Return-Path: <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id g09IYT019281; Wed, 9 Jan 2002 13:34:29 -0500 (EST) Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2002 13:34:29 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <sc3c482d.000@mail1.arps.org> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Paul Burnim" <BurnimP@ARPS.ORG> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:581] Re: Opening remarks for this week's X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII X-Mailer: Novell GroupWise Internet Agent 6.0 Status: O Content-Length: 2866 Lines: 16 Greetings. I am new to this discussion group, but I have found the questions extremely helpful and thought provoking. In addition, given my position as Even Start Director, Title I Director, and Director of Professional Development for our schools, this discussion feels to be right out of our staff meetings. To respond in brief.... Our Even Start Program serves children 0-3 on-site in an infant/toddler center. It is in this space that PACT, and parenting and conferencing occurs. It is a natural site for learning and literacy, as well as to glean from the experiences of parents of older children. Our Community Partnership for Children serves chidlren 3-5 both in-school and throughout the community. We have modelled Even Start components to school-based and off-site programs as a vehicle for increasing home-strategies for successful child rearing, increasing home-school relationships and communication, and empowering adults and families. The Title I Program has for the past ten years provided outreach services WITH families. I work in a small school district (3700 kids) with 33 languages and over 80 countries of origin of our families. This has happily necessitated both learning and teaching with families, in and out-of-school. We hire staff to provide mechanisms for understanding public education, understanding the expectations of adult roles in children's learning, and helping families feel welcomed and comfortable with our staff. As a staff we undrstand that our families work several jobs, and at a variety of hours, so we are the group that must be flexible. Our meetings occur in-school during and after school, at neighborhood/community sites, and at times that are most convenient for our families. We keep a wide variety of education and literacy materials 'in-stock' to meet the needs of families as they arrive and settle in Amherst. We offer after-school homework and social times for children in a number of languages, and extend the day to help families. In addition, we offer support on accessing human services as transportation and language are often barriers. The list goes on with what we do as school personnel, as well as what we learn from the community, and how we are involved with a number of human service providers. The program grew two years ago to also include Middle School children. The after school program (Savuka) offers academic support and homework support (mandatory) as a vehicle to participate in a wide number of social activities ranging from sports to technology to mountain biking to hiking to crafts to community service, etc, etc, etc, Started as a strategy to help kids keep busy and occupied after-school, we now have a waiting list to get in. Parent involvement and participation is both encouraged and required. I hope this helps others. Thanks for the opportunity.
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