Kennewick, Washington

Focus Groups

At Vista Elementary, small focus groups were held to enable parents to discuss topics of interest including communicating with teachers, volunteering, engagement activities, school environment, decision making, access to technology, and desired resources.  This activity took the place of a large, formal workshop that was held in the past. The small group discussions demonstrated to parents that their voices would be heard and valued.

The small group discussions reinforced the importance of partnerships with parents, who felt safe to share their ideas.  For example, at the last focus group, parents expressed that they were sometimes unsure if they were welcome at school.  The group strategized ways to help families and the community feel more welcomed.  Several ideas were explored such as the use of a buddy bench on the playground, shaded playground structures, and better publicity of opportunities for classroom volunteers. The ATP at Vista will review the feedback from the focus groups to take action on the parents’ suggestions.

Community Resource Night

Attendance is high at most Back to School Nights.  Parents want to see the school, meet their child’s teacher, and hear something useful about the work planned for the new school year.  At Vista Elementary, the Action Team for Partnerships (ATP) and teachers wanted to leverage the popularity of this event to assist families with other information.  Most families were unaware of the many useful community resources that are available to them.  The ATP combined Back to School Night with a Community Resource Fair.

In addition to visiting the school and meeting their child´s teacher, parents also met and talked with people from the community who offered valuable resources to families and children.  About 15 booths were set up in the gym by representatives of selected organizations.  They answered questions and provided information about their services.  When parents had visited six or more booths, they went to the refreshment booth for ice cream for each family member.  Nearly 300 parents and their children attended the Community Resource Night—about half of the school’s population.  Families who were unable to attend could pick up an envelope with information from the community booths in the front office.

Community Resource Night is featured in Promising Partnership Practices 2017.