October 24, 2007
First Parent Community Summit a success
2 Comments »An estimated three hundred people turned out for the first Petersburg Parent-Community Summit, ìEmpowering World Class Parents,î held at Vernon Johns Middle School on Oct. 20.
Organized by the Petersburg City Public Schools, it was a chance for parents to attend seminars ranging in topic from youth health issues to the importance of fathers. Community groups passed out information on teen pregnancy, child support enforcement, careers and recreational opportunities for young people. Staff of Petersburg City Public Schools shared information about programs for gifted students, the No Child Left Behind Act and higher education opportunities.
Participants included POWER Youth Services, Parent Education Network, Boys and Girls Club and many others.
ìThis is part of the commitment weíve made to engage the community. It will take all of us working together to ensure that Petersburg City Public Schools becomes a world class school division,î said Dr. James M. Victory, Superintendent of the Petersburg City Public Schools.
ìWeíre glad for the opportunity to empower world class parents and this summit is designed to provide the tools for us to work together to help students,î said Dr. Alvera Parrish, Assistant Superintendent for the Petersburg City Public Schools.
WGCV radio personality and station manager Dr. Cavell Phillips addressed the crowd as the keynote speaker.
ìWe donít take you being here for granted,î Phillips said. He urged parents to take an active role in their childrenís education, rather than expecting teachers to work miracles.
ìHow you conduct yourself, impacts your children. The chips donít fall far from the block, no matter what kind of lumberjack you think you are,î he said.
wow, that is really a tremendous response!
Very promising! Any improvements in education now will have to come from parents. We’ve tweaked everything else to death.