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Last
month, educators and family groups around the state launched what they
hope becomes an annual event—the California Family Involvement Day
Celebration. The statewide inaugural event was held at Will C. Wood
Middle School. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack
O’Connell, Assemblyman Dave Jones, representatives from the California
Alliance for School, Family and Community Partnerships, Jan Harp
Domene, National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) President and Lilly
Williams, President of the Sacramento Council of PTAs all participated
in the day’s activities.
Principal James Wong started the
day by arriving at the school at 5 a.m. to prepare a pancake breakfast
for parents as a thank you for their support of students. He followed
breakfast with a very special recognition ceremony, which honored 257
students who have read 100,000 words or more since the start of the
school year. Thirteen of those students have already read a million
words or more! Parents and other family members attended the
celebration. It was a wonderful morning that paid tribute to a child’s
first and best teachers—parents.
Research shows that students with
involved parents are more likely to earn higher grades and enroll in
higher level programs no matter what their family income level. These
students are also more likely to attend school regularly, be promoted,
and graduate and move on to post-secondary education.
Here in Sac City, our home visit
program, parent language line, Connect-ED telephone communication
system, parent resource center and annual parent fair are all ways to
help us communicate and involve parents. In addition, parents may
participate in parent organizations such as the Parent Teacher
Association, school site councils, District English Learner Advisory
Council, District Advisory Committee as well as school events such as
family literacy and math nights.
Most important of all, parents can
be involved in their children’s education by ensuring that students
arrive at school ready to learn. By that I mean that children are well
rested, that parents have checked to see that homework assignments are
completed and that reading and other learning activities are
encouraged at home.
On behalf of our Board of
Education, I extend my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to our
parents and families for all they do to support the success of
students and for entrusting their most valuable treasure to us—their
children.
Superintendent's Prior Messages
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