Our Popular Parent and Family Advocacy & Support Training (PFAST) or Latino PFAST (LPFAST in Spanish) Workshop Series Starts This Week

Our popular Parent and Family Advocacy & Support Training (PFAST) or Latino PFAST  (LPFAST in Spanish) workshop series starts this week on Tuesday, April 1^st  at Holton through the DPS Family Academy at 6:00pm.  Dinner and Childcare are included.  Flyers and registration for both Spanish and English are attached.  Please share with others you know.   

The workshop series provides a certificate of completion for finishing 4 of 6 sessions.  You must start the training series by the second session on April 8^th in order to participate and earn a certificate.

PFAST and LPFAST help families (Parents, Guardians, Grandparents, Foster Parents) learn to better navigate our public schools.  Families (PK-12) from every walk of life benefit from this workshop series.  Topics include testing, Common Core, Report Cards, School Communication Techniques, AIG/Gifted Education, Special Needs & IEPs, Having an Effective Parent-Teacher conference, School Choice and more.  School  and Community Professionals and community leaders also take PFAST to learn more about how schools work, learn from parent perspectives, or to support their own children.

PFAST Flyer

LPFAST (SPANISH) Flyer

Families who complete LPFAST and PFAST this Spring will be eligible to participate in a new Parent Leadership certification program this fall through a grant we have received. 

 Families can also register for PFAST online at

http://dpsnc.connectwithkids.com/event-registration/?ee=7

AND for LPFAST (SPANISH) online with DPS at

http://dpsnc.connectwithkids.com/event-registration/?ee=8

OR with the Attached Registration Forms

PFAST Registration Form

LPFAST (SPANISH) Registration Form

Advocating for your gifted student workshop April 3rd

Advocating for Your Gifted Student

Thursday, April 3 6:00-8:00PM

Offered through DPS Family Academy

Location: Northern High School, 102 Milton Road

This workshop equips parents with practical ideas and suggestions about how to effectively advocate for gifted children.  Learn about local and state policies and resources to support advanced students.  Ask better questions and find ways to address common parent-school communication challenges.  This session will help you build a stronger collaborative partnership with your school and teachers to support your advanced learner and help your child meet their potential.

TO REGISTER:  Go to http://dpsnc.connectwithkids.com/event-registration/ 

Scroll down to the session you wish to register for and click.  Fill out the online form.

For more information contact Donna Rewalt, drewalt@dconc.gov or 919-560-0538

Please note that you do not have to have a DPS student to attend.  Charter school families are also welcome.

Durham Magnet School and Year-Round Registration Due this Friday, March 21

A reminder for PARENTS.... If your child was accepted into a Durham Public School Year-Round School, Magnet School, Specialty  High School, or other program through the DPS lottery, you MUST complete your Registration at the school where your child was accepted by this FRIDAY, MARCH 21st or your child will lose their place in the school.  There are no exceptions.  Please contact Student Assignment or the school where your child was accepted with any questions.

  

Clean Slate Clinic--Support for Youth (and Adults) to Help Clean Up Criminal Records and Improve Job Opportunities

This just came across our desk today.  Please share with folks you know who may benefit...

Do you know a youth who has something on the record of a criminal nature that they want to clean up?  This is extremely important when seeking employment.  Youth (and adults) who have either misdemeanors or felonies – especially felonies – should attend the Clean Slate Clinic.  These services are FREE!

Clean Slate Clinic

Saturday, March 22

10am-3pm

118 Hunt Street at Mangum St.

Durham, NC

Do you have a criminal record?

Has your criminal record held you back from getting a job?

Stop by to see if you are eligible to clean up your record.

Attorneys will be on hand to speak with you directly.

Free Parking!

Free Food!

Kids Activities!

Durham Public Schools Accepts School Transfer Requests Now through May 1st

Some families are interested in transfers between schools within Durham Public Schools for a variety of reasons. The application period for transfers is open from now through May 1st. Transfers are granted as outlined in DPS Board Policy 4132  in cases of hardship or childcare needs.

A few notes about Transfers:

• Students cannot transfer into a program magnet school, but there are some allowances for calendar magnets, see the policy.
• Transfers are not granted simply because you do not like your assigned school.  
• Families usually have to provide their own transportation when they transfer.
• Read the policy thoroughly (link above) before you complete the form.

Transfer Forms in English and Spanish (make sure you use the 2014-15 School Year Forms)
http://www.dpsnc.net/about-dps/forms/student-transfer-forms

If you would like to consult with someone about your school choices, including transfer requests, please feel free to call us and talk to Donna Rewalt at 919-560-0538 who has experience coaching families making difficult school decisions.

Learn about GCF Family Support--A Resource for Families of Kids wth Special Needs

A resource many families of kids with special needs appreciate is GCF Family Support Services.  This nonprofit group  is dedicated to supporting, educating, and informing families of children with special needs.

http://www.gcffamilysupportservices.org/

Click on Durham County and then click on events and explore the other links to learn more about upcoming workshops and other activities.  Sibshops for siblings of kids with special needs, Let's Connect support sessions, and Lunch and Learns are some of the offerings.  There are also some really helpful links and resources on the site.  Contact Beth Hutson at 919-667-1067 bhutson@gcffamilysupportservices.org if you want to know more.

Legal Eagle Law Camp at NCCU for Middle and High School Students

Each summer, North Carolina Central University (NCCU) School of Law hosts a week-long Legal Eagle Law Camp for middle and high school students.  The summer 2014 session of Law Camp will be held June 23-27, 2014, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Friday June 27, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.) Registration is $120 per child and scholarships are available; registration is limited to the first 36 participants to register.

The Camp is designed to expose students to the field of law. Participants get an inside look at the legal system and the courts, meet local attorneys and judges, visit the Durham courthouse, learn about legal research using the NCCU Law Library, take part in a mock trial and find out what it’s like to prepare for law school. Interactive sessions with current NCCU law students, faculty and administrators are a feature of the Camp.

The Camp is co-sponsored by Durham Public Schools Community Education Program, but enrollment is not limited to Durham Public Schools students or Durham County residents.

Questions about Camp, call 919-530-7166.  For information about registration or payment, call 919-560-9488.  

Teen Job Readiness Workshop for Ages 13-19 on March 8th

Durham County Library will host a Teen Job Readiness Workshop to help teens and youg adults for real-world work experience.

A Teen Job Readiness Workshop, scheduled for Saturday, March 8, is part of the Durham Youth Work Internship Program, a joint initiative with the city of Durham, Durham County and Durham Public Schools. The program is designed for teens ages 13 to 19 and will be held at Durham's Main Library, 300 N. Roxboro St.

The workshop will cover topics such as filling out job applications, professional use of social media, interviewing and volunteering. 

There are 2 sessions on March 8th and registration is requested:

1.  Ages 13 to 15 attend 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. 
2. Older teens, ages 16 to 19,  attend 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.  http://host4.evanced.info/durhamcounty/evanced/eventsignup.asp?ID=106109

The workshop is the first in a series of job readiness programs across the library system. To register for this workshop or other programs in the series, teens should visit the Durham County Library website or call Placedia Nance at 919-560-0122.

For more information about the Durham YouthWork Internship Program, visit its website or call or 919-560-4965, ext. 15217.

Rising 9th Graders are invited to attend High School 101 on March 15th

Durham Public Schools (DPS) has launched a High School 101 event for all rising 9^th graders—our current 8^th grade students.  This is a great opportunity for students and their families  to learn about what high school is all about from registration, credits, and athletics to strategies for success. 

Saturday, March 15, 2014

9 am - 12 pm

Riverside High School
3218 Rose of Sharon Rd.

See the link for more information and to register.

http://dpsnc.net/programs-services/academics/high-school-101