Mount Vernon City School District Hosts Parent Learning Modules

Press release from Mount Vernon City School District:

Oct. 9, 2020

The Mount Vernon City School District is hosting scheduled workshops for parents and caregivers of students this school year. The Virtual Parent Learning Modules series is designed to provide families with the tools and resources to help support their children’s education while empowering them to help strengthen and support their students’ academic pursuits.

Two modules have been held already – one that taught parents about safety/cleaning practices and virtual learning, and the second that taught parents how the district has organized its space for hybrid and remote instruction.

The next event is Thursday, October 15th. It is titled: “What's All The Fuss About-Information For Families To Support Virtual Learning?” Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual learning is here to stay. This fun and interactive session will discuss the select strategies and techniques for families to support virtual, including crucial tips for families on avoiding virtual learning burnout. In this hands-on session, facilitators will expose parents/caregivers to the different digital tools that students will use during their instructional program and provide resources to complement these platforms.

The series takes place on Thursday evenings and covers topics that arose from families’ responses to the School Reopening Survey sent out by the District, including school safety and cleaning practices, instructions on caring for students’ social and emotional wellbeing, as well rituals required for academic success, among others.

“These workshops are offering all parents and caregivers insight into what lessons their children may be engaging in this year — whether they are learning inside our classrooms or within the walls of their own home — and equip them with the tools to help navigate students’ experiences,” said Superintendent Dr. Kenneth R. Hamilton. “We listened to the concerns amongst our school community and have selected topics that address issues ranging from supporting a child’s progress through an Individualized Education Program to techniques for cultivating a child’s resilience – now and post-COVID-19.”

The Virtual Parent Learning Modules series is hosted virtually through Zoom, and addresses topics most pertinent to students and their families as a result of the coronavirus and changes to students’ learning environments. They focus on four core strengths: Targeted populations, needs of Pre-K through 12 students, academic success, and the students’ mind, body, and soul.

“Before we can expect our students to excel academically, we must address their social-emotional needs,” said Dr. Waveline Bennett-Conroy, Assistant Superintendent of School Improvement. “Many of our families have experienced devastating hardships such as the loss of a job and loved ones. We must recognize that so many are hurting, and offer the tools and resources to help nourish their social and emotional exigencies so that they may receive the maximum benefit from their educational experience.”

For a full list of the virtual learning modules for the school year, visit www.mtvernoncsd.org/Page/8341.

This press release was produced by Mount Vernon City School District. The views expressed here are the author's own.