Oak Ridge Schools Family Engagement

Hello Oak Ridge Families!!!

My name is Allison Peters and I am the Family Engagement Liaison for Oak Ridge Schools. During this unprecedented school year, Family Engagement looks a little different.

However, we hope that you will still find ways to stay involved in your child's school. If your school is hosting a family event, you will be notified. Some schools are postponing some of their in person events due to Covid.

We also have a Title I Family Engagement webpage where you can go for helpful videos, websites, parenting tips, local resource information, etc. Click on the picture above to go to the Title I Family Engagement webpage. In my Bitmoji Classroom, you can click on the objects and it will link you to many different informative websites, helpful videos, social emotional books for children, Oak Ridge Schools calendar, Portrait of a Graduate info, etc.

This year we are planning a series of Virtual Family Engagement workshops that will be pre-recorded and can be found on our Title I, Parent Resource page.

We would like to thank our partners Ridgeview Behavioral Health and UT Ag Ext. Family and Consumer Science for their help in creating these informative videos.

The workshop series has helpful videos on such topics as:

• Ridgeview Behavioral Health weekly podcast that focus on Hope, Healing and Recovery
• Cyberbullying/Social Media Safety, presented by UT Ag Ext, Family and Consumer Science Dept.
• Canvas Tutorial Video, presented by Mike Carvella of ORS
• Distance Learning 101- helpful tips on learning from home if you have to quarantine, presented by Allison Peters of ORS
• Distance Family Learning Guide, presented by Dept. of Education
• Seesaw and Canvas tutorial videos

Please join Tn Voices as they exhibit theatrical images designed by youth and young adults in East Tennessee. This exhibit, Unmasking Mental Health, is to raise awareness about what is really going on behind the mask and to promote acceptance of mental health issues. Please see the flyer for more information.

Mental Health Association hosted a Virtual Parent Workshop for all Oak Ridge Families on January 27, 2022. If you were unable to join, click on the following link to view the presentation.

https://youtu.be/T5EZw-4xSJs

In this presentation, you will learn:

What is Mental Health • Mental Health Statistics • The Mental Health Impacts of the Pandemic • Risk Factors • Protective Factors • Symptoms ⚬ Physical Signs ⚬ Emotional Signs • Intervention ⚬ Prevention ⚬ Changes to make at home ⚬ Accessing other support • Resources

May 2-6, 2022, Oak Ridge Schools will hold Kindergarten Pre-Registration from 8:30-3:30 pm at your child's zoned elementary school. If you have a child who will be 5 years old on or before August 15, 2022, you should pick up a registration packet during these hours. If you have any questions, call the elementary school in your zone.

Helen Ross McNabb held a No Bullying workshop on April 5th. Please email me at AKPeters@ortn.edu if you would like the Power Point presentation or have any questions. If you believe your child is being bullied, please contact the school counselor or school administration.

Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up May 2-6, 2022. We all know how hard teachers work and this is a perfect week to show them how thankful we are! Contact your school's PTO to see how you can help make this week special for our teachers.

HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE?

If you need awesome teacher appreciation ideas and free printables, click here. You will find hundreds of ideas. Here are some simple ideas.

• Write a note of thanks and appreciation for your teacher.
• Round up a basket of goodies that your teacher can enjoy over the summer.
• Give gift cards to your teacher’s favorite restaurants, shopping places, or coffee shops.
• Decorate your teacher’s door with a creative banner or sign.
• Stock the teacher’s classroom with supplies that are running low.
• Bring in your teacher’s favorite treats and snacks.
• Provide lunch for the teacher.
• Find ways to include the staff, including secretaries and janitors.
• Create a classroom gift like a photo album to involve the entire class.

Click on the link above to enjoy Free Parenting Resources through Peace at Home Parenting. You can also Follow them on Facebook and enjoy the following perks:

FREE LIVE ONLINE CLASSES

• Offered Monthly in both English & Spanish
• Ask questions and receive answers on the spot
• Chat with other parents
• Access the recording & handouts after class

FREE CLASS RECORDINGS

• Listen to a prerecorded class anytime, anywhere
• Pause, rewind or restart at your convenience
• Download and share the helpful handouts

FREE Peace at Home Community

• Access to our private, monitored Facebook group, where you can get answers and feedback from caring parents like yourself and all Peace at Home experts.
• Already taken a class? Monthly Q&A Sessions are offered to parents who have attended a class. After trying out new approaches, parents are able to pose concerns, hear solutions, and share successes with Peace At Home and other parents

Ridgeview's COVID Crisis Response Team (CRT) aims to help individuals cope with the stress of the pandemic through outreach activities and access to a helpline for brief crisis counseling. The goal of these efforts are to support Hope, Healing, and Recovery in our community.

Ridgeview also hosts weekly podcasts that focus on Hope, Healing and Recovery. You can find Back to School Tips, local community resource information, parenting tips, etc. Click here for to watch this wonderful weekly podcast!

Our community has many different resources for those in need.

Click on the pictures below for more information or contact Jo Bruce at the Family Resource Center at (865)425-3201.

All of the elementary schools in Oak Ridge are considered Title I Schools. For more information on your rights, as the parent of a Title I Student, watch this Power Point Presentation

or go to our Title I webpage by clicking here.