SAN FERNANDO : Workshops Bridge Home, Classroom
Before the parent center at San Fernando Elementary School opened a year ago, Guillermina Salazar was too timid to sit in classrooms or talk to teachers about her children’s education.
But now the mother of five is the president of the school’s PTA and a loyal volunteer who camps out in the former classroom every morning.
“I have learned so much,” said Salazar, who credits the improvement in her self-esteem to workshops at the center. “My children feel important when I’m here.”
Salazar was on hand this week to mark the first anniversary of the center. The event was held by the school to thank supporters for donating professional services and money in the past year.
“It takes all of you to help us,” Principal Candida Fernandez-Ghoneim told the gathered honorees, which included staff workers with the San Fernando Health Clinic and the city of San Fernando.
School coordinator Rosa Jimenez said the center, one of 16 in the Valley, seeks to bridge the home and the school by teaching parents how to take an active role in their children’s education.
Parents can sign up for workshops on gang awareness and health issues, a parent support group or English classes. Or they can step up their involvement by volunteering in a classroom and working on school projects for teachers.
“We do a lot of work for teachers,” “Parents feel like they’re doing something for their children,” said Juanita Campos, the center’s coordinator.
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