SummerPICSpotlightLottieHayes,MakebaDavis,PamelaRichardson,andDawnScott.

BibbCountySchoolDistrict

Instructors,parents;BibbCountyDistrictSuperintendent,CurtisJones;

andstudentsalikeparticipateinBibbCounty’sCookingUpAcademicsvideos.Summer2016EditionInthisPICSpotlightweareexcitedtofeaturetheFamilyEngagementProgramfromtheBibbCountySchoolDistrictandtheincredibleeffortsofFamilyEngagementCoordinator,LottieHayesandFamilyEngagementSpecialists,MakebaDavis,PamelaRichardson,andDawnScott.MakebaandDawntooktimefromtheirsummerbreaktorepresenttheteamandtalkwithusabouttheirnumerouseffortstogetparentsinvolvedintheacademicsuccessoftheirchildren.AsweinterviewedMakebaandDawn,onewordcameuptimeandagain:collaboration.Itseemsasthoughwitheveryneweventorprogram,theyarecollaboratingwithstudents,parents,communityvolunteers,andprofessionalsalike.CollaborationisattheheartofFamilyEngagement,whetherit’sreviewingComprehensiveLEAImprovementPlans(CLIPs)orgettingparentsdirectlyengagedinteachingfunlessonsthatarealignedwithacademicstandards.ParentalInvolvementGuidebookandProfessionalDevelopmentTheBibbCountyFamilyEngagementteamputtogetherall-in-oneguidebooks,customizedforeachschool,thatincludeconsistentlyformattednotificationletters,compacts,plansandpolicies.TheguidebookswereproducedinacollaborativeeffortwiththeMigrantEducationProgramandcoverallTitleIparentinvolvementrequirementsinoneconvenientplace.“Principals–theylovedit!”exclaimedDawnScott,becauseitstreamlinedworkforschoolstaffmembers.ItalsomadethecompliancereviewprocessasnapfortheFamilyEngagementteam.Attheendoftheschoolyear,theteamheldatechnicalassistancewebinarforschoolstaffonclose-outactivities,withinstructionsforFamilyEngagementFacilitatorsonturninginalloftheirmaterials.

SummerAcademicFairLargelyplannedbytheFamilyEngagementteam,BibbCounty’sdistrict-wideSummerAcademicFairwasbuiltaroundnumerousactivitiestoinitiallyattractfamiliestotheevent.“Theycouldn’tresistit!”saidMakeba.Examplesoftheactivitiesincludechildrenhoppingintogroupexerciseactivitiesandtaste-testingsamplesofschoolmenuitemsprovidedbytheNutritionDepartment.Ahusbandandwifeteam,whohadwrittenandillustratedachildren’sbook,heldareadingoftheirnewpublication.Toenhancetheexperience,whilethepagesoftheirbookwereprojectedonascreen,theyplayedadjembedrumalongwiththereading.TherealfocusoftheSummerAcademicFair,ofcourse,wastheacademicengagementopportunities.Numeroussummercampsweretheretoadvertisetheiracademically-focusedactivities,includingtheBoysandGirlsClubofCentralGeorgiaand“GearUpforCollege,”asummercamprunbyMercerUniversity.Theparentingorganization,“TripleP”offeredinformationaboutbuildingparents’capacitytoeducatetheirchildren.SchooldistrictpersonnelwereonhandtoprovideinformationabouttheGeorgiaMilestonesassessmenttest,andtheyalsoofferedanotheropportunityforparentstoreviewthedistrictCLIP,districtpolicy,andhearabouttheFlexibleLearningProgram.ParentsalsohadopportunitiestolearnmoreabouttheUnitedWay’sacademic-focusedprogramsandMercerUniversity’sUpwardBoundprogram.Throughthecollaborationofallthesepartners,thefairopenedaccesstonumerousacademicopportunities.“Wewereallworkingtowardacommongoal,”saidDawn.CookingupAcademicsBibb’sFamilyEngagementteamhasalsodevelopedaninnovativeseriesofvideoscalled“CookingUpAcademics”.Intheseries,parents,educators,andstudentsprepareaculinarytreatmixingconceptsalignedwithacademicstandardsalongtheway.TheFamilyEngagementteampartneredwithDr.CassandraWashington,Directorofthedistrict’sCTAEprogram,whowasverysupportiveofthevideoproductions.SheconnectedtheteamwithCTAEculinaryfacilities,personnel,anddecorations.TheCTAE’svideobroadcastinginstructorandstudentsprovidedvideoandsoundequipmentalongwithproductiondirection,whiletheDirectorofSchoolNutrition,Dr.CletaLong,providedfood.TheseresourceswereallmadeavailablethroughgrantstheCTAEprogramhadreceived.Makebasaid,“Workingwiththemwasaplus,”adding,“That’swhyit’ssoimportanttoknowwhoyourresourcesareand…totapintowhatisalreadyavailable.”Thevideosaresharedonlinesoallmaybenefitfromthefunlearningopportunities.ThiscomingyearthevideoswillcontinueinpartnershipwiththeculinaryschoolatHelmsCollege,andplansincludedevelopingamorecompetitivefocusbypittingteamsagainsteachother.ToseetheGingerbreadHousevideoonYouTube,clickhere.ToseetheSummertimeSmoothiesvideoonYouTube,clickhere.