A Letter to Our Readers: The West Virginia Family Engagement Center is especially grateful for all school, district, and state education employees for their ongoing efforts to promote safe, healthy, and equitable education environments for West Virginia students throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. During this holiday season, our team of Family Engagement Specialists would like to express our sincere thanks to each of our participating counties and schools for working alongside us to serve students and families, despite the challenges brought on by this non-traditional academic year. We appreciate you giving of your time and talent in creating innovative family engagement Action Plans for your school and encouraging out-of-the-box thinking among your staff as we work together to meet the needs of all students and families during this time. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are grateful for the opportunity to promote enhanced family-school relationships and look forward to continuing to support our Cohort 2 counties, schools, students, and families. On behalf of the West Virginia Family Engagement Center, we wish you a happy and healthy holiday season. - Assistant Director, Meaghan Cochrane, Ph.D. |
|
|
Our Mission The West Virginia Family Engagement Center engages families, educators, and community members in the educational process to enhance student academic achievement. WVFEC is partnering with families to provide SEAMless Family Engagement that: - Supports learning and development.
- Encourages positive self image and a "can do" spirit in WV youth.
- Advocates for improved learning opportunities at WV schools.
- Models lifelong learning and enthusiasm for education.
In this newsletter, we'll cover: - School Spotlights: Power of the Pivot
- Partner Spotlight: Wonder and Grow: Mindful Nature Experience
- Upcoming Opportunities with REL Appalachia
|
|
|
The Power of the Pivot: Exemplars of Family Engagement in Cohort 2 Schools |
|
|
Schools across the state, and the country, are facing unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these challenges, our West Virginia Family Engagement Center schools are demonstrating the power of the pivot by implementing innovative approaches to family engagement through the 20-21 academic school year. Learn from our four Family Engagement Specialists as they uplift exemplars in family engagement within our Cohort 2 schools. In our blog we feature: John Marshall High School, the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind, Jefferson Elementary Center, and Mary C. Snow West Side Elementary. |
|
|
Exemplars include a virtual spin on an "open house", equipping families with the tools necessary to achieve educational goals, expanding Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, and supporting staff and families' mental health. Read the full blog post below! | | |
|
|
December Partner Spotlight: Wonder and Grow: Mindful Nature Experience |
|
|
“If children are to grow into healthy, well-adjusted adults, nature needs to be integral to their everyday lives…” - Dr. Scott Sampson - How to Raise a Wild Child |
|
|
Wonder & Grow offers powerful nature-based experiences for people of all ages and backgrounds. Mindful Nature Experiences are at the core of all our programs and are led by certified Kripalu Mindful Outdoor Guides, Valerie Warner and Kate Reed. We practice gentle movement, breathing and centering exercises, walking with awareness, sensory exploration, and nature meditation. We gather as a group at the end of each session to share stories and connect with each other. Our programs include: 1) Mindful Nature Experiences for Students is an all weather, child-inspired curriculum that educates the whole person in mind, body, and spirit. The unstructured flow of learning allows children to experience authentic free play in nature while developing necessary skills for a higher quality of life. |
|
|
Caregivers will receive recommendations for follow up activities and additional resources including questions to ask their kids following their adventures to spark storytelling and enhance the caregiver-child connection. Private Mindful Nature Experiences are also offered to groups, families, and individuals; 2) Mindful Nature Connection Programs for Caregivers are in-person or virtual sessions to develop tools to create a healthy and balanced life. These sessions will encourage exploration and discovery of the wonders of their local area and connection to place while enhancing |
|
caregiver connections; 3) Educator Training which helps individuals build a toolbox of simple mindful nature practices that can be integrated into everyday instruction to help educators and their students manage stress and connect with the natural world. Our mission is to ignite a sense of wonder and grow scientific understanding and connection with the natural world through curiosity driven exploration and mindfulness practices. We offer powerful mindful nature experiences—for ALL! Submission by Kate Reed, Co-Founder |
|
|
Learn More: For more information on Wonder & Grow: Mindful Nature Experience, visit their website via the link below. | | |
|
|
Upcoming Opportunities: Addressing Trauma in Educational Settings with REL Appalachia |
|
|
| | Open Office Hours: 12/8 3:30-4:30pm Webinar facilitators will be hosting virtual office hour sessions to provide tailored support as you begin to implement relevant strategies and practices to address trauma. Register below for the session on 12/8 from 3:30-4:30pm EST. | | |
|
| | Module 2 Webinar: 12/21 10am-12pm Facilitators will share concrete classroom and school-based practices to support students and educators in the context of trauma, including strategies to address implementation barriers. CEUs available for WV educators. | | |
|
|
Get the latest WVFEC news via our social channels! | |
|
|
|
|
