Parents and PGCPS eRadio

Congratulations to Mrs. Barbara Fisher, 2012 JoAnne L. Carter Memorial Award Winner

The staff of Parental Engagement with PGCPS, Parents and PGCPS, its supporters and members congratulate Mrs. Barbara Fisher on being awarded the 2012 JoAnne L. Carter Memorial Award in recognition of her involvement with Carrollton Elementary School.

Barbara Fisher

Prince George’s County

Parents and PGCPS Members since 2010

Statement from MSDE:

Barbara Fisher of Prince George’s County, was presented with the JoAnne L. Carter Memorial Award in recognition of her involvement with Carrollton Elementary School.  This award is given annually in honor of JoAnne L. Carter, Deputy State Superintendent for the Maryland State Department of Education, who lost her battle with cancer in 2009.  A parent herself, Ms. Carter was a staunch advocate for parental involvement in education. The award is given annually to a parent that exemplifies all that she held dear. 

The Parent Involvement Matters Awards is the nation’s first and only statewide award program of its kind.  The Maryland State Department of Education’s program recognizes parents and guardians for their exceptional support of public education.  Parents were nominated for demonstrating significant, positive impact in their communities across five areas of parental involvement: Communication, Volunteering, Learning, Decision Making and Community Collaboration.

Visit Parents and PGCPS at: http://parentsandpgcps.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

Bullying is everyone's problem. If you do not think it is your problem, just ask Brenda High

The most horrible consequences of bulling, shootings and suicides, regularly make news, and seem like isolated incidents; but all schools and communities are impacted and damaged by bullying every day. Bullying research shows that 160,000 students miss school each day because they fear being bullied. Is bullying your problem, if you don't have a child in school? Is it your problem if you work in a school, and bullying doesn't seem to be a problem there? (Bell, 2005)



Brenda High is a passionate crusader, a mom on a mission to stop school bullying and peer abuse. She driven to see an end to bullying by the memory of her son Jared, who was the victim of severe bullying and teasing.

Jared's story

Jared High was 12 years old when older students bullied him in his middle school. The bullying came to a head when a well known bully assaulted Jared inside his middle school gym. Because of the bullying and the assault, Jared began to show signs of depression, which included lack of sleep and emotional outbursts. On the morning of September 29, 1998, just six days after his 13th birthday, Jared called his father at work to say good-bye. While on the phone with him, Jared shot himself, dying instantly.

Forest Of The Rain Productions spoke with Brenda and discussed the impact of bullying on families, communities and more importantly children. It is a fascinating discussion that we encourage all to hear.

An Exclusive Interview with Brenda High: Founder of Bullying Police USA


Mike Robinson: What do you say to those who suggest bullying or teasing is a phase that all children go through?


Brenda High: “Well, in all honesty. If someone would have said that to me after I reported a bullying incident, I would turn to them and say, and so what you are trying to say to me is you are too lazy to deal with this. That’s a lazy man’s response. If a child comes to an adult and complains about bullying, it is the responsibility of the adults to do something. The boys will be boys or girls will be girls is just an excuse and are just pure laziness by adults.

Kids are kids and adults are adults and when something happens to kids, the adults are in charge. The adults are the ones who have the problem at this point. Adults take charge, parents take charge. Schools need to know that bullying is not a child’s problem it is an adult problem and if bullying is happening in school some adult is not doing their job, it is as simple as that.”

As a healing project, Brenda began to write Jared's story. Since 1999, Jared Story has attracted over two million visitors looking for information on bullying, depression, suicide and needing healing from the loss of a loved one.

Parents and PGCPS encourage all engaged parents and dedicated educators to listen to this Brenda’s story and to join her fight to end school house bullying.

To hear Brenda’s interview with Mike Robinson, host of Parent Talk and Educational Gateway, click on the link below.

Stop Bullying Now!
http://education4and2parents.podbean.com/2010/01/08/an-exclusive-interview-with-brenda-high-founder-of-bullying-police-usa/

Parent Talk

Sunday, October 31, 2010

PARENT TALK

Parent Talk is a weekly radio show for families and members of the community who aspire to become an integral part of their children’s academic success. Parent Talk is hosted by Michael A. Robinson. Parent Talk is a live interactive broadcast, were listeners have the opportunity to call in and ask questions of the host, guest or to simply comment on the topic of the day. Parent Talk can be heard every other Sunday evening from 8:30pm to 9:30pm (EST).

Our guest Ms. Kim Armstrong will talk with us regarding gang violence and education. She will share how a personal tradgey has impacted her life and how she is now empowering other parents to confront violence.

Show Date: October 21, 2010

Show Time: 7:30pm-8:30pm

Call In Number: 1 (914) 803-4591

Website: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/educationaljournal

PGCPS PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT REACHES TITANIC PROPORTIONS

Parental engagement in Prince George's County Public Schools has reached titanic proportions. In school year 2007-2008, when one measures the total number of parents who have participated in the core of what we call our parental engagement program; areas such as participation in a non-sports related event, classroom observations, participation in monthly parent workshops, and parent volunteers parental engagment in our schools is evident. For example, in the 2007-2008 school year there were a total of 89,000 parents involved in some aspect of our parental engagement program. However, the 2008-2009 school year represents the systemic growth we wanted in our parental engagement program. A review of parental involvement in our core programmatic areas reveals a 192% increase in parental activity when compared to the 2007-2008 school year. For the 2008-2009 school year 262,452 parents and significant adults in the lives our children participated in one of our core parental engagement program. The data for the 2008-2009 school year is not complete, as the final weeks of the school year has yet to calculated, thus we can expect an even greater increase from 2007-2008 and 2008-2009.

The numbers are in:

• # of Men participating in non-sports related events at school (59,570)
• # of Women participating in non-sports related events at school (108,741)
• Total # of Parents participating in non-sports related events at school (168,311)
• # of Classroom Observations (47,505)

Successful Mentoring Program at Greenbelt Elementary

by:

Michael A. Robinson, Coordinating Supervisor, Parental Engagement and Community Outreach

Today April 6, 2009 in the metro section of the Washington Post there is an article highlighting the mentoring program at Greenbelt Elementary School. The program was developed by the school's Parent Liaison Jacob Novick and its Professional Counselor Donna Behe. The program was created in response to parent concerns. According to Mr. Novick, "we would meet with parents during the P-team discipline conferences. These conferences occurred after a suspension of a student. During the meeting it became apparent there was a need for supplmental support to our students and it seem mentoring would offer the best way to reduce issues such as attendance, behavioral and their academic progress."

Mr. Jacob also mentioned that many of the single parents expressed a need for a role model for their child. As a result of the parent's need and their own assesment, Greenbelt's P-Team led by Jacob Novic established a partnership with three student groups at the University of Maryland at the end of last year. Mr. Novick is excited that the program is making some progress and encourages others to start their own program and to read their article which includes a few tips, "This is our first full year operating and things are going well. If you get the opportunity please take a look at the article."

The article can be found at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/05/AR2009040501804.html