| "The most fulfilling experience I had this year was the communication with some of the families at West Nyack Elementary. The Family Resource Center (FRC) is beginning to become a “fixture” at the school, and we’re starting to receive phone calls and questions about the community. I am thrilled that families are starting to rely on us for a resource. "
-Sally Montag, West Nyack FRC
"The most fulfilling experience I had this year at Margetts Elementary was during a rap session at the beginning of February. In attendance were many kindergarten parents who were called and invited by parent volunteers. They made connections with each other, sharing a great concern for the way their children are evaluated in report cards. Many of the parents present expressed a desire to inform the district that their children’s self esteem could suffer because they are being tested in English, and the results do not reflect their child’s intelligence or exposure to the material at hand. The coordinator felt that this was a great accomplishment. Culturally, this sharing and questioning of the report cards’ grade system is huge. In Latin-American countries, parents send their children to school to be educated. Parents do not question whatever the teachers say, because teachers are viewed as “the experts”! In Latin-American countries, the role of the parent is to support whatever the teachers think best. The conversations the parents had show signs of assimilation to the American culture. The presenters (the school social worker & psychologist) and coordinator felt that these kindergarten parents will be more involved in their child’s education and are certainly beginning to feel comfortable expressing their views and willingness to speak up to safeguard their child’s self esteem. "
-Eva Hernández-Goley, Margetts FRC
"I find the most fulfilling aspect of my work at Valley Cottage Elementary is running a Center that looks and feels like the dream we all had from the beginning. I remember when I worked as a teacher, that satisfied feeling of looking up and hearing the happy buzz of children excited about learning. I believe we have achieved that healthy buzz in the Family Resource Center at Valley Cottage, on a daily basis. With the vision, support and involvement of our superintendent, principal, staff, and parent population, the Center is now a living, breathing healthy organism with a constant flow of children, parent and staff involvement."
-Julie Kassel – Valley Cottage FRC
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