Coffee and parents were in the halls for Knollwood Elementary School’s Parent Coffee Hours. Parents were treated to coffee and pastries.

During Parent Coffee Hour, parents rotate through four 15-minute sessions focused on different topics. Parents learned how to navigate through the school website to find information on school menus, calendars, PowerSchool access, school announcements, and more from Meredith Barbour, Instructional Technology Facilitator. Taylor Jarvis, the data manager, talked to parents about the importance of regular attendance. Jenna Wilson, the school guidance counselor, talked to parents about her role and strategies for helping their student be successful in school. The last station was with Lead Reading Coach, Betsy Farmer, on the importance of parents reading with their student.

The second Parent Coffee Hours was held in November. The speakers were Erin Moody, Prevention and Education Coordinator/Forensic Interviewer, and Ariella Sanchez, Family Advocate, who served as interpreter, from the Terrie Hess Child Advocacy Center of Rowan County. The center is under the umbrella of Prevent Child Abuse Rowan (PCAR). Prevent Child Abuse Rowan (PCAR) and Terrie Hess Child Advocacy Center began as a grassroots organization following the first Child Abuse Prevention Walk held in late 1997.

Moody and Sanchez spoke to parents about how and why they need to speak to their children about how to keep them safe online. They went into a variety of topics about safety on social media, not sending out pictures to anyone, not allowing people to friend of follow you that you don't know. They emphasized the importance of monitoring their students when they are online. There were many important conversations with parents to help their child be safe online.

Barbour said “It’s important for us as a school to reach out to our families and make connections. We want them to have the tools that will help them and help their students be successful in school.”

Knollwood Elementary School will have several more Parent Coffee Hours in 2023 to help keep parents informed and offer them help and assistance with issues they may face with their children. Parents have enjoyed and appreciated these opportunities offered by the school.

Press release courtesy of Meredith Barbour.