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Danbury Schools’ New Promise Program

Connecticut’s Guiding Principles for Family Engagement promote full, equal, and equitable partnerships with families. The start of a new school year is an ideal time to focus on the principle of ‘Sharing information frequently with families about how their children are doing.’

Danbury (CT) Public Schools’ New Promise Program is a prime example of how a school system can create equitable communication systems by ensuring that families have access to multiple communication systems.  

The New Promise Program

Danbury Public Schools created the New Promise Program to welcome families who are new to the school district and provide them with valuable information and resources to support their student’s academic success.

In order to meet the needs of their families, programs are offered in English, Spanish, and Portuguese and they provide light refreshments and activities for young children during sessions. Families are welcomed to each session by a group of trainers and volunteers such as parent educators, family liaisons, and parent leaders.

The program has seen a large early response with over 200 families registering for sessions held over the summer. They will continue to run the program monthly throughout the school year and include a virtual option for families. Below are the topics covered in the program.

Session topics

Day 1:

  • Welcome to DPS- Meet the Team
  • Connecting to Your School & Safety
  • Connecting to Your Family Liaison- Family liaisons connect with families and answer school-specific questions
  • School Attendance
  • Health Policies

Day 2:

  • Technology- Parents are given Chromebooks to use for this portion and given step-by-step instructions on how to create an email address, access free or low-cost internet, how to power on and maintain the student’s Chromebook, and how to navigate Powerschool, Google Classroom, Parent Square, and Naviance
  • Extended Learning Program
  • Transportation
  • Meals
  • Social Emotional Learning

Day 3

  • Community Resources- Playgroups, adult education, ESL classes, food & housing, health services
  • Parent and Community Leadership- Parent leaders speak about their experiences in PSEE, PEP, and PLTI 
  • Special Education
  • Life Beyond High School
  • Career Opportunities
  • Supporting Your Learner at Home

Back-to-School Checklist for Parents

The U.S. Department of Education released a back-to-school checklist for parents and families. The checklist, part of the Department’s updated back-to-school resource site, will help parents, caregivers, and families engage with local school and district leaders about how they are supporting students as they recover from the impacts of the pandemic. This checklist elevates key evidence-based practices for supporting students’ learning and mental health and ensuring the safety of students and staff, which districts are encouraged to implement using the American Rescue Plan and other COVID relief funds. This back-to-school ARP checklist also recognizes 15 promising examples of how states and school districts are already using federal ARP funds to support students and staff schools.

See the Checklist Here

Summer Enrichment Opportunities

PACT Program, Offering Free Community College, Has July 15 Priority Deadline

You can find camps in your community that are still enrolling by going to our summerct.org portal. Look for “Enrollment” on the left and click on “Still Enrolling”. Many programs are free or offer scholarships.

Find Out More Here

The State of Education in Connecticut
With Education Commissioner
Charlene M. Russell-Tucker

Join us to learn more about the Connecticut State Department of Education’s (CSDE) current goals and investments for the future. Topics covered in the webinar will include federal funding investments, initiatives currently underway, and more. Your state Commissioner of Education, Charlene M. Russell-Tucker, will also answer questions submitted prior to the event.

Who: The State of Education in Connecticut is open to everyone — students, parents, and members of the education community and public.

Where: Register to view The State of Education in Connecticut via live webinar using the link below, or view the event via livestream on YouTube and CT-N.

When: Monday, January 31, 2022, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Registration is Open: https://serc.info/stateofed

Those registering for the session may submit questions for the Commissioner.

Please Share this info with Parents, Families, Students, and Education Professionals!

Download the Flyer

Don’t Forget to Sign Up!

How Welcoming is Your School? Walkthrough Overview Training

Date: January 25, 2022

Time: 2 – 3:30 p.m. Zoom Meeting

Register Here

Educators understand more than ever that the key to engaging parents is to make their schools feel “like family.” Schools that extend a genuine welcome to parents have stronger partners in the education process. The CT Welcoming Schools Initiative was developed to enhance partnerships among families, schools and the community. This workshop will incorporate hands-on activities and practice using the Welcoming Tool. The Tool focuses on the physical environment, family engagement practice, policy and communication indicators to assess the climate and culture of the school. Teams from schools comprised of families, administrators, teachers, family liaisons and community partners.

For additional information, contact:
Betsy LeBorious at bleborious@crec.org or 860-509-3615

Please bring a laptop or other device for note taking and access to online resources.

Download the Flyer

Guide to School Partnership for APPI Parents

ASIAN AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER
AFFINITY GROUP: SPEAKING UP FOR SUCCESS

When: WEDNESDAY, 1/05/22
Time: 6:30-8:00 PM Sessions 3 & 4 in 2022: 3/2, 6/1
Where: Zoom. Register Here

This affinity group is to connect, support and empower parents, caregivers, and guardians who identify as Asian and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) in the context of education and school partnerships to support our children. This session will explore how our identities as Asian and AAPI parents may impact our interactions with educators and schools.

For content questions, please contact Nitza Diaz, SERC Consultant, diaz@ctserc.org

For registration questions, please contact Emma Velasquez, SERC Project Specialist, at velasquez@ctserc.org

Download the flyer

Maximize Family & Community Engagement

Welcoming Walkthrough Overview Training

Date: January 25, 2022

Time: 2 – 3:30 p.m. Zoom Meeting

Register Here

Educators understand more than ever that the key to engaging parents is to make their schools feel “like family.” Schools that extend a genuine welcome to parents have stronger partners in the education process. The CT Welcoming Schools Initiative was developed to enhance partnerships among families, schools and the community. This workshop will incorporate hands-on activities and practice using the Welcoming Tool. The Tool focuses on the physical environment, family engagement practice, policy and communication indicators to assess the climate and culture of the school. Teams from schools comprised of families, administrators, teachers, family liaisons and community partners.

For additional information, contact:
Betsy LeBorious at bleborious@crec.org or 860-509-3615

Please bring a laptop or other device for note taking and access to online resources.

Download the Flyer

Share Your Story With Us!

Get In Touch

ABOUT US

The Connecticut Family School Partnerships bring together the expertise and resources of five diverse educational and family advocacy agencies committed to developing a Connecticut family engagement model that creates a culture of full, equal, and equitable partnerships between families, schools, and community partners to elevate student success.

CONTACT US

CREC
55 Van Dyke Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
bleborious@crec.org

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