Parent Engagement $500 Base Funding
Successful Grants
2011-12
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Elementary Schools
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2
Assumption
Blessed Kateri
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Blessed Sacrament
Date
December
2011
Description
Blessed Kateri has a Nativity SceneMaking Night in December. Over 85 families and 300 people
came and worked in their family group to create a clay Nativity scene. Food was donated by each
family. The PIC chair and vice chary participated and video taped interviews with staff, parents and
students. This strategy was part of our Faith formation goals form our School Improvement Plan.
The $500 will go towards the cost of the materials.
On Thursday April 19th, our school plans to host a Family Literacy evening. The title of this evening
will be “Spring into Sound” and is planned to take place from 5:30 to 7:45pm. This evening is open
to families who currently have a child or children in Kindergarten or Grade One at Blessed
Sacrament. Families who have a child entering Kindergarten for the 2112-2013 school year are also
invited. Parents and students will be provided with a meal, a goodie bag, and will have the
opportunity to enter their name in for door prizes. Throughout the evening the parents will rotate
through the following activities which will provide them with items and instructions to build their
son or daughter’s literacy development at home. The activities during the Family Literacy Night will
be based on the 5 Key Areas of Phonological Awareness. Teachers, education assistants and the
school librarian will lead the activities.
Ø Rhyme/Alliteration - Jen/Julie
Ø Syllables/Onset and Rime – Donna
Ø Phonemes – beginning, middle, end – Trish
Ø Phomeme Segmenting and Blending – Carolyn
Our school board Speech and Language Pathologist will also provide a brief introduction at the
beginning of the evening regarding the background and importance of literacy development within
the home.
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Holy Cross
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Holy Family, London
Holy Family F. I.
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Holy Rosary
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Jean Vanier
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Monsignor Morrison
Thursday,
March 1, 2012
Family Literacy Night…Let’s TALK! Parents and students (K-Gr. 8) will build upon our Catholic faith
community by sharing in prayer, a meal and participating in a family evening of “Learning the Art of
Oral Communication”.
We are having an Environmental Literacy Family Seminar. With the $500 we would like to purchase
environmentally themed books to give to each family in attendance. In this way we hope to
promote environmental literacy and also to promote parents reading with their children. If there is
enough money we would also like to purchase a rain barrel and a compost bin to give away as door
prizes. This will be an added incentive to attend but more importantly will teach the families about
conservation. We expect a good turnout as we will be involving Our Student Uni-vert
Environmental Club in the presentations. There are at least 30 students in this club who are
learning to be good stewards of the earth and want to pass along the message to parents.
We are looking to increase parent engagement and participation in our school community through
our renewed focus of 21st century learning skills as it applies to our School Improvement Plan and
our Board Improvement Plan. This year, our school is working with the Ministry of Education’s
Education Officer in a Technology Project called TPAC (Technology Pedagogy and Content
Knowledge). Our refined efforts for integrating technology in the classroom and our effort to build
capacity around 21st century teaching and learning skills would certainly be supported through a
“21st Century Family Learning Evening” where we can host a Digital Show, highlighting digital media
projects created by our students. Our Catholic School Council would plan to use the $500 to
enhance parent engagement through this 21st Century Family Learning Evening.
A Family Education Learning Series where there will be an information sharing about “Math and
Literacy” and how to bring math and literacy home everyday, a JK orientation night for new families
to the school. There will be speakers on preparing for success, homework helping tips and
strategies; what to expect when going to high school and how to help your child.
Monsignor Morrison will be hosting Dinner and Learning: A Celebration of Math, Science &
Technology open house during Education Week. This event highlights the Catholic Graduate
Expectation of a Discerning Believer. Families are offered an opportunity to enjoy a Fundraising
Family Dinner (organized by the Catholic School Council) and an opportunity to participate in two
Learning Rotations in the school. The Learning Rotations will include interactive activities in math,
10 Monsignor J.H. O’Neil
11 Notre Dame
12 Our Lady Immaculate
13 Our Lady of Lourdes
science & technology. For each family that visits a rotation, there will be a give-away with a
handout as to how to use the item to further develop math, science & technology skills as a family
at home. The give-aways may include: playing cards, dice, calculator etc. The Parent Engagement
Base Funding will support the purchase of these give-away items and an Early Bird Draw prize for
returned forms. (Please see the attached draft of the event.)
We will be hosting a Literacy Passport Night where a literacy component is modeled around each of
the 7 Catholic Graduate Expectations. Families are provided with a “family passport” which they
will carry to each of the eight countries (classrooms) that they will visit. In each classroom activities
are set up for each of the four grades hosted at our school. The families complete the activity
together. The teachers are available in the class should help be needed. This provides the
opportunity for teachers, students and parents to interact with each other. Once the activity is
complete, the family presents the answer to the teacher. If correct, the teacher will stamp the
“Family Passport”. The family then proceeds to the next country until all eight countries have been
successfully visited.
We would like to use the $500 toward a promotional guest speaker for the following reasons:
- To increase parent engagement
- To increase community awareness of the School Council
- To educate the parent community of the function of the School Council
- To create a stronger relationship between the School Council and the greater school community
Our Lady Immaculate Catholic School Council plans on using the $500 to enhance parent
engagement opportunities in our school by the following:
1.
On February 15, 2012, we are having a Mardi Gras – Spaghetti Dinner and Family Fun night.
We have booked the “Mad Scientist” for this evening for the students and parents to come out and
enjoy this as part of our evening. This event will be attended many of the students from our school
as well as their parents (cost approx. $190)
2.
We are planning on using the remainder of the grant money to purchase parent resources
that would be available for parents to take home to assist them in building/developing parenting
skills. Such resources could include: a DVD of Barbara Coloroso, resources that assist families with
special needs students and parenting skills ($310)
School Improvement Plan Goal: Engage Parents in Student Learning
Our parent community will learn about how we assess our students using our board measures of
assessment. Assessments such as the ELI, CASI, PRIME, BENCHMARKS, OWA and the provincial
achievement chart will be explored. Parents and students will have opportunity to investigate
informally by moving through learning stations. Our primary teachers will host the evening. Our
parent volunteers will assist in providing literacy and numeracy activities that parents could easily
use at home.
Budget: Approximately $300 will be used to pay for the literacy and numeracy activities that parents
can take home and up to $200 for refreshments and a light dinner.
14 Sacred Heart
15 Sir Arthur Carty
Jan.- March
16 St. Anne, London
17 St. Anne’s St. Thomas
May 16
ESL Family Literacy, K- Grade 2 (8 sessions) to develop literacy skills by modeling reading strategies
with parents and their children so they can use at home to promote and support literacy
development
This proposal would be a community-based program for families who would like their children to
experience success in math through an evening workshop. The Family Math session would educate
parents on how to work and play with their children so as to develop positive attitudes towards
mathematics, in all 5 math strands. There would be the introduction of games and activities that
reinforced skills and development of math concepts, especially Problem-Solving(a key school
improvement goal), as was being taught by the classroom teacher, but for use at home, by parents
and their children. The goal is for the fostering and enjoyment of mathematics and to have these
life-skills transferred to the children for their time at school and for their futures, maintaining a
positive attitude toward math through the years.
Special kits would be developed for “take-away” by the children and their parents. School Council
Class Rep’s would also be engaged to assist with hosting the evening session at our school.
St. Anne’s Catholic School received a Ministry of Education Parents Reaching Out Grant to host a
Read to Succeed evening or series of evenings for our parent community. On March 28th, parents
and students of grades 1 and 2 will participate in a Literacy evening focusing on reading
comprehension and how parents can assist their children at home. To further enhance our Literacy
opportunities for parents, we respectfully apply for a Parent Engagement Grant. This grant will be
used to host a parent evening with author Sigmund Brouwer.
Mr. Brouwer will be presenting to the students of St. Anne’s catholic School o May 16th during
18 St. Anthony F.I.
19 St. Bernadette
20 St. Catherine of Siena
21 St. Charles
April
the school day. Following his student presentations, students and parents will be invited to return
to the school in the evening for a presentation on the power of story. Mr. Brouwer’s Rock and Roll
Literacy combines story and music into a presentation that entertains and motivates children and
adults. It encourages students to develop literacy skills as a way to reach for their dreams, and
especially appeals to boys and reluctant readers and writers.
During this event, families will be invited to create a Family Flag and then build a machine using
pulleys and gears to hoist their flag. This event encompasses the board and school improvement
plan goals of faith formation, student learning and a positive school climate. Parents/guardians and
their children will have the opportunity to interact and reflect on their family identity while creating
a representational flag. Parents/guardians will be able to share in their children’s knowledge of
French science vocabulary thus promoting student learning in the sciences in a fun and interactive
environment.
Our School Council is supporting a visit from Author/Illustrator Werner Zimmerman on May 24th.
His works have been promoted through-out the year to the students of St. Bernadette. Werner’s
dynamic presentation are for all ages He will be at St. Bernadette Catholic School after school hours
from 3:30 – 5:00 to present an interactive parent- child seminar to promote literacy at home. The
presentation is titled the Magic of Books.
Werner’s dynamic presentations are for all ages and a mix of show and tell, interactive reading.
Werner brings the audience into the creative process of both writing and illustrating a book.
Through reflection upon the funny anecdotes about silly and serious events that can surround the
making of a book, audiences experience the creative process come alive.
Students are excited about the works of Mr. Zimmerman and his visit to St. Bernadette. His books
and illustrations will be offered as prizes for those who attend the 3:30 – 5:00 session. This will
encourage students to want stay after school hours with their parents to listen to his presentation.
Public Health nurse has agreed to be present during the presentation to provide Healthy snacks and
give parents ideas on creating healthy snacks for their children after school.
Our Catholic School Council supports a faith-based education for our children and during the school
year, 2011-2012, out our 65 registered families, we would like to see at least 80% participate in at
least one faith-based activity by the end of May, 2012 (Goal #1). Therefore, one of our goals each
year is to host such events. We have planned two evenings in April, 2012 during which time families
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St. Francis, London
St. Francis, Princeton
St. George
St. John F.I.
St. Joseph, Thamesford
Dec. 21, 2012
May 2012 –
Catholic Ed.
Week
will create ceramic rosary beads. The guest artist is Karina Viovy. On one of the two evenings,
parents will have an opportunity to visit the new “parent-lending library” to cover topics such as:1)
helping your children deal with trauma, bullying, fear, anxiety; 2) faith development at home; and,
3) using positive discipline in your home. Our Catholic School Council plans to use the $500.00 grant
to fund: 1) travel costs for guest artist, Karina Viovy to Glencoe (3 trips); 2) beverages and snacks for
the families attending the rosary building workshop evenings; and, 3) the balance towards the
purchase of books for our new “Parent Lending-Library”. The School Council and the School will also
contribute to the purchase of books for parents to borrow.
Christmas Family Night. Travel from classroom to classroom engaging in a variety of activities (i.e.,
reading, games, crafts).
‘21st Century Learning Family Event’. Use ‘Caly-mation’ as the media and class document cameras
as the technology to solve a challenge activity using critical thinking, creatively and collaboration
28 St. Joseph, Tillsonburg
29 St. Jude, London
Because our school is low in numbers it is very important to reach out to new parents so that they
feel a part of the school community. We would like to put together a welcome package for new
students and parents outlining the extracurricular activities, as well as the day to day activities that
are available to both parents and students. This package would be presented to the families when
they come to our introduction to St. Jude and while meeting their new teacher.
There is no greater feeling than knowing that we as parents are a part of our children’s lives, and
part of that is being a piece of the school community. Making parents feel welcome, and letting
them know that their opinion and ideas are important, makes a huge impact on our children and to
our Council.
30 St. Jude’s Ingersol
31 St. Marguerite d’Youville
32 St. Mark
33 St. Martin
34 St. Mary Choir
35 St. Mary’s West Lorne
36 St. Michael, London
37 St. Michael’s Woodstock
We would like to purchase chess sets and host family Chess nights. We are looking into having
Canadian Chess Promotions out to host a workshop.
On Wednesday April 25th, our school plans to host a Family Literacy evening. The evening will be
approximately 1 hour in length and has been organized by the school’s primary division teachers,
SPST and principal. The session is planned to take place from 6:00 to 7:00 pm at St Martin’s school.
This evening is open to families who currently have a child or children in JK or a JK student who is
registered to attend St Martins in the fall. Throughout the evening the parents will rotate through
literacy activities which will provide them with items and instructions to build their son or
daughter’s literacy development at home. The activities during the Family Literacy Night will be
based on Phonemic and Phonological Awareness.
Develop a ‘Parent Volunteer brochure’ to feature how parents can use their talents be engaged
within the school and their children’s lives; i.e. School council, class reps, in class, chaperones,
committees etc.
We would like to use our Parent Engagement Grant to have the London Children’s Connection come
in and present the following workshop:
“Internet Safety Workshop for Parents”
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Designed to support parents preparing children to use the internet. This workshop offers
parents an opportunity to learn about safety features for computers, to discuss current trends in
children’s online use.
We are looking to increase parent engagement and participation in our school community through
our use of new on-line learning skills. This year, we have purchased an on-line, interactive reading
program that provides material to teach levelled reading, phonemic awareness, reading
comprehension, and reading fluency. This “RAZ” program can be accessed anytime, anywhere, on
demand. It allows both teachers and parents to monitor each student’s progress. We would like to
use the $500 towards the cost of purchasing the license for 7 classrooms. In this way, we hope to
promote environmental literacy and also to promote parents reading with their children. A parent
workshop will be hosted to show the parents how to use this at home. The Parents currently engage
in reading programs with the children at school and this allows those parents another opportunity
to read with the struggling students in a different format, an electronic format.
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39 St. Patrick’s Woodstock
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42 St. Rita’s
St. Patrick’s & St. Rita’s school councils are planning an open house , BBQ and speaker
presentation for the communities & Holy Trinity parish staff. Teachers & school council members
will be on-site to talk with parents and, the event will be a chance to get together to help build our
sense of community. This supports our School Improvement goals around Catholic Faith,
Community, and Culture.
We will also be having Sara Westbrook performing that night for our families. Sara has
performed for our children at a previous assembly and we are having her back to share her
important messages of following your goals, believing in God, and making good choices. Her
message supports some of our school improvement plan goals around safe schools and student
pathways (..our choices and our actions, following your goals).
Sara Westbrook’s cost is $575, which we hope to split with the two school councils. We plan to
use $100 each to provide healthy food choices (e.g fruit and vegetables) to supplement the BBQ and
keep the cost to parents a minimal. We want to encourage people to come out to the event,
promote community, and healthy living initiatives.
St. Patrick’s & St. Rita’s schoola ares planning a parent evening and open house and BBQ for the
communities & Holy Trinity parish staff. Teachers will be on-site to talk with parents and, the
event itself, will be a chance to get together to help build our sense of community. This supports
our School Improvement goals around Catholic Faith, Community, and Culture.
We will also be having Sara Westbrook performing that night for our families. Sara has
performed for our children at a previous assembly and we are having her back to share her
important messages of following your goals, believing in God, and making good choices. Her
message supports some of our school improvement plan goals around safe schools and student
pathways (..our choices and our actions, following your goals).
Sara Westbrook’s cost is $575, which we hope to split with the two school councils. We plan to
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Thursday,
May 31, 2012
use $100 each to provide healthy food choices (e.g fruit and vegetables) to supplement the BBQ and
keep the cost to parents a minimal. We want to encourage people to come out to the event,
promote community, and healthy living initiatives.
We would like to continue our focus on the Full Day Learning division with a focus on both
Literacy and Numeracy supports in the home. We have planned a two night event, one for literacy
and one for numeracy. The teachers and ECE’s will design curriculum based learning games that will
promote “learning and take away”. Our parents are still using the games introduced last year in JK.
The teams will move from one station to the next creating/completing each learning activity. At
the end of the evening they will have a collection of activities to enrich their family time at home.
The money will be used to buy the necessary items for each activity such as dice, card stock, trays,
mini boxes etc. Each kit will also contain a storybook one for the literacy and one for the numeracy
nights. There will be 40 kits created in total.
We would like to host our parent engagement evening - Catholic Faces in all God’s Places
Our outline for the evening looks like:
1)Invite parents to the school to make rosaries
2)Serve refreshments and snacks
3)Overview of the significance of The Rosary given by Jamie Douglas/ Father Luis – parish team
4) DVD Catholic Faces in all God’s places shown and presented by Anthony Carapinha.
Anthony has started a project with our students in which the kids are creating a Living Faith DVD
with some disposable cameras we purchased for the classrooms. With those cameras the students
are to take pictures of class play, friends, a class photo of a shared project etc. They are also
encouraged to take photos at home, with their families to portray the expressed views of the
Catholic faith of our Children. At the end of the evening we will hand out a copy of our living faith
DVD to each family.
We would like to develop a parent volunteering engagement brochure to explain how parents can
use their talents and gifts to support our school community and be engaged in their children’s
learning. The brochure would provide parents with information about how they could become more
involved and how it supports their child’s learning. In addition the brochure would outline how
parents can help support the school and their children in their faith development, literacy,
numeracy and study skills. We will have this brochure printed with the money and provide
snacks/dinner for those assisting with the creation of the brochure. Council members and staff will
be invited to have input into this brochure.
We would like to use the $500 to begin a Parent Resource Centre. It would be in the school library,
accessible to all parents at their convenience during school hours and drop-off/pick-up times. The
resource centre would help parents support children’s education in a positive but low-key way. The
information would be there for those who wish to use it, and the school will inform parents of the
resources through the school newsletter. The money would be used to buy books of interest to
parents of special needs children, general information about helping children with their school
work, and hopefully some documents in Spanish.
We would also include pamphlets or information about supports and services in the community
that could be of interest to St. Thomas More families.
A parent resource centre would give parents a tool to get involved with their child’s education. It is
meant to be useful to anyone, including parents who cannot get involved with a school council or
come in for ‘info sessions’ because of time or family constraints.
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47 St. Vincent
Secondary Schools
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2
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Catholic Central
Holy Cross
JPll
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5
Mother Theresa
Regina Mundi
Successful
Grant
Proposals
Our school council plans to work with the school staff to put on an event of workshops for parents
to support them in parenting their teen and to help them connect with the school and their child’s
education. We hope to have these workshops in early fall of 2012.
We want to be able to support parents who may not have transportation or child care to be able to
come to these workshops.
The develop a ‘Parent Engagement Brochure’ to emphasize the importance of parents’
involvement to enhance faith formation,encourage student learning, and support a positive school
climate for all concerned.
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St. Joseph
St. Mary
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St. Thomas Aquinas
We are inviting Sr. Sue Wilson to come our school to speak to staff, parents, parents of our feeder
schools, and community members on May 17 from 4-6 p.m. Her topic will be “Stories that change
everything”, which focuses on the biblical call to a life of contemplation and justice as the ground
for ongoing transformation in our lives today. She will speak for ½ hour; followed by a small food
gathering, followed by one hour more of Sr. Sue speaking, and an opportunity for discussions and
questions. With the approval of the $500 grant, it is hoped to provide Sr. Sue with an honorarium
and approximately $200 for food.