Public Schools Advocate Creates Workshops To Train Parents

A nonprofit group advocating communication between the home and public schools has launched a series of parent training workshops for next month in Kailua.

Hawaii Education Matters, working with the Kailua-Kalaheo Complex schools, begins its Parent Academy with five pilot workshops – all free – to help build good links between families and classroom teachers. The group was born out of the 2009 teacher furloughs, according to its director, Ann Davis.

Space is limited, and interested parent should reserve a place by calling Davis at 888-6922 or via email at friends@hawaiieducationmatters.org. Free child care and refreshments, as well as raffle prizes, are planned for each session.

The schedule is below.

* May 2, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Kailua Elementary School library – “Parents Leading the Way: An Emotion-focused Approach to Parenting” with Kailua psychologist Nancy Halevi

* May 3, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Kailua Intermediate School library – “Beyond Bullying: Growing Safe Schools” with award-winning peer education specialist Cindy Jenness of KIS

* May 7, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Kailua Intermediate School library – “Smooth Transitions from Elementary to Middle School” with parent and educator Patrick Foehr and others from Parents for Public School Hawaii and Hawaii Association of Middle Schools

* May 9, 8:15-9:15 a.m. at Ka’elepulu Elementary School multipurpose room – “Hawaii 5210 Let’s Go! Power Up with Sleep and Breakfast” with local pediatrician May Okihiro

* May 22, 4-5:30 p.m. at Kailua Elementary School library – “Creative Reading Solutions” with award-winning KES librarian Darren Tanaka and district literacy specialist Esmeralda Carini.

The workshops are funded by grants from The Learning Coalition and Hawaii Community Foundation.