CIS-HENRY NEWS M A R C H 2 0 1 3 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 4

W H A T ’ S I N S I D E

Parent Leadership Insti-

tute Launches

New Community Part-

ners Add Services for

Students

Stories From Our Ameri-

Corps Tutors

Volunteer Opportunities

Communities In Schools

of Henry’s New Office

Location

www.CIS-Henry.org

678 432 4499

70 Macon Street

McDonough, GA

Connect with

CIS-Henry

W H E R E T O F I N D I T

Community Partners 1

Parent Leadership

Institute 2

AmeriCorps Tutors 3

Volunteering 4

New Office 4

© 2013 Communities In Schools - Henry | 70 Macon Street | McDonough, GA 30253

L ocal parent leaders met

in January and February

to grow and learn as leaders in

themselves, their families, and

their children’s education at

the Vision and Voice Parent

Leadership Institute (PLI) here

in Henry County.

The Institute, hosted by Com-

munities In Schools of Henry

and funded by United Way of Metro-

politan Atlanta, is designed for promis-

ing parent leader who are already

involved in the schools as tutors, men-

tors, PTO members, and more to give

them the resources to share their skills

and passion with other parents in the

community.

Communities In Schools Hosts Parent Leadership Institute

To read more about our PLI,

see page 2 >>

F amily Support Circle, Inc. is a non-

profit organization based right

here in Henry County.

The mission of FSC is to provide the

type of support services that move

towards an ever-improving quality of

life centered in a healthy and diverse

community.

Two divisions contain the host of

services they provide: Youth Excel-

lence Program (afterschool & Summer

Enrichment Programs) and Home

Support Services (respite care, short-

term, and long-term support services).

Currently, FSC has implemented an

after-school program at Hampton

Middle School and with Communities

In Schools, with plans to expand the

program to reach more Henry County

students.

The program, which operates 3 after-

noons per week from 3:00 pm to 7:00

pm, provides students with homework

help and a rich social calendar for a fun

and productive after-school experi-

ence.

B rooke’s Closet helps families

displaced by fire. Staffed by

teens volunteering their time and

talents, Brooke’s Closet collects and

distributes clothing, toiletries and

school supplies to anyone in need

after a disaster.

Thanks to this new partnership, our

graduation coach Monique has al-

ready used Brooke’s Closet as a re-

source for a student who she had

identified as being in need of clothing

and other goods.

As a community partner with Commu-

nities In Schools, a new resource for

displaced, homeless, or other stu-

dents in need is now available.

Family Support Circle, Inc.

Brooke’s Closet / Brooke Butler Memorial Scholarship Foundation

New Community Partnerships to Aid Local Students

One PLI group shares their thoughts

on leadership at our first session.

For more information, please visit:

http://www.yourfsc.org

For more information, please visit:

http://www.fillbrookescloset.com/

Parent leaders in our community gather to learn and grow together as

leaders in themselves, their families, and their children’s education

© 2013 Communities In Schools - Henry | 70 Macon Street | McDonough, GA 30253

V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 4

understanding family support

principles and strategies

leadership techniques in diverse

settings

understanding and influencing

school systems

organizing for change.

The Henry County PLI is a collaborative

effort between Communities In

Schools of Henry and United Way

Smart Start Education, the early child-

hood division of United Way of Metro-

politan Atlanta, and the Partners Ad-

vancing Childhood Education (PACE)

initiative. It was developed by the Par-

ent Services Project (PSP), a national

nonprofit to integrate

family support and

early childhood pro-

grams. This collabora-

tion brings different

but congruous per-

spectives and goals to

Participants agreed to attend the sessions, to participate

fully, and to do their “homework” as part of an

opportunity to strengthen their skills and take greater

leadership roles.

Parent Leadership Institute

O ne Tuesday every month for

5 months, Communities In

Schools of Henry and United Way of

Metropolitan Atlanta will host par-

ent leaders from the community to

share ideas, help them grow as

leaders, and plan education-

centered service projects .

These parents, mostly affiliated

with the school system, were cho-

sen for exhibiting leadership quali-

ties within their families and

schools. They agreed to attend the

sessions, to participate fully, and to

do their “homework” as part of an

opportunity to strengthen their

skills, take greater leadership roles

in the systems serving their chil-

dren, and to build relationships with

other parents from their school and

community.

During the sessions, the parents will

learn topics including:

strategic planning for self and

family

the table, adding value

to experience of our PLI

parents.

Keep an eye out for up-

dates as our participants

plan their service pro-

jects regarding parent

involvement, technology

in schools, and understanding state

and local mandates on education.

P A G E 2

United Way and Communities In Schools banners at our Parent

Leadership Institute at Shiloh Baptist Church in January remind

parents that there are many resources available in our community.

For more information:

www.unitedwayatlanta.org www.parentservices.org

www.settingthePACE.org

© 2013 Communities In Schools - Henry | 70 Macon Street | McDonough, GA 30253

V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 4

Quotation from story here

O ur AmeriCorps tutor Katie, a

certified Zumba instructor,

has been teaching Zumba classes

for teachers at Dutchtown Middle

School. She hoped to not only

help the teachers relieve stress,

but saw the classes serve as a way

to connect with faculty members

she doesn’t get to work with on a

daily basis. The faculty benefits as

well, building relationships with

each other in a relaxed, fun envi-

ronment.

One of Lawanda’s students showed great

improvement in many of her courses

after struggling here in America.

P A G E 3

AmeriCorps Tutors Add To Student Success Stories, Engage

With Middle School Teachers

L awanda began working

with a 7th grade student

and native of Jamaica who

shared that she had problems

adjusting to living in America --

and it affected her grades.

When tutoring began in the

middle of the first semester,

the student was failing several

classes but after a few weeks

of one-on-one time with La-

wanda, she received her first

grade of 100 ever on an Eng-

lish assignment.

She has also shown gains in

her science class and contin-

ues to show improvements in

reading.

Lawanda also participated in

the annual Life 101 program at

Luella, implemented by

graduation coach Debbie Tow-

son, to help the program de-

velop life skills and problem

solving in 8th graders.

Katie helps teachers de-stress and

get moving after a long day at

work.

Fortunately, the school already

had an excellent fitness program

established for faculty and staff -

even a room with cardio and con-

ditioning equipment - and that

there was a collective interest in

wellness.

Katie says she enjoys watching

the class grow in size and seeing

teachers who appear to be re-

served really get into the class as

a way to de-stress after a long day

of work.

Katie’s Zumba class

Since their training and implementation in October of 2012, our AmeriCorps tutors have been

spending time helping our local middle school students with reading, math, study habits,

mentoring, and other matters to improve school performance. Here are some stories our

tutors have shared:

Our tutor Lawanda (left) with Luella Middle

School graduation coach Debbie Towson.

Lawanda Luella Middle School

P A G E 4

We’ve moved!

C ommunities In Schools of Henry County is proud to announce that

we have moved to a new location! Still conveniently located off the McDonough Square, we are excited to offer work space, meeting space, and a comfortable environment for our graduation coaches, tutors, and other community partners.

We share our new location with local lawyers and businesspeople, but the comfortable feel of a decades-old home provides a welcoming but professional atmosphere for CIS staff, supporters, and community partners to meet and share.

© 2013

Communities In

Schools of Henry

County

70 Macon Street

McDonough, GA

678 432 4499

To sign-up for our

email newsletter, visit

us at:

www.CIS-Henry.org

© 2013 Communities In Schools - Henry | 70 Macon Street | McDonough, GA 30253

V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 4

M any things can keep an individual from volunteering and giving

back to their community, but if you are looking for a simple and

meaningful way to serve Henry County, our volunteer program may be just

the right fit for you. Our tutors and mentors, with the help of our coordi-

nating graduation coaches, will create connections with students to im-

prove their academic performance and offer a friendly presence in stu-

dents’ lives to help them focus on school and reach academic success.

For more information, please call us or visit our website. It doesn’t take

much to change the life of a child - get started today!

Volunteer With Communities In Schools!

Stop by our new office to say hello!

Volunteer tutors and mentors give the gift of spending quality time

with a student to really make a difference.

C ommunity Service

and caring for

others is nothing new to

Emily Bigby. She has a

servant’s heart and jumps at every opportunity to help

others, especially when it comes to the welfare of

children and the elderly. Before joining Communities In

Schools of Henry in July 2012 she volunteered with

Longleaf Hospice where she gave her time as a patient

companion and assisted staff with respite care to pa-

tients at the facility.

As a full-time AmeriCorps VISTA Youth Success Strategies

Site Coordinator, she has been a tremendous asset to

our CIS Affiliate. Her primary responsibility is in support-

ing the implementation of all aspects of the annual site

operations plan designed by our affiliate.

Emily has contributed to volunteer recruitment, the CIS

Henry Newsletter, the Parent leadership Institute, coor-

dination with Middle School Graduation Coaches, and

managing of social media and other advocacy efforts.

Meet Emily Bigby, our AmeriCorps*VISTA Volunteer

Meet Our AmeriCorps*VISTA Youth Success Strategies Site Coordinator

Emily at our MLK Day

of Service project.