Fernley
Parent University
March 13, 2013
Complimentary Dinner 5:30 – 6:15
Course Sessions 6:15 – 7:45
Hosted by All Fernley Schools
At Silverland Middle School
1100 Jasmine Lane
Table of Contents
The Purpose of Parent University ....................................................... 1
Courses Offered .............................................................................. 2 - 8
Community Expo .......................................................................... 9 - 11
Site Map and Local Sponsors…………………………………12 & 13
Lyon County School District Mission Statement:
The Lyon County Board of School Trustees, Administrators, Teachers, and
School Staff will assure that every student can learn and achieve the skills
necessary to be proficient in academic, vocational and social disciplines. Public
education is a collaborative effort between the Lyon County School District and
parents/guardians as stakeholders to teach the skills that are essential for every
student to be a life-long learner and productive citizen in our ever changing and
diverse society.
What is Parent University?
Parent University is an opportunity for parents and guardians to hone
their skills as they work in life's most important and demanding role-parenting. The program offers parents and guardians information that
helps them support their children at home. The Parent University
sessions focus on child development, what children are learning in
schools, advocacy, parent leadership and effective strategies that support
learning at home.
In our sessions we recognize that:
• Parents are Teachers – These sessions provide a clearer understanding
of how children grow and learn.
• Parents are Advocates – These sessions help build the capacity to
advocate for children, understand the Common Core State Standards
and expectations for learning.
• Parents are Leaders – These sessions provide the opportunity to
develop the skills necessary to assume leadership roles in schools and
the community.
• Parents are Learners – These sessions provide the opportunity to build
upon skills for personal and professional growth.
How does Parent University work?
Parent University is free for all Fernley community members. Parent
University offers three, 25-minute learning sessions in one evening.
There is no need to sign up. Just show up and attend the sessions that
pertain to you!
Need to bring your kids?
No worries! We will have childcare onsite. After we feed you, you can
sign them into the childcare room and let the Fernley High National
Honor Society entertain them for the evening or help them with their
homework!
1
Courses Offered
Building Language and Vocabulary in your pre-school child: A child’s
ticket to success! Free Children’s books for your family!
This workshop presents easy, fun activities we can do with our 0-4 year
olds to help them develop and acquire the language skills necessary to
be successful in reading and writing.
 Grade Level: Birth – Pre-School
 Presenter: Cricket Hagan, Early Childhood Literacy Coach
 Room: 415
A Parent’s Guide to the Pre K Standards
Interested in learning about how to prepare your child for kindergarten?
Come join us as we examine the Nevada Pre K Standards, which are
descriptions of what most children should know and be able to do before
they enter kindergarten. We will explore areas of development and
engage in activities related to each area. Learn fun ways to support your
child’s learning to prepare him for kindergarten with items you might
already have at home.
 Grade Level: Birth—K
 Presenters: Megan Grimes & Corrine Thompson, Washoe
County ECE teachers
 Room: 414
Getting your child ready for Kindergarten
Wondering if your child is ready for Kindergarten? How has
Kindergarten changed in the past few years? Come down to our Parent
University and see how you can help your child be ready for
Kindergarten.
 Grade Level: Birth – K
 Presenter: Sheri Weakley-Banks, ECE teacher, FES
 Room: 405
Kindergarten reading strategies that help children become better
readers
This session will focus on teaching how to: word search, frame known
and unknown words, use the picture to help decode the more difficult
words in a text, and know what a good fit book is for your child.
 Grade Level: K-1
 Presenter: Krystle Turner, Kindergarten teacher, CES
 Room: 412
2
Number Sense, the Foundation of Math Skills
Is your child struggling in math because they just don’t get it? Learn how
to help strengthen your child’s understanding of math by building a
solid foundation in number sense. Using a hands-on approach to math,
you’ll learn how to teach your child how to manipulate numbers.
 Grade Level: K – 3
 Presenter: Lucy Gillett - Curriculum & Assessment Specialist
 Room: 311
5th and 6th Grade Math Common Core Overview
This session will focus on how to prepare students for the pacing
and increased rigor that comes with the new Common Core Math
Standards. We will include a brief overview of the standards and the
pacing for the year, as well as provide some quick and easy tips to help
ensure student success.
 Grade Level: 5 & 6
 Presenters: Rochelle Tisdale & Arvella Jergesen, FIS Teachers
 Room: 314
7th Grade Common Core Math
What is it? What can I do as a parent to help my child be successful in
core math? Parents can get a better understanding and have questions
answered.
 Grade Level: 7th
 Presenters: Ken Jordan & Linda Manzanares, 7th grade Math,
SMS
 Room: 307
Let’s Talk About the New Common Core Standards
What do parents need to know about the Common Core State Standards
(CCSS)? How will they affect teaching and assessing mathematics and
English language arts? What are the benefits and what can parents do to
prepare for the CCSS? Learn more about CCSS, a new set of learning
standards in English language arts and mathematics designed to prepare
K–12 students for college and career success.
 Grade Level: K – 12
 Presenter: Claudia Fadness – Director of Curriculum &
Accountability
 Room: 305
3
trategies for Striving Readers
Are you looking for some quick and easy ways to help your child
interact with text? Join our session and learn about a few effective,
research-based, C.A.F.E. strategies that will not only help your child
understand the text they are reading, but also help them to stay engaged
and focused.
 Grades: K-6
 Presenters: Karen Turner & Terra Davey, Literacy
Implementation Coaches
 Room: 306
I Read It, But Still Don’t Get It – Have you ever heard this from your
child?
Many of our children assume that spending time with a book
automatically means they will comprehend what it said. If your child has
trouble remembering or connecting to what he/she is reading, come
spend some time gathering ideas you can share with them to help them
visualize, question, and infer what they are reading. These are quick,
simple strategies that can be discussed at home, in the car, wherever.
 Grade Level: 6 – 12
 Presenter: Keri Pommerening – LCSD Striving Readers
Manager
 Room: 607
Project Learn
Project Learn is a strategy based on research demonstrating that students
do better in school when they spend non-school hours engaged in fun,
but academically beneficial, activities. Through Project Learn, Boys and
Girls Club staff have opportunities to use high-yield learning activities
that are fun but educational in all areas the club offers. Come learn about
the Boys and Girls Club, high yield activities, and take home age
appropriate projects to do together.
 Grade Level: Birth – 12
 Presenter: Kathy Johnson, Boys and Girls Club of America
 Room: 508
4
Transitions for Students with Special Needs
Session 1: Transition from FIS to SMS for students with special needs.
Session 2: Transition from SMS to FHS for students with special needs.
Session 3: Transition from FHS to work or college for students with
special needs.
Each session will focus on what parents need to know for each age group
transitioning. Important IEP requirements based on the age level of the
student will be discussed. Find out what each school has to offer for your
child receiving services, and what your child needs for life after high
school. Information shared will be based on this year, as it changes
yearly based on funding. Find out what the community colleges offer, as
well as expectations of UNR. Q&A the last 10 minutes of each session.
 Grade Level: 6 - 12
 Presenters: Stephanie Thompson & Ramona Price, Special
Education Teachers, SMS & FHS
 Room: 106
Parents and guardians are welcome to come in and learn how to help
special education/regular education students at home. Learn some fun
ways to help students become stronger in math and English language
arts. Also, learn how to help with homework to reduce that nightly
struggle.
 Grade Level: K-8
 Presenter: Stephanie Bradley, Special Education Teacher, SMS
 Room: 102
Homework Help in the Digital Era:
This technology workshop will offer families information about free online resources such as PBS Learning Media (and many more!!) that can
be used to help students with concepts they are struggling with or
enhance concepts they have already learned. On-line resources may be
used by families as homework help or for summer school learning.
Many of these on-line resources are so much fun that students are
unaware that they are learning!
 Grade Level: K-12
 Presenter: Tamara Roseberry, M.A.T., Resource Teacher/STEM
Facilitator, CES
 Room: Computer Lab B 705
5
How can I help my child at home with his or her research project?
This session will show parents how to access the online library catalogs
for the schools in Lyon County, how to use the catalog to see what
materials are available for checkout in their child’s school, and how to
access and use the databases provided to our schools by the state of
Nevada. The online databases provide factual information from
legitimate sources.
 Grade Levels: Pre K – 12
 Presenter: Rick Rooley, Librarian, FHS
 Room: Library
Navigating Edmodo; with emphasis on Ms. Summers 7 th grade
students
This session will focus on becoming familiar with the educational site,
Edmodo. Edmodo is an online, interactive blogging portal that allows
the teacher and her students and parents to access the classroom on a
website. Technology engagement in an educational setting has increased
drastically in the last 5 years. Join me to learn and understand the basic
principles of navigating Edmodo when your child’s teacher has elected
to create this virtual classroom experience.
 Grade Level: K-12; particularly for anyone with a current or
future 7th grade student in Summers ELA
 Presenter: Danielle Summers, MS in Literacy& Mathematics
Curriculum & Instruction, SMS
 Room: Computer Lab C 707
PowerSchool: Keeping up with your child’s progress
Do you want help logging into PowerSchool to see your student’s grades
and attendance? Would you like to see the school bulletin before the
events are over? Do you need to change your e-mail notification or get
one set up? This session will give you a chance to work in the lab and
pull up your student’s PowerSchool account and receive assistance.
 Grade Levels: 2-12
 Presenters: Barbara Harris, Assistant Principal at SMS & Monica
Quam, Attendance Secretary, SMS
 Room: Computer Lab A 105
6
Let’s Talk About Internet Safety!
What is the Internet? It’s more than you realize. What do parents need to
know about Internet safety? What are a few of the dangers of our kids
being online? How do we keep our kids safe? Learn about the obvious
and the hidden dangers associated with kids and adults being online.
Discover tips on how to keep our kids and ourselves out of harm’s way.
 Grade Level: K – 12
 Presenter: Steve LeBlanc – Tier 3 PC/Advanced Mac Tech., UNR
 Room: 316
Learn how to be an empowered parent and create a positive change in
your child's education. Learn practical tips on sharing power and
becoming equal partners in decisions that affect children and families.
 Grade Level: K-12
 Presenter: NV PTA
 Room: 509 (Life Skills)
The Adolescent Brain
Is your teenager giving you hair loss? Causing you to grind your teeth
while sleeping? Driving you CRAZY? Then this is the session for you!
Understand the inner-workings of your teenager’s brain and gain some
techniques for dealing with those “teenage moments”. This session will
examine modern brain research on the teenage and pre-teenage brain
and reveal some explanations for why teenagers do what they do. You
will get resources and advice on how to react and support your teenager
through this very important phase in brain development and will be
amazed by what your teenager really does know, regardless of the
behavior he or she presents on the outside.
 Grade Level: 7 -12
 Presenter: Patrick A. Whitehead, 8th Grade Social Studies, SMS
 Room: 606
Save for College… It’s never too late or too early!
Guess what? Your child does NOT have to attend college in Nevada to
use the Nevada Prepaid Tuition program. At this session you will
receive information about the Nevada Prepaid Tuition and the UPromise 529 college savings programs. Come learn how to help your
child pay for college.
 Grade Level: K-12
 Presenter: Lisa Shea, M.ed, Counselor, CES
 Room: 605
7
Directions for Life - College, Tech School, Job, Career, Military...?
Many times your child is asked “What do you want to do with your
life?” This session will be discussing students’ choices for their future
and how they make the choice. There are many ways this decision can
be made. What path will your student follow?
 Grade Level: 7 -12
 Presenter: Kathy Archuleta, Guidance Counselor, FHS
 Room: 611
Cardio Dance: ZUM-Bastic!
Top 10 Reasons to Join the Party!
1. Huge Calorie Burn
2. Total Body Toning
3. Amazing Results
4. For All Ages & Abilities
5. Great Stress Relief
6. Social & Multicultural
7. Makes People Happy
8. Boost Brain Power through Memorization & Sequencing
9. Exercising is the Determining Factor to Aging Well
10. It’s Fun & Free!
So get your running shoes & neon on and rock the afternoon away!
Continue the party Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 3:45 to 4:45
in the FES Cafeteria.
 Grade Level: Pre K - 12
 Presenter: Natasha Wickenden, 2nd grade teacher, FES
 Room: Stage
8
Community Expo
Stop by the tables sponsored by our community partners and services.
Chat with local authors, agency representatives, and service providers
to discover what Fernley has to offer!
Ryan Shea local author of The Adventures of Bob: To Doodledip for
Soup
What do you get when a man is invited to a strange purple and green
planet by a tiny speed-freak robot, a construction-cone-wearing king, a
really bad bowl of soup, and a fat purple servant cat that doesn’t listen to
anyone? Find out what happens to Bob when he travels to Planet
Doodledip for dinner with the King and discovers he is afraid to try the
soup.
Mary Jean Kelso is a Fernley author of children’s illustrated books.
Besides Birds in the Flower Basket, she is the author of Cowboy James,
RV Mouse, The Christmas Angel, and its sequel, One Family’s
Christmas, The Adventures of Andy and Spirit and the Andy & the
Albino Horse series. She is the author of the young adult Lynne Garrett
series and Kat’s Cradle which are Accelerated Reading books. Blue
Coat and The Homesteader series are Kelso’s adult historical novels.
Also a journalist, Mary Jean recently received awards from The Nevada
Press Assn. and The National Press Assn. She is a member of Made in
Nevada-- http://www.madeinnevada.org Visit Mary Jean at
http://www.authorsden.com/maryjeankelso.
STARLAB - Brooke Keller
Come experience the night sky in the world’s best portable planetarium!
With the increasing amount of light pollution in our world, many
students have never seen common celestial wonders such as the Milky
Way. This amazing portable lab will give you and your children an indepth look at constellations in an unspoiled sky.
9
Adult Education - Kathy Jameson, Program Coordinator
Want to pursue your own educational goals? The current GED exam is
changing; the deadline for current scores is December 2013. Stop by for
more information on adult high school programs and attaining a GED.
Fernley Library – Jonnica McClure
Stop by and find out what the local library has to offer! You may be
surprised to find out that checking out books isn’t the only service
offered. You will have the opportunity to get a new library card or take
information to update an expired card. Find out about services that are
of special interest to students of all ages from pre-k through college level
and get questions answered about the Lyon County Library System.
Lyon County Human Services— Tamie MacDonald, Assistant Director
What do we offer? We have many programs including parenting
workshops, WIC, Employment program, Housing program, and many
other services.
Become Part of the PAC!—Lise Coudriet
Parent Advisory Council is a team of individuals working together in a
supportive manner in order to meet the needs of students, parents, and
schools.
Children in Transition—Jennifer Donaldson
CIT is a program which supports students and families experiencing
“homelessness”. Learn how the schools/district can help to ensure
student stability and achievement in school.
Nevada Job Connect—Ava Case
Do you or your high school child need help finding a job? Get assistance
in job placement, how to look for jobs, or help building a resume.
City of Fernley Business & Entrepreneur Technology Center (BET)
– Leslieann Hayden, Grants Administrator
This computer center allows residents to access a variety of technology
opportunities and programs: job search and development training, social
networking and marketing, business start-up training, research and
business information, licensing and permits. Stop by this table to find out
how you might benefit from the BET center. April 15 th is just around the
corner. Are you interested in tax preparation assistance?
10
Fernley Chamber of Commerce—Tammy Dittman, President
Stop by to find out how the Chamber of Commerce promotes the Fernley
business community.
Nevada Human Development Corporation-- Cecilia Alonso, Workforce
Development Coordinator
The National Farmworker Jobs Program promotes the economic and
social advantage of farmworkers and disadvantaged individuals through
the provision of education, training, advocacy and services that enhance
self-sufficiency.
11
Site Map
Student ambassadors will be onsite to help visitors find room locations.
12
We would like to thank our local sponsors!
13