Under the leadership of Dr. David Scott, principal of Clinton Elementary School, Clinton faculty and staff are approaching engaging parents in a more meaningful and strategic way. Designed as a new parent engagement strategy for this year, the Clinton Parent University is a series of eight 1.5-hour workshops designed to strengthen the relationship between school and home and empower parents with helpful information on how they can support their children beyond the school environment.
The Parent University began in October 2023 and continues through May 2024. Each session has a different theme:
Accountability 101 - October 2023
This session provided an opportunity for the entire school community to discuss the shared goals for Clinton students and clarify the responsibilities of the teacher, child, and parents.
Literacy Night - November 2023
Stressing the importance of childhood literacy, parents and staff discussed the science of reading and the five building blocks of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Parents also learned about the district's literacy program, grades, and developmentally appropriate texts parents can share with children.
Health & Wellness, Mindfulness, Self-Care - December 2023
Parents and staff engaged in conversations about the importance of health and wellness and detecting signs when loved one's or personal mental health would benefit from mindfulness strategies.
Financial Literacy - January 2024
This session is designed for an open discussion about money and the importance of advancing the community by empowering families to make sound decisions on how financial resources are stewarded. At this session, a qualified professional will cover topics on saving, investing, life insurance and taxes.
Math Night – February 2024
Stressing the importance of childhood numeracy, parents and staff will explore the fascinating world of numbers, shapes, and problem solving and the many interactive games, family activities and activities parents and students can accomplish at home.
Internet Safety (gaming, social media, cyberbullying) - March 2024
Understanding that the 21st century child experiences the world increasingly through technology, parents, and staff will discuss cyberbullying, digital citizenship, protecting a child's privacy, and how to report incidents of internet abuse.
Gang Prevention (What every parent needs to know) - April 2024
This session is designed to equip parents with the information they need to promote child safety and bring awareness of youth voices and the recruitment of children into gangs.
How to Prepare Students and Families for Summer - May 2024
This session will go into detail on how parents can ensure that their children are engaged in summer learning activities that minimize summer learning loss. The goal is for all students to be prepared for the rigor of new grade-level content when school starts in September.
"I had the opportunity to participate in the Literacy Night session and was pleased with parent turnout and the discussion around the science of reading. It was good seeing how engaged parents were in the various activities to learn how they can support childhood literacy in and out of school", shared Dr. Eric Jay Rosser, superintendent of schools.
Parent University sessions begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. and end at 7:00 p.m. Participation is limited to parents of Clinton students. During the session, children engage in meaningful activities facilitated by staff and Poughkeepsie High School Honor Society students. Dinner is provided for all participants.
