
Winter 2025 Family DEI Newsletter

Winter 2025 QPS Family DEI Newsletter
Families thrive when they feel connected to others who respect and understand their unique experiences. Building a strong, inclusive community among diverse families promotes support, learning, and a sense of belonging for both parents and children. Below are some suggestions on how to help build an inclusive community at your child(ren)'s school(s). Your schools' parent representatives may be able to connect you with others or support your efforts. If you would like to learn who your schools' parent representatives are, please reach out to the Citywide PTO at pto.citywide@gmail.com.
Social Capital
What is Social Capital and Why Is It Important for My Children?
"Social capital" for your children refers to the network of positive relationships they have with family, friends, neighbors, teachers, and community members. These connections provide support, opportunities, and benefits that can enhance their development and well-being in areas like education, health, and social skills. The stronger these relationships, the greater the social capital they have.
Broadly, social capital is the idea that involvement or participation in social groups has positive consequences for the individual and the group or community. So when parents of a school are involved in an advocacy group such as a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), it helps the parent (he or she learns about school expectations) and supports school community cohesion (a network of parents work together to improve the school climate). (https://www.familiesandschools.org/blog/social-capital/)
Benefits of social capital may include:
For Your Children:
- Improved academic performance
- Better mental health
- Increased resilience
- Access to greater opportunities for personal growth
For You:
- Power in numbers, collective energy leads to greater impact
- Increased decision making power
- Stronger system of support which leads to better health
- Awareness of services, resources, opportunities
How Parents can build social capital for their children:
- Foster positive interactions within the family unit, providing emotional support and a sense of belonging
- Engage in the community: participate in local events, connect with other families; the more people you know, the more access you have to information or resources
- Encourage social connections: foster friendships with peers, facilitate playdates, support involvement in extracurricular activities
- Build relationships with school staff by sharing what is important to your family; communicate with teachers to understand academic expectations and identify how to best support your child together; attend school events, games
- Promote positive social norms: teach children the importance of respect, kindness, cooperation, giving back within their community
Building an Inclusive Community
If you have not attended as many events as you would have liked, or not been involved in planning any, there is still time to get involved! It is especially important to our students to learn about diverse cultures and backgrounds, so if you are able to share any knowledge or skills, our students and staff would greatly benefit from your help! Additionally, it is great for families to make connections with each other in informal ways to enrich your own network.
Ideas:
- Cultural Potlucks where families bring a dish that represents their cultural heritage
- Family Story Circles: families share stories or traditions
- Picnics, park days, hikes to encourage informal bonding
- Form affinity or support groups; leverage social media platforms to connect; ex LGBTQ+ family support group, multicultural parenting group to discuss balancing cultural traditions
- Connect the school with guest speakers who can help teach children about different backgrounds
- Volunteer or attend as a family at a community service event to build camaraderie with other families; consider being a mentor (Big Brother Big Sister, Raising Multicultural Kids); encourage your children to be mentors
Community Events
- Youth-Only Black History Month Guided Tour, for students K-12 and their families, Saturday, 2/8, 1:30pm, Museum of African American History
- BCNC Lunar New Year Celebration, Sunday 2/9, 11-3pm, suggested donation: $10 Come by for an afternoon of art and interactive workshops. All ages are invited to join us for cultural activities as we usher in the year of the snake! Register to receive event updates and reminders.
- QARI Lunar New Year Festival, Saturday, 2/16, 11-3pm, NQHS, Free Lunar New Year, Chinese Chunjie, Vietnamese Tet, Korean Seollal, Tibetan Losar is also called Spring Festival. During the momentous holiday, friends and family members gather and wish one another prosperity, good health and longevity in the new year. 2025 brings the Year of the Snake, symbolizing adaptability, prosperity, transformation and new perspectives.
- BCNC 2025 Strengthening Families Program, 10 sessions, Thursday's, 2/13-4/17, free, English and Mandarin; children ages 3-5 years old and their parents The Strengthening Families Program (SFP) is an evidence-based training program that focuses on parenting skills, children’s life skills, and family life skills. Parents and children will participate in the program, separately and together. Outcomes have shown SFP to significantly reduce problem behaviors, delinquency, and alcohol and drug abuse in children and to improve social competencies and school performance. Through this program, parents and children strengthen bonds together and caregivers learn more effective parenting skills.
- Quincy400: Black History Month Trivia Night, Monday 2/24, 7-8pm, Thomas Crane library; open to all ages, children must be accompanied by an adult. Test your knowledge of Black history, culture, and the contributions of Black leaders, including their influence on our nation’s history and presidency. This engaging trivia event is open to all ages, though children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Light refreshments, including tea, will be provided.
- Ice-Skating Rink in Quincy! , Free Mayor Thomas P. Koch announced that the City of Quincy will open its outdoor downtown skating rink on Monday, December 2nd. The rink will be open seven days a week from noon to 8 p.m. for community skating. The rink will remain open through the end of February school vacation week. Public skating and skate rentals will be provided without charge again this year. The rink location has been moved to Dennis Ryan Parkway, across from the courthouse and next to the Kilroy Square parking garage.
- Meditation with Neeni Decha, monthly, last Tuesday's, 7-8pm Crane Library, Free
Celebrating Your Cultural and Religious Holidays
At QPS, we strive to foster an inclusive and respectful learning environment for all students. To support the diverse families we serve, we would like to remind you to submit a note if your child plans to observe a cultural or religious holiday and requires an excused absence.
For your convenience, we kindly ask that the note be submitted within two days of the absence, but no later than the end of the term during which the absence occurs. To assist you, we have provided a sample excused absence request letter.
If you notice any discrepancies in the reporting of the excused absence (if showing as unexcused), please contact your school’s front office, and they will gladly assist with any necessary corrections.
PTO Subcommittee Meetings
- English Learners Parents Advisory Council (ELPAC) is open to parents/guardians of English learners (ELs) in Quincy. The purpose of the ELPAC is to promote and support the success of ELs. ELPACs are intended by law to advise the district and schools regarding matters that impact English learners, including language acquisition programs, educational opportunities for ELs, and improvement plans as they relate to ELs. If you have any questions or an interest in speaking with other families, please contact the ELPAC on Email: elpacquincypublicschool@gmail.com or visit their site here.
- Quincy Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is a state- mandated group of parents and other interested persons who work with teachers, administrators, and the School Committee to provide: Opportunities for caregivers of children with special needs to share tips, advice and support; Opportunities for caregivers and educators to learn about special education, including the laws and regulations that protect a child receiving services under an individualized education plan (IEP) or Section 504 accommodations; Information about resources available to help children be successful, including educational materials, national support groups, speakers, technical assistance, enrichment activities, and professional services; and Avenues for caregivers to participate in the development and evaluation of Quincy's special education programs. Contact at qpac.quincy@gmail.com or find more info here.