tison, Center’s Instructional Coach, provided details on the night’s events and descriptions on the informational meetings being held in different locations of the building. Before breaking into the night’s meetings, Mrs. Anna Davis, Center’s Parent Teacher Organization’s (PTO) president, encouraged all of Center’s parents to become involved in the organization this year and reviewed ideas that were scheduled for students and teachers. As parents attended their scheduled meetings for the night, Center’s staff held a fun Back-to-School Bash Dance in the multipurpose room for all the students while they enjoyed snacks and lots of dancing. Students were also treated to tasty sno-cones.
Parents received “hands-on learning” from their child’s grade level teachers regarding how to help their children grow and acquire academic success. Some of the topics discussed were how to access various computer programs on the school’s website, data and assessment procedures, and information about building communication with school staff to support student academic achievement. Each parent took home something created by the teachers to help tutor his/her child. For example, Kindergarten parents learned how to play a sight word game with their child along with tips on how to transition from sight words to reading books. Mrs. Tison stated, “We want to support our parents by letting them know exactly what we are doing at school so they can mirror the same strategies at home.”
Kyle Lee, Kathy Lee, Mrs. Jenna Corley, and Hannah H. enjoy supper.
5th grade parents listen to an informational presentation.
Nurse Goddard served popcorn for students attending the dance.
