School-Based Services

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Family & Community Engagement Goals

Goal #1 Create a culture that engages every family

Goal #2 Build purposeful partnerships with our community

Family and Community Engagement encourages a school community that is informed, engaged, and empowered to share the responsibility in creating thriving schools where every student succeeds and families flourish.

Preschool

NNPS preschool is a voluntary program which provides innovative early childhood instruction instruction for children that are between the ages 4 and 5. The program is designed to help young learners gain an understanding of their world through joyful, developmentally-appropriate experiences.

Find out if your child is eligible for this program and pre-register your child today!

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Chew and Chat

These informal meetings between families and the building administrators, FACE Specialist and school staff allow families and school staff to engage in open discussions in non-traditional settings. Families sit down and eat with school staff in a welcoming, stress free environment, while also exchanging dialogue about a range of topics related to the school community, student success, and child development. The informal setting allows for families to feel welcome and comfortable engaging in discussions with school staff. 

Goals:

• Improve the capacity for partnerships between schools and staff by providing two-way communication
• Develop greater confidence by establishing a place for families to advocate for their children
• Establish positive and trusting relationships with families

Outcomes:

Creates a welcoming environment for families and allows them to ask questions directly related to their students social, emotional and academic needs.

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Family Breakfast

Every family has dreams and goals for their student. As students progress through their lives, memorable moments are created with their families. The Family Breakfast is an opportunity for families and school staff to come together in a morning breakfast that supports socialization and positive relationships. One of the highlights of this experience allows families to take a moment and address the entire group to express why there are proud of their child. And of course, who doesn't like breakfast food!

Goals:

• Building Connections (relationships and partnerships) among the school community (staff and families) by engaging in an informal social experience
• Shaping and developing family Cognitions (beliefs) about student achievement, school culture/climate, and relationships with staff
• Improving Self-efficacy

Outcomes:

• The school community will improve positive relationships and develop/improve partnerships.

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Standards of Learning & Enrichment Events

Newport News Public Schools' curriculum has a large focus around real world experiences that provide a connection between the classroom and the outside world. Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) is a large component of the NNPS curriculum. STEAM, Literacy, Family, Fun & Fitness Nights and other school events are family experiences that allow for the exploration of those subjects on a larger scale. Academic challenges and activities provide families the opportunity to expand their knowledge and understanding of how these subjects are used in their student's classroom.

Goals:

• Expands the family's capabilities (skills and knowledge) of STEAM by allowing them to engage in challenging, thought-provoking experiences
• Provides an opportunity to build and improve Connections (networks) between families and school staff by creating an interactive environment that requires cooperation and collaboration
• Improves self-efficacy of families by challenging them to engage in activities that relate directly to academic subjects

Outcomes:

• STEAM, Literacy, Family, Fun & Fitness Nights and other school events help build a positive school culture and welcoming environment for families and school staff to engage one another while addressing curriculum information through challenges and activities.

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Districtwide Experiences & Community-Based Events

Using school data, communities are targeted to provide outreach events and offer a variety of activities to encourage stronger partnerships and improve student achievement.

Goals:

• Building Connections (relationships and partnerships) among the school community (staff and families) by engaging in an informal social experience
• Shaping and developing family cognitions (beliefs) about student achievement, school culture/climate, and relationships with staff
• Improving Self-efficacy

Outcomes:

• The school community will create positive relationships and develop meaningful partnerships.