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Get ready for Parent University
Published on Thursday, September 2, 2010 - 7:45am |
First Byline:
Michael M. DeWitt, Jr.
Okay moms and dads, time to dust off the old thinking caps, clear the cobwebs, and head back to school. Parent University, that is. And class is now in session.
The Virgin Johnson Academy of Excellence, a proposed multi-county public charter school that is seeking to build a facility in Fairfax, will be starting up a Parent University in October to educate, inspire, and empower parents to meet the needs of their children, said Chief Executive Officer Fayette Nick.
"Parents are a child's first teacher," said Nick. "Under No Child Left Behind, it is mandated that you have to get parents involved. Once you get parents motivated and provide them with technical assistance, that's going to make for better students."
The Parent University will be free of charge, open to all parents and community members, and children do not have to be pre-registered into VJAE.
"This is not a new concept, but others do it for specific counties or districts," added Nick. "We are multi-county and we are reaching out to the entire community. We are doing it for everyone."
According to the VJAE website, this Parent University "provides parents and caregivers with information about their vital role in shaping children's lives. Sessions focus on child development and effective parenting skills. The classes are presented by national consultants, local consultants, and prominent educators."
PU is a series of parenting workshops designed to appeal to parents with children of all ages, social background, and educational status.
Workshops are scheduled at the VJAE offices in Fairfax on the following dates: Session 1 - Saturday, Oct. 30; Session 2 - Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011; and Session 3 - Saturday, May 7, 2011.
According to the site, workshop titles include:
- Strategies for Single-parent Parenting
- Parenting After Divorce
- Parenting the NetGeneratio in Their Virtual World
- Preparing Your Child For High Stakes Tests
- SIDS: How to Reduce the Risk
- Internet Safety for Your Child
- How to be a Successful Mother/Father
- How to Talk to Your Child About Race
- Preparing for Parent-Teacher Conferences
- Unlocking Your Preschooler's Intellectual Potential Through Reading, Talking, and Play
- Bully Free Environment
- Grandparents & Relative Caregivers Raising Kids
- Strategies to Cope With Toddlers
- Child Abuse Prevention
- Strategies for Developing Capable Students
- A Look at How Children Learn
Interested parents and community members can go to www.virginjohnsonacademy.com for more information or to register, and even view a video of a sample Parenting University session.
"We just encourage parents to sign up and take advantage of this opportunity," added Nick. "It's free of charge, it's open to the whole community, and you don't even have to be a parent."
Recent comments
- Coach K
3 days 1 hour ago - This sounds familiar
6 days 23 hours ago - No forgiveness necessary...
1 week 6 hours ago - I stand corrected Chris
1 week 11 hours ago - Been working non stop the
1 week 12 hours ago - When & Where.....
1 week 14 hours ago - Life
1 week 15 hours ago - Ignorance
1 week 16 hours ago - Please explain to me.....
1 week 20 hours ago - This is in reference to Chris Haulsee comment
1 week 21 hours ago
Great Video VJAE
The parenting video session on the site is great. Finally, someone is thinking about parents and their needs. If this is not innovative I don’t know what is. VJAE is finally doing what a charter school should do (be difference and innovative).
Wow! Virgin Johnson Academy
This is wonderful. Wow! Virgin Johnson Academy is already making a difference in our community and they are not open yet. I went to the web site and reviewed the sample parent university class and signed up. The video is a must see.
Hampton 2 Copying VJAE Parent University
I was surprise when my child brought home papers for me to sign up for a parent university in Hampton 2. I have already signed up with Virgin Johnson Academy Parent University over a month ago. It is sad that Hampton 2 is copying Virgin Johnson Academy parent university program. Once again, I am disapointed in the district administration.
SAY WHAT? H-2 copying VJAE
With all those high paid administrators why couldn’t Hampton 2 come up with an original idea to get parents involved? This does not look good for our district. Why are we copying VJAE a charter school??? I loved VJAE sample parenting classes online; just another little thing the district may want to copy.
Doing Something Right
Virgin Johnson Academy must be doing something right since Hampton 2 is mimicking them with a parent university. All I can say is that an original is always better than a copy. I have seen Virgin Johnson Academy Parenting University flyers all over town and read about the parenting university in the newspaper. They are doing a lot of good for the community. I agree; the parent class online is a good thing. Imitation is form praise, as always VJAE you are doing a great job for the community.
Not original
Actually the parent university is not a new concept for schools. Savannah schools have been doing them for a long time and Nick got the idea from a news program about schools from across the country that are doing them. This shouldn't be a battle between supporters of VJAE and District 2. It should be what works to improve the education of children.
Thanks for bringing Parent University
VJAE certainly did not create parent university, but they were the first to bring the concept to this area. If you go on the internet you can find that parent university are spreading throughout the country. VJAE is on the cutting edge of education because of their parents, board of directors, and school leader. I think it is a good thing that Hampton 2 adopted the concept of parent university after reading about the one at VJAE. Thanks VJAE for bringing the concept to us.
No Battle
I don’t see a battle. I see a innovative charter school doing something different for children and parents. It is good that district 2 is hanging on to Virgin Johnson Academy coattail. This will improve education for students in district 2. I am glad that Virgin Johnson Academy is here. They are already making district 2 work to keep up with them.
What does it matter
Anything that will help get parents involved and help the students it doesn't matter who is following who. PIE presented this Parent Univeristy concept to the District last school year. Both schools will be of great help to the students.
Parent University Credit
It is amazing that everyone want to take credit for bringing the parent university concept to this area. The truth of the matter is that before Virgin Johnson Academy announced that they were having one and gave a example on their website many of us have not heard of it before. If District 2 got the idea from Hampton2pie last year, then the question is why they didn’t do it last year? I am for helping parents and students. I think Virgin Johnson Academy is off to a good start getting parents involved. Everything I have heard on the news lately about charter schools says they are great. At least they can’t be no worse than what we have now.
It Matters Who is Following
Yes, it matter who is following who. A school district shouldn’t be copying a charter school program by doing this you are giving Virgin Johnson Academy credibility. It seem like it should be the other way around. It just doesn’t look right for the charter school to be setting the standards for District 2. This is what have me angry. I guess it is like they say on TV “charter schools are better than public schools”. This tell parents and the community that District 2 have no idea how to improve their failing schools.
People are Laughing at District 2
I want District 2 to improve the schools and to get parents involved in the schools with new ideas not with what Virgin Johnson Academy is doing. People are laughing at district 2 on my job. It is really embarrassing. This bother me because my children are at Estill Elementary, Estill Middle and Estill High. It looks bad and sound bad that we are copying the charter school Parent University. It is not a total surprise that they would copy VJAE but it is embarrassing.
SERIOUSLY, PEOPLE GET A
SERIOUSLY, PEOPLE GET A LIFE! If district 2 would like to call it parent university or whatever WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL, WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE!!! If you do not like it, don't sign up, but we can all stand to learn a little. No school is perfect and neither are those who work to maintain the school. Life is about change and you have to start somewhere. People will criticize the good and the bad, but always look for the positive in whatever the situation may be. This a good program and its to improve the parents which will ultimately help the children. THE CHILDREN ARE WHATS MOST IMPORTANT ANYWAY.
NICK Making it Happen
Nick is still making it happen for the parents in District 2. District 2 is doing a Parent University following her lead. It is good that her ideas for the charter school are reaching District 2. We need training in being involved in our children education. Personally, I am looking forward to attending the parent university. I reviewed the clip on VJAE website. This is a great idea not only for parents but for the whole community. Signing up for a parent university is a good idea.
STOP BEATING up HAMPTON 2
Why are people beating up Hampton 2 for starting a parent university? So, they copied VJAE ideas. They had to get ideas from somewhere why not from a former employee who had the district on the right track. If I was them I would do the same thing. Stop Beating up Hampton2 they are suffering enough from self-inflicted wounds.
Charter School
I have been bragging to my friends about the charter school (VJAE). Charter schools are really making parent think about their children education. I saw exert from ‘Waiting for Superman’ on www.oprah.com. Our schools are worse than the one they described. I was not on board with charter schools before district 2 start copying Virgin Johnson Academy programs and ideas and after looking at the Oprah Show discussion on charter schools. This is the new choice that many parent are making.
As for the parent university, we needed something like this forever. Good idea Virgin Johnson Academy. My hope is that all the other school districts follow Hampton 2 example of getting ideas from the charter school to make things better for all children.
Talk is cheap...
It is ridiculous for you parents to sit there and brag about the charter school when, for now, your children probably attend Hampton 2 if you live in Estill. What does it matter if Hampton 2 copied the charter school's ideas? Everyone gets their ideas from someone. It is parents like you that are making the problem worse for Hampton 2--your children go there, but you are too busy supporting a school that hasn't even been approved yet. Ha! Stop complaining and get your butts to the parent teacher conferences. Teachers and administration can't do it all--remember it all starts at home, so the shame is really on you and your disobedient, disrespectful children. The children at Hampton 2 that want to learn, ARE learning.