Family & Community Connections Meeting, February 16

You Are Invited To The F&CC Meeting This Week:

8am, Wednesday, FEBRUARY 16, MLK, Jr. School, 211 Square St.

(Use the intercom to enter through the front door. Or the parking lot side door is also open at this hour.)

Meeting Focus: Mental health services and implications for education.

All interested persons are encouraged to attend and participate!

Principal Mark DeSalvo has asked community agencies to use F&CC sessions as a forum to coordinate with school staff and with each other about their programs, activities, challenges, and successes at MLK Jr. School.

Family & Community Connections (F&CC)

“Working Together To Make Our Community Better”

Summary of Our Last Session:
December 8, 2010 at MLK, Jr. School, 211 Square Street
Present: Michael Babcock, Mark DeSalvo, Dianne Dimeo, Krista Drake, Tim Trent

Key discussion points included:

1. “Needed: Global thinkers to reach a broad constituency in developing a true community school.” Principal Mark DeSalvo invited individuals and agency volunteers to become core advisors with him in shaping the future of MLK Jr. as a true community school. Developing the vision, mission, and objectives for this initiative will be the first step.

2. Public Health Educator Krista Drake explained that Oneida County Health Department provides services for maternal child health, lead poisoning prevention and abatement, immunizations, nutrition, and home visits to assist with family and overall community health.

3. Michael Babcock explained Positive Behavioral Intervention & Supports (PBIS) improve student behavior to improve academic achievement. Fewer behavior distractions and less time out of classrooms for behavior issues means more proactive focus on learning for all students. Key PBIS objectives include: 1) reduce discipline incidents, 2) raise test scores, 3) increase family involvement in student learning.

4. Dianne Dimeo explained that Catholic Charities coordinates with many other agencies, Operation Sunshine, Salvation Army, Neighborhood Center, and the Rescue Mission, for example, in making referrals, assisting, and promoting the self-sufficiency of families and children in need of clothing, transportation, and even holiday food baskets.