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First Day Celebration: Parent and Community Involvement from Day One

Dr. William Mennies School Vineland, New Jersey, USA Principle: Principle 10: Engages families and community members as partners in the character-building effort. Topic: Parents & Grandparents Grade Levels: K-5

On September 4th, 2008 Dr. William Mennies School opened its doors to students, families, and community members during a First Day Celebration. The First Day Celebration was a new tradition at Dr. Mennies, designed to increase family involvement and promote student success from day one.  Through a Hawaiian luau theme, the First Day Celebration reinforced the school’s core school values:  respect, responsibility, and caring. After spending time in their child’s classroom, families were invited to attend a Community Information Fair held in the All Purpose Room. Over twenty community organizations and businesses set up information booths for families to browse.  Students, staff, families, and community members were then invited to attend a Welcome Back to School Motivational Assembly, held outside on the playground.   Many important community leaders, including the school superintendent, mayor, senator, assemblymen, and Board of Education members, spoke to our students and families about the importance of education.  The students recited the Pledge of Allegiance, sang the national anthem, and learned the new Mennies School Pledge in which students promise to make good choices.  At the end of the assembly, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held to begin the new school year.  Dr. William Mennies School plans to continue this event with the goal of increasing parental and community involvement in education.