Any education professional will tell you family engagement can make a big difference for student success. Parents and caregivers who feel connected to a school setting are often more likely to visit the school and engage with the teachers and staff. This means that the parents and school can better work together to make sure that students’ needs are being met.
One way to cultivate connection is to regularly welcome parents and community members into the school for special events, so the community can rally around the school and its students. This is why community schools often promote events like community dinners, school performances, and other school celebrations.
This year, three of our community schools have launched monthly community resource days. On these days, the community is invited to the school so they can receive important resources, access trainings and workshops, and meet other organizations and parents in the community. Each school’s community day is unique and responds to the needs and wants of the community.
To see a community school in action, stop by one of our schools on their community day and check out what’s happening for yourself! Below are some of the services you’ll find offered at each school:
Gideon’s First Mondays
Every first Monday of the month, 5-7PM
- Farmer’s market
- Benefits enrollment
- Free clothing items
- Cooking demonstrations
Congrats to @GWright_PHL & his students from Edward Gideon on selling out of sweet potatoes 🍠 at their farmstand #FirstMondays #PHLed pic.twitter.com/nTUgzSxZO8
— HYPE (@HYPEPHILLY) November 6, 2017
KHSA’s Open Saturdays
Every third Saturday of the month, 10-2PM
- Open gym time for students and community members, supporting KHSA’s goal to increase physical activity
Cramp School’s Community Saturdays
Every third Saturday of the month, 9-2PM
- Rotating workshops for adults
- Benefits enrollment
- Homework help for students
- Bill repayment assistance
- Healthcare enrollment
Thanks to #CommunitySchoolsPHL we were able to keep the school open today. There was Saturday school for students, info about city benefits & a weatherization workshop for parents. Look out for our next Community Saturday Dec 16th when we'll have even more going on! pic.twitter.com/m75vJm6HXT
— William Cramp School (@crampschool) November 18, 2017