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DANIELLE PETERSON Statesman Journal
Marcelo Aguilar (left) of North Salem High
School and Maria Avila and Lorena
Avila-Perez of McNary help at the eighth
annual No Child Left Behind parent
conference at McKay High.
NCLB
One primary goal of No Child Left Behind is
to develop partnerships that work toward
eliminating the achievement gap and
facilitate a successful environment for all
students. For information, contact
Salem-Keizer School District NCLB program
at (503) 399-3004 or visit www.salkeiz
.k12.or.us.
'No Child Left Behind' gathering
hosted by district
By Justin Much
Statesman Journal
February 28, 2010
Resources were plentiful Saturday at McKay High School where the foremost message on campus was about
communication.
Four languages could be heard as parents of students from Title I schools attended the eighth annual Salem-Keizer Parent Gathering of No Child Left Behind information. "Literacy For All" was the gathering's stated theme for the second year in a row.
Salem-Keizer School District NCLB Planning Coordinator Carmen Brodniak noted that the event's presentations were given in English and Spanish, while Russian and Marshallese interpreters also were available.
The event is designed to expose parents to resources that help fortify their child's education.
Resources and representatives varied widely: Salem Leadership Foundation, the Boys & Girls Club, Salem Health, Cherriots and A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village were among the 35 organizations represented. Conferences were held all morning, and most were presented a second time in the afternoon. Topics discussed ranged from gang awareness to Internet safety to college preparation.
School Board member Chuck Lee said he attended the morning's Internet safety presentation.
"It's good to be aware of it, and see how easy it is to be careless about releasing information," he said. "When we were growing up, this wasn't even a part of our world."
Lee said he's attended the gathering each of the past three years and has been pleasantly surprised at the turnout and receptiveness each year.
Salem-Keizer Coalition for Equality Executive Director Eduardo Angulo said the conference has seen a steady turnout, averaging more than 1,000 parents since its inception. The goal is to reaffirm the importance of guidance at home within the educational process.
"It's a great opportunity to show parents what their responsibilities are and what their rights are in a meaningful way," Angulo said. "It's about achievement and forming a partnership between teachers and parents, amplifying that relationship to make it work for the student."
Brodniak said last year's event saw 1,200 parents and 500 students. Child care is provided, and is conducted in a classroom learning setting. Saturday's turnout seemed to mirror that as parking lots filled up by late morning.
About 160 high school student ambassadors from all area high schools also participated.
Brodniak said each year parents are asked to comment on the most useful pieces of the event.
From that polling, organizers adjust resources and presentations year to year.
Angulo noted that in addition to parents from around the Salem-Keizer area, there were representatives from various places statewide, including Astoria, Medford, Eugene, Woodburn, Lincoln City and the Portland area, who attended to garner ideas for their own districts.
"Word is going around that Salem is doing something different, and it's working," he said. "This (event) is getting respect."
jmuch@statesmanjournal.com or (503) 399-6736
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