Parma, Ohio

L to R:  Elizabeth Kapferer, Ashley Kelley (Director/Principal), Sarah McCleary (ATP Co-Chair), Gina Brown (ATP Co-Chair), Nicole Papesh, Ashley McCann

Dudes and Donuts

Dudes & Donuts brought some of the men in students’ lives in to meet teachers and school staff, build good relationships, and strengthen partnerships.  During the planning process, the Action Team for Partnerships (ATP) and school leaders sought feedback from other parents and found that a Saturday morning would be the best time for the activity.  If dads or other male role models could not attend, moms, grandmas, or other family members were welcome.

Students and their “dudes” came in for donuts and juice.  Then they went to their classrooms for the visitors to meet the teacher, see the room, and spend time with their child on an activity.  The school’s business partner, Home Depot, donated project kits for families to complete together including bird house and toolbox kits.  Children and their visitors also could play a donut-ringtoss game, compete in relay races, or try a superhero dress-up station.  Students loved having their fathers and others participate in activities with them.  The fathers indicated that they felt comfortable at the school.  Teachers reported that the increased comfort level made it easier to talk with students’ fathers about their children’s successes and struggles in the classroom.

Dudes and Donuts is featured in Promising Partnership Practices 2017.

Ready Rosie Family Night

Ready Rosie is an approach for preparing preschool children for a successful transition to kindergarten.  Teachers at the CCDA know that parents are an important part of this process.  Parents often ask, “What can I do at home to help my child learn?”  Ready Rosie Family Night focused on children’s learning at home.  Parents gathered ideas about how to turn everyday objects, household items, and experiences into teachable moments.

Ready Rosie provided toolkits to send home with all families in attendance.  The parents and children visited 5 learning stations led by the teachers using some of the materials in the toolkits.  Each activity promoted creativity, problem solving, and literacy skills.  Once finished, the children voted on their favorite activity and then received their own toolkit to take home.  A “roadmap” explained how to access Rosie Ready videos at home that used the materials.  A representative from Ready Rosie attended the event to answer questions about the program.