Schools Engaging Families
May 2025
CELEBRATING THE đź’“ OF OUR SCHOOLS
This month, we recognize and honor the dedicated educators, staff, and school communities who nurture, inspire, and guide our children every day. Teachers are truly the heart of our schools—bringing learning to life, building meaningful relationships, and supporting students through every challenge and triumph. As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week and look ahead to the end of the school year, we also celebrate the power of partnership. When families and schools work together, students thrive. Whether it's a simple note of gratitude, a shared learning moment at home, or attending a year-end event, every act of connection strengthens the heartbeat of our schools.
HAPPY TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK!
From burritos to tech deals—here’s a roundup of teacher freebies and discounts.
🛍️ Highlights of Notable Deals
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Chipotle: Offering 200,000 free burrito e-cards to educators and healthcare workers upon registration.
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Whataburger: Providing free breakfast entrées to teachers from May 5–9 between 5–9 a.m. with valid school ID.
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Sonic Drive-In: Exclusive deals for members of the Sonic Teachers’ Circle rewards program, including free snacks and discounted meals.
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Staples: Offering 20% off in-store purchases and a free 12-pack of red pens to educators with valid ID.
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Office Depot/OfficeMax: Teachers can earn 30% back in Bonus Rewards on qualifying purchases with a Teacher Exclusive Coupon.
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Apple: Educators can access exclusive discounts on Mac and iPad products through the Apple Education Store.
Families Plus Educators Together: Building Great Relationships that Support Young Children
Presented by Derry Koralek, Karen Nemeth and Kelly Ramsey
Home–school relationships have always been a cornerstone of children’s success and well-being. But cultivating positive, supportive partnerships between educators and families is an ongoing process, one that requires reciprocal respect and communication to grow.
This webinar is presented by the authors of NAEYC’s publication, Families and Educators Together: Building Great Relationships that Support Young Children. During this webinar, Derry Koralek, Karen Nemeth and Kelly Ramsey explore ways to engage families in your early childhood community with resources straight from the book, the six principles of family engagement, reflection questions, and more!
Patricia's Weinzapfel's Pointers on Communication
Don’t Bury the Lede
When it comes to written communications, don’t bury your lede. A lede in journalism is the most important information in a news story. When that information is squished between other bits of distracting information, you have “buried the lede.” When communicating with parents and caregivers, make sure the most important information is at or near the top of the communication. This will help ensure the information is seen and read by families.
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Say Thanks!
If you care for kids, you know it, sometimes being a parent or caregiver can be tough. That’s why it’s nice to end all of your conversations and communications to families with a "thank you." Something like “Thank you for all you do to help your child succeed,” or “Thank you so much for taking the time to come in and meet with me,” conveys a sense of respect and warmth. And that can build relationships with families that help students succeed.
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Do you need something great to listen to on your way to and from work? Check out this amazing podcast episode from Patricia when she collaborated with Mindful School Marketing.
BRIDGING KNOWLEDGE TO KNOW-HOW:
Empowering Pennsylvania Educators and Partners Conference
July 28 - 31, 2025, State College, PA
* Autism * Sensory Disabilities * Secondary Transition *Complex Instructional Needs
REGISTER NOW! SPACE IS LIMITED
🔹SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES for School Teams, Pre-Service Teachers, and Families,
plus Child Caregiver Reimbursement Opportunities
🔹THREE YOUTH EXPERIENCE OPTIONS (Ages 4-21)
🔹ART of EXPRESSION
🔹EXHIBITORS and POSTER SESSIONS
🔹FUN ACTIVITIES and NETWORKING for all ages!
SEE HOTEL INFORMATION - MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS SOON!
For more information, visit BRIDGING-KNOWLEDGE-TO-KNOW-HOW
Please share this information with school staff, service providers, families, and your community.
Camp InsPirAtion
A fun, activity-packed day camp for children and youth, ages 4-21 (includes siblings.) Campers will have a blast, while their parent(s) network and engage in conference sessions.
Computer Science Camp Code Arcade
High school youth, come explore pathways to computer science college and career options through activities, field trips, and a game design project. Space is limited.
2025 MATH CONFERENCE
The 2025 Math Conference will provide educators in all capacities with opportunities to deepen their knowledge and skills pertaining to evidence-based practices in math instruction in grades K-12. Presenters will cover a wide range of topics, including current research and implementation of evidence-informed instructional practices.
Don't miss out--register below!
