Back to school tips
Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Bryan Johnson offered three tips for ensuring a successful school year: 1. Bring your child to school, every day.2. Track your child’s academic progress, use Power School and communicate with teachers.3. Encourage your child. Challenge them to be better.
Parent University sessions
Session 1: Rituals, Routines, Structure, OH MY! Explore the importance of routine and structure for your family. Offered by First Things First.Session 2: White House to Schoolhouse. Take a closer look at federal and state policy-making, and policies and laws [that] drive school and district accountability. Offered by the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga.Session 3: Parenting to Your Child’s Uniqueness. Learn more about the personality of your children and how to respond to their individual needs. Offered by First Things First.Session 4: Parents as Advocates. At the conclusion of this session, parents will have a better understanding of how to effectively advocate for their student’s success. Offered by the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga.Source: Hamilton County Schools
Dozens of families braved the heat Saturday to celebrate and prepare for one of the biggest days of the year: the first day of school.
Hamilton County's 44,000-plus students will start the new school year Wednesday.
On Saturday morning, the school district and local community organizations kicked off the year with a back-to-school event and the launch of its new Parent University program at the First Tennessee Pavilion.
Free school supplies, raffle prizes, shaved ice and familiar faces greeted participants.
Many of the parents expressed excitement their kids would soon be back at school.
Samantha Brown said she wasn't quite ready for the early mornings, but she is excited about the progress being made in the district.
"Hopefully, things will be more fair, not just at selective schools," she said of the district's recent efforts to increase equity across all Hamilton County schools.
Shawn and Sarah Summey agreed. Though they are zoned for East Brainerd, their three sons attend Battle Academy and Chattanooga School for Arts and Sciences.
"We appreciate the diversity," Sarah Summey said. "So many of our schools are segregated."
Logistically, it would be difficult to get their fourth-grader, second- grader and kindergartner to two different schools each day, but they were excited to get them out of the house and back in class.
For students, opinions on going back to school were split.
Teenagers were less likely to say they were excited to go back, but Dreceionna, 8, was bouncing with anticipation.
What is the third- grader looking forward to most this year at East Side Elementary? Math class - and the playground's tire swing.
School officials were excited about Saturday's turnout.
The district has ramped up efforts to increase community engagement and communication with parents since Superintendent Bryan Johnson took over the top job last summer.
The new Parent University program begins later this month.
The 20-session program is a partnership between the district, the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga and First Things First.
Workshops on a variety of topics geared toward parents of Hamilton County students will be held across the district's five learning communities this fall.
Gena Ellis, parent coordinator at First Things First, said this is the most coordinated effort to reach parents she's seen.
"We are going into all five learning communities to talk with parents on a variety of topics: assisting at school, what routines and structures they can have in place at home so their children will be successful," Ellis said. "And it's resource development. We will be able to learn about and refer them to other resources [in the community]."
School leaders also had some advice for parents to help ensure the new school year starts off smoothly.
"Get access to Power School and make sure we have correct information," said Justin Robertson, chief of schools for the district. "Communicate with your child's teachers."
Johnson gave three tips to parents, with attendance being the most crucial.
"Bring your child to school. Every day," the superintendent said. "Two, track your child's academic progress, use Power School and communicate with the school and teachers."
Most importantly, Johnson said, encourage your child.
"Challenge them to be better," he added.
Teachers and school administrators have been preparing for the year for several weeks already. On Monday, the district hosts the Urban Teacher Institute, a day-long summit for the 500-plus educators working in the 12 Opportunity Zone schools.
Parents have been encouraged to register their children online for the school year and last week, most schools offered registration assistance and held kindergarten kickoff events.
Courtney Baker, a first-grade teacher at Battle Academy, said teachers were excited for their students to be back.
"We are excited to start a great year of learning," Baker said Saturday.
For more information about the Parent University program, visit www.hcde.org/parents/parent_university or email Janelle Drake at drake_j@hcde.org.
Contact staff writer Meghan Mangrum at mmangrum@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6592. Follow her on Twitter @memangrum.