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April 12, 2023 Coffee: Family and Community Engagement in Practice
Event page: https://portico.inflexion.org/crowdsource/coffee-family-and-community-engagement/
Our March 16 Crowdsource Webinar features Carlos Hernandez and Araceli Huerta from Anaheim Union High School District, where their prioritization of engaging families has resulted in success for students and families alike. In this Crowdsource Coffee, we draw from the themes and ideas that arise during the webinar and discuss how they can be employed in other contexts. We examine different circumstances and challenges to family and community engagement, and brainstorm ways to overcome these obstacles.
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15 Replies
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Below are systems and structures in Anaheim Union High School District that support the district’s vision for family and community engagement.
1) What do your systems and structures to support family engagement look like in practice? Are they authentic, inclusive of all families, and reflective of your vision & identity? 2) How do you know? Reflect on if or how you are using them well.
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Pathways has: Parents go to school night, STP, Student Lead Conferences(100% attendance), Parent Technology training classes, working on others
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Since we have returned from Covid closure, we have had a difficult time involving families. Before that, we also had challenges since we have a population that is somewhat resistant to schools. One thing we have done a better job of over the past few years is having a very open and welcoming environment.
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Two-way communication
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Communication is a key to FACE and where you start. As a site principal, I made sure all my communication was in our student’s home languages. From communication, we started to develop parent workshops. From parent training, parents began to take initiative and feel empowered.
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Carlos Hernandez from Anaheim UHSD shared an example during the March 16 webinar of collaboration between students, teachers, and community organizations to build a school garden to provide fresh food for the community.
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What positive examples or experiences do you have of family and community engagement from your school or district?
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Example Mike mentioned in conversation at the 4/12 CC: https://portico.inflexion.org/a-source-of-strength-and-community-how-identity-keeps-santiam-canyon-united-even-when-everything-else-is-falling-apart/
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Millwood public schools: Superintendent and Principal did a Coach Carter and Locked up the athletics facilities to get families engaged in Academics. Athletics is the lifeblood of traditiona and community. Academics fell below standards. This shock and awe method forced the parents to sit with their kids to get the academics done to compete.
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Another example of a resource is Title/21st Century School Programming for afterschool activity. These are competitive grants through ODE and the most successful , in my opinion involve an academic and recreation component.
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Marcola School District uses Maxims “We Care” “We Create” to intentionally design schools activities that bring in the parents and extended community to participate in campus improvement activities, on weekends. Huge turnout!
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For communication, we have Sunday calls that go out with important information. Parents are now expect the Sunday call to stay informed.
For parent training, we always started the training on time and ended on time. Parents appreciated knowing we valued their time.
For parent leadership, parents were included in committees and task forces.
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From @mattie-robertson : Rituals and routines to build community; Spring Fling; establishment and oversight of service clubs
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We held a community summit called Finding a Sense of Belonging: The impact of Drugs, Social Media and Gangs on our Tweens and Teens. It went very well! We included resources from around the community, talked about what we’re seeing in schools and in the community and had a keynote speaker. Then we had breakout sessions to dive deeper into topics and finished with a raffle! We fed the families and we provided childcare and interpretation.
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