By By Adrienne McKenzie
Despite inclement weather on Monday, area parents and guardians visited their child's schools for parent/teacher conferences along with activities and seminars.
October is Statewide Parent Visitation Month in public schools in Alabama. Escambia County schools joined the state by opening the doors to parents to visit the schools in an effort to make the home and school connection stronger.
Area schools hosted a variety of events for the "Parents – The Link to Success" day along with the parent/teacher conferences. Huxford Elementary School principal Donna Silcox said participation could have been better, but because of the nasty weather on Monday she was happy with the number of people who came to the Parenting Day.
"We could always have more parents," Silcox said. "But, we were pleased considering the weather."
Silcox said the day at HES seemed to be a success because of the great parents her students have.
"The day was excellent," she said. "Our parent conferences were excellent, our parent's were very supportive. But, they are always supportive."
Rachel Patterson Elementary School principal Susan McKenzie said she was also happy with the turnout for Parenting Day.
"I was very pleased in spite of the weather," McKenzie said. "We had approximately 150 to show up."
McKenzie said Parenting Day was a great way for parents to learn how to be active in their child's academics.
"It gave parents an opportunity to touch base with their child's teacher, to go over some strengths and weaknesses and it gave them some ideas on things they can do at home to help their child," she said. "Anytime the parent and teacher can get together to discuss the child's progress something good is bound to come from it. We want to keep an open line of communication with our parents here in the classroom and our teachers welcome the communication with the parents."
A.C. Moore Elementary School principal David Nolin said the school had quite a few participants at the parent/teacher conferences.
"We had some good things going on, but the turnout was light," he said. "The weather had a lot to do with that."
Escambia County High School assistant principal Ann Stephens said ECHS had a good turnout for Parenting Day.
"We were pleased," Stephens said. "We had 206 appointments and had 50-something sets of parents, but all of our teachers have not turned in their numbers yet. We had PTO after the parent/teacher conferences and a few parents did stay for that and we were excited about that."
Although the day at ECHS went well, Stephens said she had hoped even more parents would have shown up.
"I think they (parents) did get the information they needed," she said. "I just wish more parents would take advantaged of the Parenting Day."
Escambia County Middle School principal Zickeyous Byrd was unavailable for comment.
According to state superintendent of education Joe Morton, parental involvement in school is an important aspect of student's success.
"The goal is to connect home and schools better," Morton said in a press release. "Parent involvement, now more than ever, is a key factor to student success in school year-round. It is intended as a community effort, a time for schools, businesses, community agencies, churches and government to turn their attention to the important role of parents in the education of their children."
To learn more about "Parents-The Link to Success" statewide parent visitation month events and opportunities throughout the year, email Escambia County parental involvement supervisor Magaline Marshall at mmarshall@escambiak12.net.