Class is in session — for parents

Freeport School District hosts workshops for moms, dads

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Sofia Ayala, 7, a New Visions Elementary School second-grader, snuggled close to her father, Alex, to show him the picture that she colored on Tuesday at Freeport Public Schools’ Parent University, a year-round program that educates parents on a number of topics that affect students.

Freeport Superintendent Dr. Kishore Kuncham said  that the workshops — this one held at Freeport High School, and conducted in English and Spanish — provide parents with the resources they need to enhance their children’s learning and support at home, and help parents better understand students’ social-emotional learning and needs.

“We’re bringing workshops that are helpful to our families,” Kuncham said.

Dr. Mary Anne DeVivio, the Freeport district’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, said that district hosts about a half-dozen workshops a year, on a range of topics. At Tuesday’s Parent University, the topics ranged from academic support at home, to health and wellness, to anger management, to the effect of trauma on learning. Northwell Health and SKY Schools co-sponsored the event, which the Family Community Engagement Project funded. Freeport High School classrooms were packed for the event.   

“It’s great to see the increase in participation from parents in a lot of the topics that will help the families to bring it home,” DeVivio said. “and help with their child’s education and achievement.”

Participating in the workshops for the first time, Alex Ayala said he was impressed by the volume of information he received. Normally, he said, his wife attends such events, but instead of missing out, he decided he wanted to get involved.

“This is awareness and the problems that kids face,” Ayala said. “We covered how to deal with my daughter’s moods, which was helpful. I’ll do this again.”

While parents were in the classrooms, students spent the evening in the cafeteria, munching on churros, sipping hot chocolate, reading, doing arts and crafts, and listening to stories — or just hanging out with friends.

Freeporter Martha Sorto, a mother of four who attend J.W. Dodd, Caroline G. Atkinson Intermediate, and New Visions Elementary schools, said she never misses Parent University. Attending for the last five years, she said, has helped her learn not only how to handle the challenges of having children in a range of grades, but also, most important, addressing their individual needs.

“This allows me to really connect with my children’s teachers, too,” Sorto said in her native Spanish. “Through this experience, I’ve learned about resources for my children, but for me too.”

Sorto emigrated from El Salvador and moved to Freeport 14 years ago. Raising her children in Freeport has been a rewarding experience, she said. “They care about my children and our family,” she said, referring to the school district. “Through this workshop, I’ve found resources that support the kids beyond the classroom and resources for me as an immigrant.”