Around the World Cultural Celebrations (Around the World at Scott School)Scott Elementary SchoolNaperville, Illinois With students from many different cultures, ethnic groups, and backgrounds, two Naperville elementary schools used their growing diversity as the basis for successful schoolwide events for parents, students, teachers, and administrators. More... Cheryl Heeneman, usinchi@aol.com Type 3 | Elementary Grades | Multicultural Awareness |
Around the World Cultural Celebrations (Cultural Celebration)Ellsworth Elementary SchoolNaperville, Illinois With students from many different cultures, ethnic groups, and backgrounds, two Naperville elementary schools used their growing diversity as the basis for successful schoolwide events for parents, students, teachers, and administrators. More... Adrianne Horn, SFCP Co-chair 630-357-9788 pasaahorn3@comcast.net Type 3 | Elementary Grades | Multicultural Awareness |
Barnum Buddy ProgramThe Barnum SchoolTaunton, Massachusetts To provide individual attention to prekindergarteners who have difficulty learning important readiness skills, the Barnum School developed the Barnum Buddy Program. The school recruited high school, parent, and community volunteers as “big buddies” to be paired with a “little buddy.” These Barnum More... Mary-Jane Webster, Principal 508-821-1282 mjwebster@tauntonschools.org Type 3 | Elementary Grades | Reading and Literacy |
BES Goes to WorkBallentine Elementary SchoolIrmo, South Carolina BES, the bear, goes to work. And nearly every week she has a different job—firefighter, nurse, construction worker, office manager. BES is a busy bear. Just ask the students at Ballentine Elementary School who keep track of BES’s travels and adventures. More... Susan Weaver, Guidance Counselor 803-732-8251 sweaver@lex5.k12.sc.us Type 3 | Elementary Grades | Careers and Postsecondary Planning |
Every Minute CountsWhittier Elementary SchoolPasco, Washington Proving that Every Minute Counts at Whittier Elementary School, the Action Team for Partnerships (ATP) sponsored a parent involvement activity that counted every minute—25,534 of them—spent by parents in the school in just 17 days in January. More... Christy McEachen, ATP Chair, 4th Grade Teacher 509-543-6750 cmceachen@psd1.org Type 3 | Elementary Grades | Climate of Partnership |
Family Connection ProgramJefferson Junior High SchoolNaperville, Illinois The Family Connection Program at Jefferson Junior High School is tackling an old problem with a new strategy. The problem is families who need financial help for school expenses. The families and staff of Jefferson have been helping their friends and neighbors who may have lost a job or encountered other financial problems. Family Connection is a group of Jefferson students, families, staff members, and business partners working together to lend a helping hand to families facing difficult circumstances. More... Katie O'Shea, katOsh6@aol.com Type 3 | Middle Grades | Climate of Partnership |
Family Fun NightSouthside Elementary School #93Buffalo, New York At the close of each academic year, Southside Elementary students gather in the parking lot with their families—and throw pies at the principal! That and the faculty dunking booth are undoubtedly the most fun at Family Fun Night, a chance to celebrate students’ accomplishments and let them unwind with food, games, and raffles. More... Marilynne Kreibel, 716-816-4818 Type 3 | Elementary Grades | Climate of Partnership |
Family Involvement EventsChappell Elementary SchoolGreen Bay, Wisconsin Chappell Elementary School offers free family activities every month. The array of events is enticing: movie nights, chili bingo, holiday dinners, family photo nights, Mardi Gras dances, costume balls, roller skating, and art fairs. These events get families involved in the school, help them get acquainted with teachers and staff, and provide activities families can do together. Each evening includes a family dinner along with a free gift, such as a book or family photo. More... Jennifer Kutska, AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer 920-405-2630 jkutska@greenbay.k12.wi.us Type 3 | Elementary Grades | Climate of Partnership |
High Five After-School ProgramSpooner Elementary SchoolSpooner, Wisconsin To help low-income children bridge the socioeconomic achievement gap and raise their test scores in math and language arts, Spooner Elementary established an after-school program called High Five. After surveying parents for possible course offerings, the school created a variety of clubs to engage kids in fun and constructive activities such as drama, crafts, cooking, gardening, reading, and homework help. More... Karen Collins, VISTA 715-635-2174 collinsk@spooner.k12.wi.us Type 3 | Elementary Grades | Achievement in Other Academic Areas |
Honor Recognition AssemblyNew Horizons High SchoolPasco, Washington A student’s suggestion turned into a new way to recognize academic achievement at New Horizons, an alternative high school. When a student representative to the Action Team for Partnerships (ATP) suggested that the school have an assembly to honor those students with a 3.0 or higher grade point average, the team decided to act on it. More... , Type 3 | High School | Achievement in Other Academic Areas |
Many Stars Are BornMachen Elementary SchoolHampton, Virginia When Machen Elementary School decided to put on a play, it truly was a production. More than 100 students auditioned, and everyone got a role. The rest of the students also played parts—backstage and in other preparations, such as making programs and ushering for performances. More... Karen Lacy, Parent Involvement Facilitator 757-766-8592 klacy@sbo.hampton.k12.va.us Type 3 | Elementary Grades | Achievement in Other Academic Areas |
Men's DayRobert H. Jamison SchoolCleveland, Ohio The staff at Robert H. Jamison School had a problem: Suspensions and classroom disruptions were on the rise, and students were missing class and roaming the hallways. Rather than responding with punishments, the administration, led by the Action Team for Partnerships (ATP), tried a positive solution: getting dads and other men who were important in the students’ lives involved. The school hosted Men’s Day, inviting fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other male role models to a special waffle breakfast. More... Doris Wright, Family Liaison 216-295-4538 wrightmrs@att.net Type 3 | Elementary Grades | Behavior |
Passport to the World of MathSuring Elementary SchoolSuring, Washington Suring Elementary School introduced Family Math Night in April. In the past, Family Reading Nights have been successful at Suring, but the Family School Community Partnership Team decided it was time to focus on other academic areas, and all agreed that math was a great place to start. More... Amy DeWall, Suring School VISTA 920-842-2181 ext. 237 amy14@charter.net Type 3 | Elementary Grades | Math |
Ruediger AchieversRuediger Elementary SchoolTallahassee, Florida Ruediger Achievers recognizes students with outstanding attendance, citizenship, and academic achievement, while also delivering encouragement to all students about what it takes to be successful not only in school but also throughout life. The core of the Achievers program at Ruediger Elementary is its quarterly Awards Assemblies, held three times a year for all of the students and their parents, and the fourth time as a fifth-grade graduation ceremony. More... Carolyn Spooner, Principal 850-488-1074 spoonerc@mail.ruediger.leon.k12.fl.us Type 3 | Elementary Grades | Achievement in Other Academic Areas |
Safe School ProgramKingsley Elementary SchoolNaperville, Illinois To help Kingsley Elementary students effectively counteract bullying, the School Family Community Partnership (SFCP) started the Safe School Program, a series of presentations focusing on peer relationships. School personnel developed the program with help from parents on the SFCP team. More... Kathy Schank, Parent 630-357-6981 schank3@wowway.com Type 3 | Elementary Grades | Behavior |
Support Peace: Violence Prevention WeekForest Home Avenue Elementary SchoolMilwaukee, Wisconsin Too many disciplinary referrals and suspensions in school and a general feeling of unrest in the neighborhood prompted Forest Home Avenue Elementary’s Action/Learning Team to plan Violence Prevention Week to educate students in nonviolent problem-solving methods. The week incorporated academic and school spirit activities, finishing off with an assembly encouraging students to “Support Peace.” More... Mary Conway, Learning Coordinator 414-902-6237 mconway3@wi.rr.com Type 3 | Elementary Grades | Behavior |
Volunteer SurveyWhittier Elementary SchoolWaukesha, Wisconsin To get more parents involved at Whittier Elementary, the school sent out a volunteer survey, asking families what type of activities they might be willing to volunteer for — field trips, health services, classroom projects, school decision making, or special events. The survey also asked what time of the day and year is most convenient for parents to volunteer. More... Lisa Fusco, VISTA Type 3 | Elementary Grades | Climate of Partnership |