Parents
attend a workshop on how to use the toolkits, which are
available for three subject areas: math, English Language
Arts and Writing. Workshops are offered from 3-5 p.m. every
day. (Photo by HB Meeks/Tell Us Detroit)
DPS
workshops
for
parents
to use
new
take-home
holiday
academic
toolkits
First
“I’m In”
discount
cards
also
being
distributed
as an
incentive
to get
parents
involved
DETROIT
-
Thousands
of
Detroit
Public
Schools
parents
who
attend
workshops
in DPS’
parent
resource
centers
will be
able to
check
out new
take-home
academic
kits, a
tool to
ensure
that
learning
and
enrichment
can
continue
through
the
holiday
break.
The
kits,
which
this
week
will be
available
at every
Parent
Resource
Center,
contain
varied
academic
items
depending
on the
subject
and
grade
level,
such as
Quizmo
for
math, a
game at
the
middle
school
level;
or
magnetic
letters
to help
students
learn
about
words at
the
preschool
level.
Some
kits
contain
short
story
books,
while
kits for
high
school-age
students
contain
“100
words
every
teenager
should
know.”
Also
included
are
writing
practice
sheets,
flash
cards,
magazine
projects
and
more.
The kits
are full
of
hands-on
activities
and are
available
for
students
in
grades
kindergarten
to 9.
Based on
Michigan’s
academic
guidelines
for
students,
each kit
is
packaged
in a
canvas
bag for
easy
carrying
and
contains
a
variety
of
“tools”
that
will aid
parents
in
helping
their
children
continue
to do
schoolwork
over the
holiday
season.
About
320 kits
will be
offered
and may
be
expanded
based on
parent
demand.
Also on
Monday,
the
first
set of
I'm In
cards
were
handed
out to
parents
attending
parent
resource
centers.
Detroit
Public
Schools
is
distributing
30,000
“I’m In”
scan
cards
for key
chains
cards,
which
offer
district
parents
discounts
at local
merchants
and
service
providers
as an
incentive
to
participate
in
workshops,
attend
parent
involvement
programs
and get
involved
in
schools.
“It’s
important
that we
continue
to equip
our
parents
with
tips and
tools to
help
children
achieve
academically,”
said
Sharlonda
Buckman,
CEO of
Detroit
Parent
Network,
which is
partnering
with the
Detroit
Public
Schools’
Office
of
Parent
and
Community
Engagement
to offer
the
kits.
“This is
another
example
of us
helping
our
parents
to be
smarter.”
Kit
content:
Writing
kits
will
include
words,
read
aloud/independent
reading
for
higher
grades.
Kits for
higher
grades
also
will
include
word
meaning,
dictionary
skills,
writing,
poetry
and/or
rap,
Scrabble
junior,
and
other
educational
games.
Independent
reading
kits
include
magazines
and a
game
that
teaches
students
multiple
word
meanings.
Math
kits
will
include
shapes
and
patterns
for
lower
grades,
math
facts,
numeration,
measurement,
time and
money
and
other
activities
that get
progressively
hard by
level.
Kits for
upper
grades
have
algebra
games
such as
Math
Attack
and
Fractions
Dominoes.
Math
through
fifth-grade
will
include
books
about
math.
The
toolkit
initiative
is part
of the
school
district's
enhanced
Parent
and
Community
Engagement
strategy
which
includes
the
placement
of
parent
organizers
across
the
school
district
and the
opening
to-date
of eight
new
regional
Parent
Resource
Centers,
which
are open
and
staffed
full
time.
Parents
must
attend a
workshop
on how
to use
the
toolkits,
which
are
available
for
three
subject
areas:
math,
English
Language
Arts and
Writing.
Workshops
are
offered
from 3-5
p.m.
every
day.
(Call
centers
for
specific
times.)
The
toolkits,
which
can be
checked
out for
one
week,
also
were
designed
to spur
interactions
between
parents
and
their
children
and help
build
relationships,
Buckman
said.
The “I’m
In” card
will be
used as
an
incentive
for
parents
to visit
the
Parent
Resource
Centers
for
training,
workshops
and
other
services.
Visits
will be
tracked
through
the
card,
which
will be
scanned
similar
to a
grocery
or
drugstore
card.
Parents
will
receive
additional
incentives,
such as
coupons
and
other
rewards,
the more
often
they
visit.
Initial
discounts
and
partnerships
for the
“I’m In”
card
include:
• Mr.
Alan's
Shoes
and
Sportswear
- 10%
off
• P & D
Uniforms,
East
Seven
Mile -
15% off
•
Goodyear,
the only
Goodyear
owned
and
operated
in
Detroit,
E. Grand
Blvd. --
Monthly
Specials;
November
is a
$15.95
oil
change
• Forman
Mills
Uniforms
- 5% off
total
purchase
• Hot
Sam’s
Clothing
– 25
percent
off
•
Jefferson
East
Business
Association
Members
--
Several
business
members
will
participate
including
Powell
Dental
Association
on East
Jefferson
•
Distinctive
Styles -
Hair
Salon,
Fisher
building
-- 10%
off
•
Quickie
Printing
- full
service
print
shop –
5% off
• Conner
Coaching
– One
free
financial
planning
session
Stores
and
retailers
seeking
to
partner
with DPS
on
parent
discounts
can call
313-309-1458.
Parents
can
apply to
receive
a card
by
filling
out a
form
available
at any
of the
Parent
Resource
Centers.
Parents
can also
sign up
to
receive
information
about
ongoing
events
at the
Parent
Resource
Centers
by
submitting
their
phone
and
email
address
at the
resource
centers.
A
calendar
of
events
for each
center
soon can
be found
at
www.detroitk12.org.
Parent
Resource
Centers
are
located
at:
Central
Collegiate
Academy,
2425
Tuxedo
Room 128
Osborn
High
School,
11600 E
7 Mile
Rd, Room
121
Marcus
Garvey
Academy,
2301 Van
Dyke,
Room 405
DPS
Welcome
Center,
3031 W.
Grand
Blvd.
Priest,
7840
Wagner
Room 112
Cody
High
School,
18445
Cathedral,
Room 112
Detroit
School
of Arts
West (DSA)
Langston
Hughes
Campus,
19501
Berg,
Room C11
Phoenix
Elementary,
Room
213,
7735
Lane
Street