Maria S. Flores, Family & Community Outreach Coordinator Maria Guillen, Academic Advisor Cindy Diaz, Martha Lopez, and Birdie Zamora, GEAR UP Liaisons Maria Cepeda, Lisa Ruiz, Janie Melendez, Martha Gil and Yolanda Guerrero, GEAR UP Platicadoras

Service Population 12 School Districts 22 High Schools 8, 950 Students Project Staffing Centralized University GEAR UP Staff 22 GEAR UP Campus Coordinators 22 GEAR UP Campus Family & Community Liaisons

Family & Community Outreach Coordinator Family Liaisons Platicadoras “Parent Leaders” Parents

 SUPPORT:  Professional Development to Campus Staff is offered monthly  Development of manuals, forms, and processes  Campus Visits from GEAR UP Staff are conducted to assist and model methods of delivery  STANDARDS:  Monthly Parent Meetings  College Preparation Workshops  District and Project Parent / Student conferences  Implementation of Literacy Programs  Platicadora Trainings  Maximize existing campus and district resources  Documentation of Services Provided  COLLABORATION:  Strengthening of Partnerships with local universities, community colleges, community agencies, and other resources

 Grant was written to include a Family Liaison at each campus.  Campus Coordinator and Family Liaison work collectively to ensure parents are aware and actively involved in their child’s education.  Liaison spearheads Parent Events and Initiatives at Campus

Create a receptive and warm school climate for all parents and community partnerships. Implement focused and meaningful services geared towards college readiness –Monthly Parent Meetings (Colonia “neighborhood” Meetings) –Workshops –Home Visits –Parent/Student Conferences Establish and sustain successful parent-to-parent training sessions ( Las Platicas Academy) Utilize resources such as Exito Escolar Curriculum, NHI Modules, Abriendo Puertas, and Princeton Review Road Maps

Dedication Be availableBe reliableBe visibleBe genuineShow Interest Trust Do what you say you’re going to do Don’t promise what you cannot deliver Provide accurate and relevant information at all times Support ListenUnderstandMotivateHelp any time you can

Leadership Training for Parent Volunteers who take on the task of being advocates for the UTPA – GEAR UP Program A minimum of 1 Parent Volunteer per every 100 GEAR UP students in the cohort is required Parents are trained at Las Platicas Academy in sequential order about post – secondary education and the process needed to get students to college. After the completion of the 15-hour training a graduation ceremony is held, in which our parents are recognized as “Platicadores” or “Platicadoras” “Platicadoras” continue to receive Professional Development monthly to share with other parents

Platicadora receives Training at Las Platicas Academy Platicadora meets with Liaison to Create Plan of Action and Set Monthly Goals shares information with other GU Parents and Platicadora shares information with other GU Parents and provides sign-in sheets to Liaison Family Liaison enters Platicadora Outreach into database Platicadora Outreach is shared and reviewed at Las Platicas Academy

Host informal Platicas, “get togethers”, in their homes and in their colonias “neighborhoods” with other parents to spread information about college Help build a network of GEARUP Parents Assist GEARUP Campus Staff in conducting Monthly Parent Meetings Attend Monthly Trainings

P P OSITIVE and motivated to take ACTION to make it happen! A A VAILABLE and committed to their child and GEAR UP community R R ESOURCEFUL when delivery important information E E NTHUSIASTIC when promoting the mission of GEAR UP N N OBLE and willing to help create and cultivate a college going culture T T EAM PLAYER who can work together with other Platicadoras to sets goals and make a difference

Parent Volunteers (Platicadoras) meet with Liaison to go over any and all events pertaining to Parent Engagement: –The team might start off small (2-3) parents –Create a Parental Involvement Calendar –Make sure to plan meetings ahead of time –Calendar includes any and all important meetings, dates, and events parents should be aware of –Use the “Platicadora Monthly Goals” Form as an event planning tool, Liaisons and Platicadoras set their Goal for the month: –What type of Service do we want to provide? –Date, Time and Location of Event –Possible Presenters –Number of Parents Expected to Reach

Liaison and Parent Volunteers (Platicadoras) create an “Event Checklist” –Create Agenda –Assign Specific Tasks: Who will be in charge of what? Spreading the word about the event Creating Packets of Handouts Welcoming Parents the day of event Distributing Handouts Introducing Presenters of Topic of the Meeting (If presenting) Who is saying what? Specific Slides Evaluations –Get list of “Target” Parents to personally contact (Parents to be Served) –Create Flyer to Promote Event!

Liaison and Parent Volunteers (Platicadoras) get in action and work to make it happen! –Call/Txt “Target” Parents to Invite (3-4 Days before Meeting) Team up with Texting Experts “Students” –Post Flyers/ Banners around the school Student can also be a great help in this area –Announce Event on District/School Website and Channel –Meet to Practice/Rehearse Presentation –Remind “Target” Parents about Meeting (1 day before Meeting) –Welcome and make Parents feel comfortable –Have Platicadoras take the LEAD: Present their Presenter or Present their own PowerPoint with support from Liaison

It’s important to know what your audience thought about the meeting: –This will help you improve the next event –Shows parents that their feedback matters Review your attendance: –Send “Thank You” notes to New Parents who attended –If “Target” Parents didn’t show, follow up! – IMPORTANT: DON’T GIVE UP! All events are successful events, even if you don’t meet your goal, there is always next time… The point is to keep trying!

We used any resources available to usWe used any resources available to us Texans love Football Inform parents about month’s activities Let everyone know about GEAR UP Increase the involvement of parents at events Football Fridays

How it Works? KICK OFF THURSDAY –Platicadoras meet with Liaison and gather material to put in their “Platicadora Kit”: Discussion list (See Example) Monthly Calendar of Events Flyers for upcoming Parent Meetings, Family Events, and other Important Information Recruiting Parent Volunteers: Application for interested parents Sign in Sheets

How it Works? FOOTBALL FRIDAYS –Platicadoras wait at the bottom of the stands for GEAR UP parents to arrive to the game or go up to the stands and talk to them there –We even informed parents at Pep Rallies. –Platicadoras also provide the Announcer the flyer of the upcoming GEAR UP Parent Involvement Events to be announced throughout the game

College Night Students and Parents were invited to come and meet with Admission Officers from different Colleges and Universities PLATICADORAS STEP UP: Were at the sign in table and spoke with each GEAR UP parent about upcoming events Passed out calendars and flyers for the month Passed out information of Colleges that didn’t attend, but had mailed information

College Night

Thanking Parents Parents were honored at the November Monthly Parent Meeting with an Appreciation Dinner Event was supported by local Businesses and other GEARUP Parents Platicadoras recruited Parents to Volunteer to Serve

Harlingen High School Parent / Student Spring Conference

GEARUPOLY The purpose of the parent and students conference was to offer GEAR UP families an opportunity to obtain information about high school graduation and college entrance.

THEME - Based on the popular board game Monopoly. -The concept of the game was modified and incorporated into the conference. Participants acquired knowledge in order to dominate entrance into college. -The game board invitation featured community, state and national colleges and universities rather than properties.

Parents and Students Working Together The HHS GEAR UP Platicadoras worked together with the Student Action Council in order to plan the conference. Preliminary planning included: –Selection of date, time and place conference should be held –Breakout sessions that should –be offered –Conference agenda –Refreshments and entertainment –Door prizes and incentives –Delegation of duties

Logistics The conference was held at Harlingen High School. –Opening and closing general sessions were held in the cafeteria. –Breakout sessions were held in classrooms closest to the cafeteria. Based on a survey conducted at the beginning of the school year, Thursday evenings is the most convenient time for families to attend. –The conference was scheduled for Thursday, March 11, 2010 –5:30-9:00 PM

Parent and Student Duties Parents: -Prepare invitations for mail out 2 weeks before event. -Prepare conference materials to distribute to participants. -Reminder phone calls, s and texts to parents. -Solicit door prize donations. -Set up on conference day. -Registration table at conference. -Present at the closing general session: AP exams with HHS Instructional Facilitator, Dena Moran. Students: - Create posters and display them on campus 2 weeks before event. -Create decorations for the event: Posters and placemats. -Make announcements in their classes 1 week before event. -Survey students to determine what universities participants wanted to tour. -Set up on conference day. -monitors at breakout sessions. -Present at the opening general session, introduce entertainers and distribute door prizes.

Breakout Sessions - Health and Science Pathway -Testing Avenue-ACT and SAT -Financial Aid Chest-FAFSA -Scholarship Works -TAKS and Graduation Boulevard-State exams and graduation requirements. -Closing General Session: College Jumpstart -AP Courses -Concurrent and Dual Enrollment

Conference Agenda The conference agenda allowed time for participants to attend 3 breakout sessions of their choice. Handouts for all sessions were made available to each participant. The college jumpstart session was a general session for all participants in the cafeteria.

Refreshments and Entertainment Dinner Provided –Considerations: Length and time of conference. District Policy Approved District Vendor Entertainment Provided by GEAR UP Students –JoeCat and DJ Jesse

Motivations to Attend Students who attended the conference with their parents were eligible to attend a Texas All Aboard College Tour June 1-3, Students visited and toured: -Texas A&M University -Texas Christian University -The University of Texas-Arlington -Baylor University.

GEAR UP WEEK at Mission High School

GEAR UP Week is designated for students and parents. During this GEAR UP provides an array of opportunities to families to get involved and get GEAR UP for college. What is it?

College Day Students and Parents are encourage to wear College T-Shirt GEAR UP Lunch Flash *Scavenger Hunt *College Beach Ball *College Booth *College Bean Bag Toss *College Display Boards

Community Service Day Community Service Information Parents and students were informed about the importance of helping out in the community and how volunteer hours can benefit them. Valentine Day Cards for the Elderly The purpose of this activity was to promote community service: –Students were given the opportunity to earn Community Service –Parents were also given the opportunity to participate enabling them to lead by example.

Career Day Parents and students were given the opportunity to receive information on the Culinary Arts Program at our high school campus.

Academic Day Parents and students were able to receive valuable information through the following activities: –Parent/Student Conference –College Planning Portfolio –Classroom Presentation

Parental Involvement Day Parents were given different opportunities to become involved throughout the day; A tour of Kaplan College, an educational field trip to the “Folklorico” performance, and a Parent Meeting featuring motivational speaker “Happy” with the focus being SUPPORT!

TEAMWORK ADVERTISE PREPARE

Assisted decorating Stage for Event Greeted parents at the door during conference Served as Presenters: –Activity on “Understanding High School Transcript” (See Sample) Credit Check Form: Recommended Plan Transcript –Parents were given all the information in a booklet (See Sample) If Platicadoras weren’t presenting: –Guide Presenter to Session –Introduce Presenter –Guide parents during the transitions to the session Answered questions after presentations Assisted serving dinner

Platicadoras wanted to make new parents feel welcomed and special at their first meeting We set up a Parent Pledge Table during Open House and recruited new parents to introduce themselves at our Parent Meetings throughout the school year. We named them VIP’s and let them know that they were a SPECIAL GUEST! Their names with dates of their VIP was posted on the GEAR UP webpage Parents were told who the upcoming VIP’s were during Monthly Parent Meetings

–V.I.P. Questionnaire (See Sample) Family Photos Favorite Dish –Send reminders home with students about: Meeting Date, Time, and Location Student is asked to write a Thank You! Letter to parents for being Involved!

Encourage family involvement with all GEAR UP activities Promote cultural awareness Promote parent/child communication and bonding Get to know our new GEAR UP families