MCS Awards Twelve Grants to Public and Public Charter Schools to Support Parental Engagement Programs

Strong parental engagement can have a profound impact on student learning.  This engagement is more than a newsletter home in a backpack or a meeting with parents a couple times a year in the school.  It is a comprehensive approach to build parent leaders that not only support their children but help other parents as well. 

Through its administration of the DC Parent Information Resource Center, MCS recently awarded grants to twelve public and public charter schools to keep parental engagement momentum at these schools this year and into the future.  Assistant Superintendent of Elementary and Secondary Education Dr. Kayleen Irizarry recently hosted a reception to honor these schools at the Office of the State Superintendant of Education (OSSE).  Grants were awarded to: 

• Cleveland Elementary School under the leadership of Principal Annie R. Mair for a parent corner.
   
• Columbia Heights Education Campus under the leadership of Principal Maria Tukeva for material, workshop supplies and stipends for speakers for their parent program.
   
• James A. Garfield Elementary School under the leadership of Principal Angela M. Tilghman for a literacy event.
   
• Kenilworth Elementary School under the leadership of Fatima Johnson for materials, incentives, and speaker stipends for parent workshops.
   
• Ketcham Elementary School under the leadership of Principal Tandi Tyler for material and equipment for family events as well as publications.
   
• Meridian Public Charter School under the leadership of Principal Robinette Breedlove to support parents joining students on academic field trips.
   
• Powell Elementary School under the leadership of Principal Janeece Docal for parent coaching, training, and material.
   
• Prospect Learning Center under the leadership of Principal Keesha Blythe for parenting classes.

• Stephen E. Kramer Middle School under the leadership of Principal Kwame Simmons for outreach material and incentives.
   
• Theodore Roosevelt S.T.A.Y. High School under the leadership of Principal Alexandra Pardo for supporting the cultivation of a learning community including parents and families.

• Thurgood Marshall Academy under the leadership of Principal Alexandra Pardo for supporting the cultivation of a learning community incluidng parents and families.
   
• West Education Campus under the leadership of Principal Andria Caruthers for family events.

2011 Community Interpreter Graduation Ceremony held September 13, 2011

MCS and the Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs honored the 2011 Community Interpreter Training graduates at the Etete Restaurant on September 13, 2011.  The class of 20 students celebrated their accomplishment of the 70 hour training.  Guests enjoyed the Ethiopian food accompanied by a presentation of the delicacies by MCS Amharic interpreter and translator Tsion Adera, CIT graduate of 2009.  The training and graduates were featured in the Washington Hispanic.

Parents As Partners Graduation held May 29, 2011

MCS presented its 2011 Parents As Partners Graduation on May 19, 2011 at the Malcolm X Elementary School.  Parents representing 14 Washington, DC public and public charter schools graduated.  The Parent As Partners (PAP) Graduation is the culmination of a nine week course of study for parents and serves to celebrate their completion of the course.  The focus of the PAP program is to increase parent's awareness of the important role they play in their children's academic performance and preparation for post-secondary education.  The program also provides parents with a greater understanding of the school system and how to navigate it for the benefit of their children.  The Parents As Partners Program is an initiative of the DC Parent Information Resource Center (DC PIRC) which implements successful and effective parental involvement policies, programs, and activities that lead to improvements in student academic achievement and that strengthen partnerships among parents, teachers, principals, administrators, and other school personnel in meeting the education needs of children.  MCS operates the DC PIRC with funding from the US Department of Education.