Finding a Path Toward a Better Future

It’s time to talk again.

PEAK, also known as Pottstown Early Action for Kindergarten Readiness, will once again be holding a series of open community meetings to talk about children’s success in schools.

The first will be held Monday, Oct. 5 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at CCLU/First Baptist Church at the corner of King & Charlotte streets. A second will also be on Monday, at 5:30 p.m. at Pottstown Middle School.

The third will be held Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 5:30 p.m. at Barth Elementary School. The last will be held 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15 at YWCA Tri-County Area on King Street.

The meetings are meant to highlight particular challenges facing Pottstown children in a search for ways to overcome those challenges.

In terms of one particular challenge, Spanish language interpreters will be available.

In terms of another challenge — one local church has plans to help and is hoping to convince others to do the same.

Bethel Community Church Pastor Vernon Ross had pledged his church’s multi-seat van to help transport families to these meetings.

“I can see this having a huge impact of the future success of the Pottstown School District from an academic performance, behavior, and socialization perspective. I believe it could even reduce racial bias and other related cultural issues,” Ross wrote to The Mercury about his church’s involvement.

“My objective in this endeavor is to promote the effort among community residents/parents and the faith communities so I’m asking all religious leaders to share this information with their respective congregations and to encourage parents to get their kids involved,” Ross wrote, adding, “we also need the churches to provide transportation where needed by leveraging church vans.”

The meetings are the result of a $1.2 million three-year grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation aimed at getting parents more involved in their children’s education.

“This time the focus will be on the new school year and how your child is doing,” Jane Bennett, PEAK Community Engagement Coordinator wrote in an e-mail.

Food, raffle prizes and child care will provided, along with some extra fun for the children. The Pottstown Regional Public Library will be conduct a story time and, in addition, during the talks at the Pottstown Middle School and Barth Elementary a sing/dance party is planned.

For more info, contact Bennett, at 610-256-6370, jbennett@pottstownsd.org or visit www.pottstownschools.org.”

Can We Talk?

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Pottstown School District.

As part of an ongoing initiative to seek community change through family engagement, the Pottstown School District is inviting the district's parents and caregivers of elementary age children and younger to a series of community conversations in the coming weeks.

In relaxed conversational settings, parents will have the opportunity to talk with other parents, enjoy a meal and win raffle prices as ideas about upcoming events, programs and activities for kids over the summer are discussed.

Child care and Spanish interpreters will be available.

The dates and locations are as follows:

• Wednesday, May 27 from to 1 to 3 p.m.: CCLU First Baptist Church, 301 King St.
• Wednesday, May 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: St. John's United Church of Christ, 11 S. Price St.
• Thursday, May 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 564 Glasgow St.
• Tuesday, June 2 from 6 to 8 p.m.: YWCA, 3125 King St.

The initial series of conversations were held in the spring and fall of 2014.

Feddback received from parents and caregivers at those talks aided PEAK (Pottstown Early Action for Kindergarten Readiness) and the Pottstown School District in obtaining a three-year $1,250,000 grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation for early childhood education and family engagement.

For this initiative to be successful, participation from all social and ethnic groups is crucial.

Your feedback is needed. 

Please come out, have your voices hear and be part of a brighter future for our children.

In addition to the Kellogg Foundation, the project is also supported by the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania's Penn Project for Civic Engagement.

The grant is aimed at finding ways to strength the partnership between home and school, to increase family participation and improve support for all children's growth and development from birth through elementary school.

For more information, contact Jane Bennett, PEAK Community Engagement Coordinator at 610-256-6370 or jbennett@pottstownsd.org