For NNPS Staff Only:
Family Programs
Family Forums and Advisory Boards
Every year, The Family and Community Engagement Department hosts quarterly family forums. The forums provide a vehicle for school leaders and families to communicate and connect.
The forums include an ESL Language Board, that allows families who speaks languages other than English an opportunity to engage with district leadership on important issues.
Input from Family Forums
Family Festival
Our family festivals are learning experiences for families that provide opportunities to enhance leadership skills and become stronger advocates at home, in the school, and on the district level. Families meet district leaders, participate in curriculum related activities, and build relationships with community organizations.
Community Learning Circles and Internships
Families who are interested in careers in the education sector will follow an eight session course, designed in collaboration with Christopher Newport University's Communication Department and earn certificates evidencing an increased knowledge of how to work in a public education, collaborate with schools and engage families.
Families, community members and students exit the eight course training with:
- Understanding of classroom management techniques and essentials
- Increased positive attitudes around education and educational institutions
- Connection to additional resources to support students' academic goals and needs
- Increased access to entry level education careers in Newport News
- Foundational knowledge necessary to serve as family and community engagement specialists
- Identify challenges in their communities and work to create solutions
ESL Connections
Summary
The population of students in Newport News Public Schools is very diverse. English Language Learners (ELL) is a crucial component in NNPS that helps families transition, develop, and gain insight about how our school system operates. ELL Connections provide families a more large scale opportunity to experience the services offered for those who need it. In turn, ELL Connections offer NNPS staff an opportunity to meet these families and build relationships with them in a comfortable, welcoming environment.
Goals
- ELL Connections will help to grow and develop the capabilities (skills and knowledge) of families by providing access to services and information.
- ELL Connections will help improve the relation (networks) between ELL families and NNPS personnel by providing continuous opportunities for interaction.
- ELL Connections will provide interpreters via language line or in-person for parent conferences, family events, registration process and more.
- ELL Connections will help build and improve Cognitions (beliefs) and Self-Efficacy for families about NNPS and their students academic success through collaboration and interactions of community partners, NNPS personnel, and the families with the common goal of meeting everyone's needs.
Outcomes
More engaged and connected English Language Learners families.
ESL Student Enrollment. Year 2002, 223 students. Year 2005, 549 students. Year 2008, 639 students. Year 2011, 862 students. Year 2014, 1224 students. Total 549% growth.
Family Partnership Programs
The Basics Program
Maximize Love, Manage Stress
Provide Resources for School Work
Frequent Family Discussions about School
Read Together Every Day
Explore Through Movement and Play
Goal-Setting Process
Step 1 Set a Goal
Step 2 Identify Skills
Step 3 Assess Strengths
Step 4 Examine Stressors
Step 5 Explore Strategies
Step 6 Determine Support
Step 7 Track Progress & Celebrate Successes
Home Visit Initiative
Home visits are more than just completing a task or signing a form, they can be a platform to establish relationships and encourage a meaningful partnership with families. The initiative brings together the most influential adults in a child's life and gets them on the same page to work together for student's success. Teachers are offered in-depth training on how to provide a home visit, contemporary research, and given support from Family and Community Engagement Specialists.
Goals: To develop families capabilities and cognition
Outcomes: Improve attendance and behavior, increase student achievement, foster better teacher-parent communication, and promote trust and confidence.
For more information, visit www.pthvp.org.
Cluster Community Boards
The Cluster Community Board brings together families, staff and community members to create and implement a plan to promote high achievement within a school. This committee meets on a regular basis throughout the school year and is an opportunity for key stakeholders to have a voice in their school. ESSA requires all schools to have accountability and family engagement.