I hope this message finds you well and filled with the warmth of the season. It brings me great joy to welcome you to the latest edition of our Title I Parent and Family Engagement Newsletter.

In these pages, you will find a wealth of information on our Title I program, upcoming events, glimpses into the vibrant happenings within our schools, and practical tips to support your child's learning. We believe that a well-informed and engaged family is the cornerstone of a thriving school community.

Warm regards,

Kimberley Maurizi

Federal Programs, Titles I, II, & III

Neshaminy SD

Parent and family engagement is the participation of parents or caregivers in regular, two-way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, including ensuring:

• that parents/caregivers play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning;

• that parents/caregivers are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education at school;

• that parents/caregivers are full partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decision-making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child.

Click here to view Neshaminy School District's Parent & Family Engagement Policy.

Neshaminy SD students celebrate success at reading parties held in the fall months. Our 2023 theme was Find the Treasure in Reading. Students read over the summer months and had the chance to earn a celebration. Watch the fun in the above video at our schools!

Families across the district joined us at 2 host schools, Albert Schweitzer ES and Joseph Ferderbar ES, for a special guest presenter, Ellie Ingram of Reading Horizons. She showed the strategies the reading specialists use at school to improve students’ reading ability. The techniques are simple, fun, and extremely effective. Attendees learned about the whys and hows of our approach to learning phonics with fun and engaging activities.

HOST SCHOOL: ALBERT SCHWEITZER

HOST SCHOOL: JOSEPH FEDERBAR

In our Title I program; the collaborative efforts of teachers and instructional assistants play a pivotal role in fostering a supportive learning environment. Teachers and instructional assistants alike are engaged in a continuous learning process, exploring and mastering an array of literacy tools to support students' learning. Here, our instructional assistants navigate the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) resources, as they hone their skills to meet the unique needs of each student that they work with during WIN (Whatever I Need)Time. UFLI Foundations is an explicit and systematic phonics program that introduces students to the foundational reading skills necessary for proficient reading.

We are thrilled to welcome two exceptional individuals to our team, each bringing a wealth of expertise and passion to our mission of fostering a love for reading and enhancing literacy skills. Meet Jennifer McAndrew, Title I Reading Specialist, Herbert Hoover ES and Genevieve Peto, Title I Reading Specialist, Walter Miller ES.

The Parent Advisory Team serves as a vital channel for you to contribute to your insights, ideas, and perspectives in the decision-making process regarding various aspects of your child's education. Your involvement will play a crucial role in shaping policies, programs, and initiatives that directly impact the learning environment within our Federal Programs at NSD: Title I, Title II, Title III and Title IV. What does participation involve?

• Attending a virtual Parent Advisory meeting.

• Sharing your thoughts on various topics that relate to your child’s education.

Register below. See you there!

This past October, the Neshaminy Academic Coaches welcomed parents to exciting and informative Curriculum Parent Nights! Neshaminy was thrilled to have over 100 families attend these events as partners as they delved into the world of assessment, mathematics and literacy, introducing attendees to the dynamic programs shaping Neshaminy elementary students’ academic growth: HMH Into Reading for ELA and i-Ready Math for mathematics as well as i-Ready Diagnostics for both academic content areas.

With HMH Into Reading and i-Ready, we are committed to providing your child with the tools they need to excel in both literacy and mathematics. Through collaborative efforts at school and home, we can nurture a love for learning that will last a lifetime. Thank you for your partnership. In the links below you will find the parent night presentation and grade level home resources:

• Curriculum & Assessment Parent Night Presentation
• Kindergarten Home Resources
• Grade 1 Home Resources
• Grade 2 Home Resources
• Grade 3 Home Resources
• Grade 4 Home Resources
• Grade 5 Home Resources

Parent and family input is valued at Neshaminy School District. In the fall months, families of students that attend NSD Title I schools are asked to participate in a survey. The survey is used to gather additional information to continuously improve our Parent and Family Engagement Program and to include parents and families in the Title I decision-making process. Below are a few highlights from the survey:

• Herbert Hoover Elementary School had the highest survey participation percentage.

• 96% of parents that participated in the survey feel welcome at their child’s school.

• Email is ranked the #1 choice in how parents prefer school’s to communicate with them.

Read more to find out what the survey reveals about what parents think of Title I schools at Neshaminy. Click here to view a live update of the survey results.

Neshaminy School District has 5 Title I schools (Joseph Ferderbar ES, Herbert Hoover ES, Walter S. Miller ES, Albert Schweitzer ES and Twanks ES). We have a Title I Reading Specialist available at each Title I school to assist parents with monitoring and supporting their child’s academic progress between home and school.

• Joseph Ferderbar ES - Pam Haggerty
• Herbert Hoover ES - Jennifer McAndrew
• Walter Miller ES - Genevieve Peto
• Albert Schweitzer ES - Kristen Casile
• Tawanka ES - Andrea Gansor
• Tawanka ES - Beth Smith

Please feel free to contact Dr. Robert Boffa, Federal Programs Coordinator, at any time with questions, concerns or suggestions regarding Neshaminy School District Title I.

Email: rboffa@neshaminy.org
Website: https://www.neshaminy.org/Page/43697
Location: 2250 Langhorne-Yardley Road, Langhorne, PA 19047
Phone: 215-809-6551