“Don't wait until the fourth Thursday in November, to sit with family and friends to give thanks. Make every day a day of Thanksgiving!”

- Charmaine J. Forde

Our library is open from 8-4pm, Monday through Friday. Parents are welcome to come in to check out resources, or contact us to send requested resources to your child's school. If you're looking for an educational resource, game or activity to support your child's math, literacy, or social skills goals, give us a call and we can help you find something!

Visit our library catalog to see our growing collection of resources, books, and eBooks! https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/43326

If an interpreter is needed, please contact us at least a week before the event so we can secure one for you. Email us in your preferred language at prc@spotsylvania.k12.va.us to make this request. Thank you.

Title I is the largest federal assistance program for our nation's public schools. Spotsylvania County Public Schools utilize Title 1 funds to provide literacy and math support for children in grades K-5 who are in need of additional support.

Check out the Family Engagement events that these Title I schools have coming up:

Battlefield Elementary School will be hosting a family reading event titled "Reading at Twilight" on Thursday, November 4 from 5-6pm. BES families will be invited to come with some of their favorite books and a blanket to read outside. A light snack, drinks, and glow sticks will be provided. They will have prizes and book giveaways.

Cedar Forest Elementary School is hosting a family engagement event for their ESOL families on Thursday, November 4. ESOL students will be showcasing a choral performance during dinner for families. After the performance parents will attend sessions on literacy and math. During these sessions, parents will learn about strategies to support learning at home. Parents will also participate in a session to learn more about ParentVue and standards based grading practices. Interpreters will be provided for this event to ensure all families are able to access the sessions.

Lee Hill Elementary School is providing a Virtual Curriculum Chat & Strategies for families to connect with their child's teacher as an option on parent-teacher conference night, November 17. This menu of links will provide information about the instructional focus for the 2nd marking period and provide a skill or strategy to share that can easily be practiced at home!

On September 30, Cedar Forest Elementary School was excited to host their WolfPride night! They welcomed 125 family members to learn about how they implement social-emotional learning in our school. Families attended sessions on the school's "house program," zones of regulation, and a session on ParentVue and standards-based reporting. These programs are vital to student success and continued focus on social emotional development in all of their students!

On October 14, Berkeley Elementary School had their annual Reading Under the Stars event. Students and their families had a great time reading with flashlights and lanterns while lying under the fall night sky. Every participant received refreshments and a free book. Families also had the opportunity to visit with the Parent Resource Center and receive a free bag of resources. Twenty-five families joined us for this fun filled night!

Governor Ralph S. Northam, Superintendent of Public Instruction and Dr. James F. Lane and the Virginia Department of Education recognize November as Family Engagement Month in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The importance of parental engagement in schools is well documented. Over 30 years of research shows that one of the most effective ways to increase student achievement is for parents to be actively involved in the education of their children.

Research has shown that when schools and families are engaged in meaningful two-way communication and collaboration students have:

o More positive attitudes toward school

o Higher grades and test scores, which equals higher achievement

o Better attendance

o More homework completed

o Higher graduation rates

o Greater enrollment in post-secondary education

Click on the picture below to download this resource compiled by the Virginia Department of Education’s Family Engagement Network.

Check out this 30 Days of Families Learning Together guide created by the National Center for Families Learning!

NCFL’s guide to 30 Days of Families Learning Together provides a month’s worth of family literacy activities and practices designed to inspire family memories rooted in imagining, playing, and learning together.

During these uncertain times, VCU-ACE is working to provide resources for families. Weekly VCU-ACE will provide an opportunity for parents to join us for Lunch and Learn. An interactive and secure Zoom meeting that will address different topics each week. There will be a short presentation with a time for Q&A.

Register for this series here: https://vcuautismcenter.org/te/lunchandlearn.cfm

VIEW A COMPLETE LISTING OF VA Family Special Education Connection EVENTS HERE: https://vafamilysped.org/events

The Well-Sibling Squad (WSS) is a social support group for children ages 10-16 who have a sibling (s) with disabilities.

WSS hosts virtual and in-person meet-ups! Contact sibsquad2018@gmail.com to get virtual meeting codes, or to RSVP for in-person meetings.

Click here to register for the Once Upon a Murder Mystery Party on Saturday, November 20th from 4-6pm: https://forms.gle/j5qARedVkJC6em1s7

Virginia 4-H is a program for youth ages 9 - 18, with special programs for youth ages 5 - 8. From Food Science and Robotics to Fashion Design and Photography, there is a 4-H activity for everyone. Find a 4-H Club near you to start making friends, learn new skills, complete community service projects and become a better you!

https://sites.google.com/vt.edu/spotsylvaniacounty4-hprogram

Register in person at the Loriella Park Office: 10910 Leavells Rd. Fredericksburg, VA 22407,

or by mailing in this downloadable registration flyer to the address below:

Spotsylvania Parks and Recreation P.O. Box 28 Spotsylvania, VA 22553

Birth Certificate is required at registration if one is not already on file with the Department.

For more information, contact (540) 507-PLAY (7529) or visit www.spotsylvania.va.us/parksandrec

The Fairfax County Department of Family Services is hosting a Virtual Kinship Café on Wednesday, November 3 at 6:30pm. The topic for this meeting is “Managing Grief in Kinship Families.” Susanne Maurer, LPC, will be leading a discussion on the different kinds of grief that people experience in kinship families and how it is often not related to death (but certainly can be). You will have the opportunity to participate and ask questions or just listen quietly – whatever manner you are most comfortable.

All are welcome to join.

The Zoom link and password are below:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84809658310

Password: Kinship00!

NAMI is excited to announce their upcoming conference to be held November 16-17, 2021. The conference theme is COVID Recovery: The Path Forward to Mental Wellness

The focus of the NAMI Virginia Conference is to promote mental wellness as we begin the recovery process from COVID-19. Mental health and well-being have been impacted in many different ways for Virginians throughout the course of the pandemic, especially for people already living with mental health conditions.

Conference workshops will provide opportunities for conversation and learning around two major topic areas essential to NAMI’s mission work with a focus on mental wellness post COVID:

• Track 1: Living well with a Mental Health Condition
• Track 2: Supporting Stronger Mental Health Communities

To learn more, and for a tentative schedule, visit https://namivirginia.org/2021-nami-virginia-virtual-conference/?fbclid=IwAR29I0YhDT8wt0ioKcnWIEb5vT_dhJaQffrKIZYYfzHO_hNGbv4IQ-TPBpM

SCPS participates in an ongoing process of identifying and evaluating children ages birth to twenty-one who are suspected of having a disability.

Any child who is identified as having a disability and qualifies as in need of special education is entitled to a free, appropriate public education designed to meet his/her needs. Early identification assists parents, students and schools in the design of appropriate educational services. Referrals can be made by anyone concerned with the child's educational performance including the parent, child's teacher, community agency or a school official.

For additional information, contact:

Birth - age 2: PEID (Parent Education Infant Development)

(540)371-2712

Age 2 - 5 prior to entrance to kindergarten: Early Childhood Special Education Office

(540)582-7020

For school age children: Call your neighborhood school or

Office of Student Support Services (540)834-2500, extension 1005

Hours:

Monday-Friday

8am-4pm

Courtney Seely, Teacher Facilitator

Sandy Sprague, Parent Facilitator

Sarah Bell, Administrative Assistant

Email: prc@spotsylvania.k12.va.us
Website: https://www.spotsylvania.k12.va.us/prc
Location: 7409 Brock Rd, Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA 22553, USA
Phone: 540-582-7060
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spotsyprc
Twitter: @SCSPRC