Catoosa Family Connections
September 2023 - Issue 1
Fall Parent Advisory Council Meetings
Thank you to the many parents who attended our Title I Fall Parent Advisory Council (PAC) meetings across our Title I schools! Your attendance, input, and feedback is so important to our program. For those of you unable to attend, please check out your school's website for information about the Title I program, including School & District Title I Policy, Title I budget, School Improvement Plan, and Family-School Compacts. Theses documents are also available for viewing in your school's Parent Workroom along with other resources to help you become more engaged in your child's learning. Know that you can contribute your input into the Title I program at any time by contacting your school's Parent Involvement Coordinator. We hope that you will join us once again next semester for our Title I Spring PAC meeting!
PIC Spotlights
Amber Barnes - Battlefield Primary School
We would like to welcome Amber in her new role as the Parent Involvement Coordinator at Battlefield Primary School. Along with working at BPS, Amber is a mom to two kiddos and one doggo. She graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville ("Go Vols!") with a B.S. in Special Education. Amber grew up in Ringgold and attended BES, LMS, and LFO. Amber has felt at home at BPS, stating that "I have the best co-workers, the best PTO, and the best parent volunteers. Everyone at BPS is wonderful to work with and truly cares about our school." She loves working for the school district and we are so happy to have her on the team!
Parent Room location: BPS room 406
PIC Hours: M-F 8:15 am to 3:15 pm
Amy Blankenship - West Side Elementary School
Amy Blankenship recently took on the PIC position at West Side Elementary after serving as the RMS PIC for 1.5 years. Amy is the mom of two teenage boys and has been married to her amazing husband for 10 years. She loves anything Disney related and reading. When she has downtime, she enjoys working on Thomas Kinkade Disney puzzles. Her favorite holiday is Christmas. Amy loves how all the different cultures at WSE are incorporated into the school. She is hardworking and creative and always willing to help at her school and throughout the district.
Parent Room location: WSE Room 217
PIC Hours: M-F 7:45 am to 3:30 pm
Andra Herpst - Battlefield Elementary School
Andra Herpst is in her 5th year as the PIC at Battlefield Elementary. Andra is a former Catoosa County schools student and a graduate of LFO. She has been married to her high school sweetheart, Scott, for 27 years. Andra loves to travel in her time off. Her favorite thing about BES is how close and supportive her co-workers are and how awesome kids are at her school! Andra is excellent at multitasking and at finding ways to make the Title I program work best for her families.
Parent Room location: Media Center
PIC Hours: M-F 7:30 am to 10:50 am
Positive Parent Engagement
Tips for deeper involvement in your child's education.
Asking beyond "How was your day?"
We are all eager to learn about our child's day, but often our inquiries are met with one word answers. "Fine". Here are a few tips to help you spark a deeper conversation with your child.
- Find the right time. Keep in mind that everyone can need time to decompress after a day's work. It is tempting to ask questions as soon as they get off the bus or in the car. Try to set aside a specific time each day to recap. Dinnertime or bedtime are two great times to get a better, more detailed response. Riding in the car after practice is another time kids feel comfortable opening up.
- Focus on your child. Be sure to put your phone away, turn off the television, and really focus on what they are saying or not saying. By paying close attention you will be able to ask follow up questions or pick up on issues they may not share outright.
- Sit with their silence. Try not to bombard your child with question after question. Sitting in silence can be uncomfortable but it allows your child the opportunity to formulate their response. Try not to jump in and fill the quiet.
- Ask open-ended questions. This is the most important tip! By asking questions that require more thoughtful responses you are asking your child to truly reflect on their experiences that day. Below are a few examples:
- "What was one thing you learned today that you didn't know this morning?"
- "Was there something you learned today that was challenging for you?"
- "Did you do anything today that you are proud of?"
- "Who do you enjoy talking to the most?"
- "Did you help someone today or did someone help you?"
- "What would you change about today?"
Family Collaborative
Boynton Baptist Fall Festival
October 28th
Catoosa Library Trunk or Treat
October 31st
Laughs Unlimited
November 2nd
Read Across Catoosa
November 13th - 17th
Fatherhood Resources
Catoosa County Library
October events