Family Programs & Experiences

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Family Forums and Advisory Boards

Every year, The Family and Community Engagement Department hosts quarterly family forums. The forums provide a vehicle for school leaders and families to communicate and connect. The forums include an ESL Language Board, that allows families who speaks languages other than English an opportunity to engage with district leadership on important issues.

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Districtwide Experiences

Our Districtwide Experiences are educational learning experiences for families that provide opportunities to enhance leadership skills and become stronger advocates at home, in the school, and on the district level. Families meet district leaders, participate in curriculum related activities, and build relationships with community organizations.

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ESL Connections

Newport News has a diverse student population that includes students whose first language is not English. Our ESL program seeks to ensure that English Learners (ELs) have meaningful access to the core curriculum. English Learners (EL) is a crucial component in NNPS that help families transition, develop, and gain insight about how our school system operates. ELL Connections provide families with a large-scale opportunity to experience the services offered to them through Newport News Public Schools and their local community. EL Connections offers NNPS staff an opportunity to meet families and build relationships with them in a comfortable, welcoming environment.

Goals:

• EL Connections will help to grow and develop the skills and knowledge of families by providing access to resources, services and information.
• EL Connections will help improve the relationships between ELL families and NNPS personnel by providing continuous opportunities for interaction.
• EL Connections will provide interpreters via language line or in-person for families.
• EL Connections will help families to understand their student's academic success through collaboration and interactions.

Outcomes: To inform, engage and empower English Learners families.

ESL Welcome Center
Watkins Early Childhood Center
21 Burns Drive
Newport News VA 23601
(757) 283-7823 Fax: (757) 597-2877
Directions (en español)

ESL Sites and Services
ESL Program Brochure (en español)

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Family Engagement Team (FET)

To achieve family engagement goals and share decision making, schools are encouraged to create a school-based Family Engagement Team (FET) made up of the families, staff and community members. The FET aims to meet on a quarterly basis to assess school goals and to review strategies for engaging families, involving families, and connecting with the community. FET is an opportunity for key stakeholders to have a voice in their school and community.